The declining congregation: dilemma, despair and biblical hope

Jim Farrer June 3, 2020

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For several decades when asked about the percentage of congregations that are plateaued or declining, the standard answer has been 75 to 85 percent. A 2017 LifeWay survey revealed that number to be 65 percent.

Thom Rainer presented the caveat that this research was among Southern Baptist congregations which have historically been more intentional about church planting and evangelism. The number might be higher among some other denominations which have emphasized compassion and justice.

Professor Gary McIntosh who has consulted in more than 90 denominations/associations reported that several regional superintendents intimated to him that almost every one of their congregations was languishing.

In The Apostolic Congregation (p.9), Professor George Hunter claims: “Less than one percent of all churches in the United States grow significantly from conversion growth in a given year.”

Tough U-turn

It is especially difficult for the numerically smaller congregations to reverse course. In point of reference at least four major national studies reveal that the median number at worship is about 75, meaning that half of the congregations surveyed reported fewer than 75 in attendance and half more.  Remarkably these surveys include megachurches. Also noteworthy is that this figure has remained steady for decades. It may be even lower since sociologists seldom get reports from the growing “house church” movement.

Many people believe that stagnant congregations can be characterized by the maxim: “We never did it that way before.” Today these may be more accurately described as: “Been there; done that; didn’t work.”

This dilemma echoes the opening words of Ecclesiastes: “Vanity of vanities!” This has been the standard translation, but others include “meaningless” (NIV), “futility” (NJB), “emptiness” (NEB), and even “flatulence” (Frank Zimmerman). This last interpretation, however irreverent, closely mirrors the nuance of the Hebrew word hebelwhich is defined as “a puff of air that disappears.”

Hebelalso means fleeting, lack of permanence, or despair and is used in the Bible to describe an idol or false god which is an empty, worthless fraud.

Possibilities for turnaround

Lyle E. Schaller who consulted with 6,000 congregations discloses in Growing Plans that the smaller type church grows rarely, reluctantly and only by accepting significant changes (p.16). The most promising strategy is for 10 or 12 members to commit themselves to inviting someone to worship or to “a side-door event” then helping to assimilate at least one new member over each of the next five years.

Where to start

In his book Create Your Own Future (p. 58), Schaller reported on a widely used planning model which first identifies problems confronting a congregation. In his experience with churches in despair, he found: “A better model calls for identifying and affirming strengths, resources, and assets and building on these in creating that new future.” Most congregations have an important niche in their community upon which to build.

Management guru Peter Drucker long advised organizations to “build on these islands of health and strength.” We should not ignore weaknesses but it is easy to get bogged down attempting to fix all of the problems at once.

Jesus’ main methods

In Luke 10:25ff Jesus responded to a query about the greatest commandment. He quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and explained that the priority was to love the LORD God totally. This could be paraphrased: “To put the Most High God first.”

In addition, we are to put God first rather than other idols. Many congregational decisions are influenced by the idols of tradition (“We never did it that way”), or idols of fear (“The Smith family won’t like that idea.”)

Jesus’ second commandment, quoted from Leviticus 19:18, was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” When asked: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus followed with the parable of the Good Samaritan. To many Jews, Samaritans were considered political traitors and religious heretics. Oxford professor G.B. Caird in his commentary Saint Luke (p.148) describes the Samaritans as “semi-pagan foreigners.” Jesus spent a lot of time among these and other “outsiders.”

Outsiders today

The USA represents the third largest unchurched population in the world. George Hunter includes among the unchurched: those who appear immunized because of substandard Christianity, others whose lives are out of control and the “ignostics” who know little about the real Jesus.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus commands: “You must now let your light shine before others.”

Crisis response

In unusual and difficult times, even the most discouraged congregation can look forward with hope. Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck in The Different Drum (p.145) asserted: “… community develops naturally only in response to a crisis.”

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Jim Farrer is the founder of Vital Signs Church Consulting and a member of the Society for Church Consulting. A broadly-trained church consultant, Jim is also a veteran of ministry positions in Canada and the U.S., he has trained leaders from 18 denominations and led seminars and coaching sessions nationwide. His articles have been published in the Journal of Evangelism and Missions and the Great Commission Research Journal. You can reach him by e-mailing revup1@yahoo.com or calling 814 629-5211. Learn More »

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