Pastor Skip and Mrs. Charlisa French
Arkansas UM—Viewpoint: The Shepherd’s Staff By William O. “Bud” Reeves
I think all churches want to grow. I haven’t run across a church yet whose mission statement is “We want to decline until we close the doors.” The friction comes when churches do what it takes to grow, and not everybody likes it. Or the church keeps on doing what it has always done, and everybody gets frustrated because they can’t understand why the church continues to decline. (That’s the definition of insanity, isn’t it?) As I have observed them, churches are either/or. They are either growing or declining, moving forward or sliding backward. Churches do not remain stable, numerically or spiritually, for long.
Recent research indicates what sort of churches are growing. The study, called “FACTs on Growth,” was done at Hartford Seminary, and was covered both by Newscope and the Lewis Leadership Center at Wesley Seminary in Washington, D.C.1 C. Kirk Hadaway, the study’s author, lifted up these characteristics:
 | Congregations that change worship format and style are more likely to grow. Worship frequency is important as well. The more worship services a congregation holds, the more likely it is to grow. Congregations that involve children in worship are more likely to experience significant growth. Churches that emphasize “reverence” are less likely to grow. Hadaway says this seemed “to imply a level of stiltedness and somberness that works against the possibility of growth.” (Don’t shoot me; I’m just the messenger!) However, style of worship was not necessarily a factor in growth or decline. |
Congregations that have experienced major conflict are quite likely to have declined in attendance. The strongest correlate of growth is the absence of serious conflict. Of course, the only churches with no conflict are the ones that have already closed their doors. But the heart-breaking, soul-injuring, congregation-dividing type of conflict cannot be a context for growth.
| Congregations that have started or maintained a website in the past year are most likely to grow. The website itself does not induce growth, but the presence of one is symptomatic of a forward-thinking church. |
| While most congregations in America comprise a single racial/ethnic group, those that are multi-racial are most likely to have experienced strong growth in attendance. This is totally opposite the church-growth wisdom of 20 years ago and reflective of our more diverse and inclusive society. |
More important than theological orientation is the religious character of the congregation and clarity of mission and purpose. Growing churches can be liberal or conservative or anywhere in between, but they are clear about why they exist and about what they are to be doing.
Several “conventional wisdom” ideas about growth were debunked by this study. The age or gender of the pastor does not matter. Worship style is not determinative of growth. Location may help but does not prohibit growth. The main quality of growing churches is that they are considered “spiritually vital and alive” by those who attend them. That is not a demographic or sociological factor; that is about the heart of our faith.
As we look across the Arkansas United Methodist landscape, we see many churches are struggling. Some of the growth-producing programs and activities may be out of reach for some churches. But I believe most of our churches can introduce some changes that liven up worship. Conflicted churches can deal with issues and move toward reconciliation. Nearly all of us could be more racially inclusive. And every single church can be “vitally and spiritually alive.” What this requires is pretty simple:
| a clear sense of God’s vision for the church in its mission context — that takes study; |
| some pastoral and lay leaders who will have the guts to do what it takes to pursue the vision — that takes courage; and |
| the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit — that takes prayer. |
I am convinced a church can grow in some ways no matter where it is located – geographically or spiritually. I believe that is what God wants for every community of faith.
1 http://fact.hartsem.edu, as reported in Newscope, January 26, 2007, and Lewis Center Update, February 7, 2007.
[William O. “Bud” Reeves is senior pastor of First UMC, Hot Springs. He can be reached at brobud@fumchs.com.]
Viewpoint: The Shepherd’s Staff –“Growing Great in 2008: seek clarity in purpose” reprinted with permission from the Arkansas United Methodist. January 18, 2008