Posted on 10/24/2009 9:20:43 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Offering a new perspective on the reality of aging denominations, The United Methodist Church studied the death rates of Methodists and the general American population and found that the church is dying faster.
The death rates for members of the nearly 8 million-member denomination are about a third higher than the national average, according to the "Pockets of 'Youthfulness' in an Aging Denomination" report.
In 2005, the United Methodist death rate was 134 percent of the U.S. death rate among those 15 years and older.
Among UMC's 62 annual conferences, or regional bodies, in the United States, 34 of them (representing 41 percent of UMC membership) reported death rates 20 percent or higher than their general population.
"There is no future for The United Methodist Church in the United States unless we can learn to reach more people, younger people and more diverse people,” said the Rev. Lovett Weems, director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, which compiled the report, as reported by the United Methodist News Service.
The graying and declining membership has led to numerous multi-million dollar ad campaigns in an effort to reach more people, particularly young ones.
"Rethink Church" is the United Methodist Church's newest campaign targeting 19- to 34-year-olds who may not be familiar with the church or who are seeking to make their lives more meaningful.
More than $20 million in ads are being launched over the next four years.
"Reaching new populations – which tend to be younger and more diverse than traditional United Methodist constituents – needs to be a high priority," Weems told UMNS.
According to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, members in mainline denominations were younger than the general U.S. population in the 1960s. But over the last several decades, membership has continuously grown older.
While death rates may not be exact indicators of age, the Center – which set out to examine age trends in the United Methodist Church – pointed out that they do help show patterns that should correspond generally to age, considering that 75 percent of deaths in recent years occurred among people aged 65 and older.
The Lewis Center recommends that United Methodist churches not only reach new populations, but also begin new congregations as they tend to reach younger people at a higher rate than existing churches.
The 254 member United Methodist Church which I pastor has grown during my tenure here:
In 2007 we lost 4 members due to death but gained 14 members as professions of faith, 6 on transfer from other UM churches, and 5 on transfers from other Churches (197 members - 4 + 25 = 219). Average attendance 125
In 2008 we lost 2 members due to death, 1 transfer out, but gained 11 members as professions of faith, 7 on transfer from other UM churches, and 3 on transfer from other Churches (219 members - 3 + 21 = 237). Average Attendance 149
In 2009 we lost 5 members due to death (one in Iraq), 3 transfered out, but gained 16 on profession of faith, 2 on transfer from other UM churches, and 7 on transfer from other Churches (237 - 8 + 25 = 254). Average Attendance 171.
My congregation is fairly moderate as far as theology goes, some FAR LEFT liberals (they’re not too happy with me) and lots of people in the middle and a few on the right. Average age of the worshipping congregation is in the 40s. Oldest member of the church is 92. I have few in their 80s, a bunch of super active 70s, and then a lot all the way down to the 20s and teens. Not a large number of little children (about 8 in the average children’s sermon on Sunday morning), but the youth group has grown a lot as the little ones have been growing up into it. Churches this size tend to go through waves where there will be lots of little kids but not many youth, then lots of youth but not many little kids.
Even despite the economy, our finances are up as is all of our programing — Bible Studies, music programs, youth programs, mission programs, outreach and evangelism. in 2007 and 2008 we built one Habitat for Humanity house ... this year we built 2. We opened a food pantry which serves a huge number of people in need, and my people supply and run it wonderfully. We had a HUGE turn out for VBS the past 2 years.
So ... not all UM churches are declining.
You can more or less get to know the future of a church by the size of their Sunday School and Youth Program as well. Inspite of the fact that the UMC overall is losing members, there are still pockets of UMC churches out there that are GROWING. Such churches within the overll denomination tend to BUCK the politically correct trend and remain faithful to the traditions of the Wesley Brothers.
That’s why my family quit the Methodist Church.
I would expect the death rate most denominations to be higher than the national average. Most have problems getting teenagers and young adults, thus they are skewed older than the population in general. Maybe if you had communion as all you can eat nachos and beer, you might skew the church's membership younger.
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
-- 1 Corinthians 11:29-31
Years ago I posted my tale of ostracizing and dismissal from my UMC when I demanded greater theological orthodoxy and less leftist ideology. Despite some isolate pockets of Christianity in the UMC, I now consider the UMC en toto an apostate, pagan organism. They are part of the liturgical wing of the international communist movement, testimony to the malevolent genius of Antonio Gramsci.
Is George W Bush still a member?
I go to a UMC and it is growing.
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