... which simply means their membership numbers are about as useful as those reported by the Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists.
Our church was having a yard sale to raise money for an orphanage and church in Haiti.
A lady approached one of our new members that was working in the sale, and very angrily told her how dissapointed she was in our church. Her story was that she had been a member at one time, but had moved her membership to another church 25 years ago. However, her son was technically still on the role, since he didn’t move his membership when she left. She said he was a drug addict, and had never attended when she was there (and certainly never came after she left 25 years ago).
The reason she was so angry? Her son had been killed in a motorcycle accident two years ago, and no one at my church had sent this lady a condolence card... sigh
There’s not a single person at the church that even remembers this family, including the pastor, who’s been there nearly 30 years. So, we suggested that she stop by and talk to the preacher about it. :)
Fletcher J
Presbyterian numbers can be pretty good. Since churches are ‘encouraged’ to pay a per capita to the higher bodies, overstating numbers brings its own costs.
Our church generally systematically cleans up the roles about every 5 years. While it isn’t perfect - some folks who are called ask to remain on the rolls even if they aren’t presently attending - the numbers are fairly good.
And, as noted in the story, it is typical to clean up the rolls in the interim between pastors. Of course, in a Presbyterian church, you may have a senior pastor stay for 30 or more years.