Posted on 02/28/2022 7:42:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
There are times when a church attendance plateau is a victory. I believe many churches are in a season of stagnation, and it’s not all bad.
But first, a few caveats.
Stagnation is not the goal, but a plateau can point to a future growth climb. Also, churches can be in denial about declines. Leaders should never ignore problems.
The first step on the plateau is to recognize where you are. Unfortunately, churches and leaders can tend to lack self-awareness. Don’t call declines a plateau. The definition of being on a plateau is an extended season of not growing or declining. Be self-aware. You can’t move forward if you don’t know where you are now.
At Church Answers, we’re seeing a trend of larger churches operating at about 60% of pre-pandemic attendance and smaller churches operating at about 80% of pre-pandemic attendance. And many churches are stuck right now at these levels and will likely remain there for the foreseeable future.
But, it’s not all bad. Here’s why.
The Great Reshuffling is producing strong headwinds. Millions of people every month are quitting their jobs. The headlines scream of a “great resignation.” People are making big changes en masse. This phenomenon influences churches. Churchgoers are moving to different places and considering other churches. I don’t like the idea of church resignation, so I use the term reshuffling. Whether or not it’s spiritually healthy is yet to be determined. But the reshuffling is occurring. Holding your own right now with attendance is a victory.
Attendance frequency returns slowly and over time. One of the most common trends among churches is decreasing attendance frequency. People are coming less often to church.
Attendance frequency measures how often a person comes to church. For example, an “active” member was once considered someone who came twice, or even three times a week. Today an active member is considered someone who comes twice a month.
Consider a church that has 400 people attending four out of four weeks. This church has an average weekly attendance of 400. Take the same church with the same people but change only the attendance frequency — lowered to two out of four weeks. The church’s average weekly attendance is now 200. As attendance frequency declines, the congregation will feel smaller while getting larger. The people coming less frequently still email, call, and set up counseling appointments. They still ask you to do funerals and weddings and come to the hospital.
Stagnation in attendance figures likely points to more people being part of the church due to declining attendance frequency. Any gains in attendance frequency will occur slowly and through deliberate strategies to get people into a weekly rhythm of attendance. This better pattern of more consistent attendance is what pastors should pursue, but the effort will take months, if not years.
There is a replacement issue with the older generation. I hope your church members live a long time! But the reality is that the older generations — with more consistent church attendance patterns — are passing away. Attendance stagnation over time means the church is gaining new people, just not at a rate faster than those who are leaving or passing away.
Growing younger as a church can create a plateau effect. It’s always a good sign when the median age drops in a church. But in many cases, you need two new people to replace one older person to retain attendance levels because the older generation tends to be at church more often.
Sickness has come in waves the last two years. I hope we’re able to pull out of the pandemic soon. The reality is each wave of the pandemic is a blow to church attendance. As soon as you get any momentum, it seems another variant hits. People get sick and don’t all come back at once — an understandable problem but an entirely frustrating one. If you have consistent attendance patterns through these waves, consider it a victory.
Stagnation is frustrating. But right now, it’s not all bad. Churches need to grow, obviously. But sometimes, the plateau is not a bad place to be for a season.
Originally published at Church Answers.
Sam Rainer is president of Church Answers and pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida.
If churches make themselves too much like the rest of secular society, there is no point in going to them.
We had 2 people get up and leave during the sermon on missions and “are the heathen lost?”. Jesus said His Gospel would be an offense to the world, so we must be doing something right. Preaching the Gospel.
He missed the number one reason that many churches are stagnating, it’s because they are going woke. The Left has been successfully infiltrating churches and Christian organizations. Even Soros has infested Christian organizations by “donating”. Liberal churches were always left leaning, but many more traditional churches have started leaning left. The churches that still hold to traditional Christian teaching seem to be thriving more. Christian Post doesn’t want you to know that.
I look at the few churches in our area which are either growing or holding steady and they all have one thing in common-- they preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not leftwing politics.
Churches need to grow, obviously.
I attend a Traditional Latin Mass in Milwaukee that is jam packed at the 8, 10 and 12 pm Mass. Full of young families with lots of kids.
If we went to the same church you would ha e seen me get up and walk out during the last semi-annual “man up” sermon where the pastor told us it was our duty to step up and provide for single mothers....almost all single by their initiation and/or poor life choices.
The same church where attendance during COVID restrictions was won by lottery....and where si gle parishioners were encouraged to give up their “ticket” so families could attend together. Followed by numerous requests to volunteer at various activities because married parishioners already had too many other obligations.
Gospel is one thing. Woke is another.
I think the persecution is going to get much worse which will produce a decline. Fake Christians, like many of our politicians, will drop out. That will eventually be a good thing because once the church has a solid core, it will become more attractive to others, then it will begin to grow.
Between Covid and Wokeness, traditional established Protestant churches are winnowing on the vine. Many folks aren’t coming back.
You’re lucky, God bless you.
Here in NJ it’s largely ‘’Father Flap Doodle’’ and wokeness.
Same with our TLM in Allentown Pa. Packed, young and old with people who want to be there.
The younger generations get bashed a lot but they really are more wise when it comes to Church history and liturgy. The protestant sects will continue to divide and dwindle along with the remaining wilted flower children who control the Roman Catholic Church. It’s a great time to be alive if you ask me.
Far too many people, when faced with a church that is more interested in social justice than preaching the Kingdom of Heaven simply leave. I wonder why more people don’t just look for a new church? There are plenty of good ones out there - you may have to spend some time visiting, but it’s worth it.
And don’t think that all churches in any given denomination are the same. I’ll use the Church of Christ as an example. Of course, C of C is really non-denominational, but there are some common themes. Still, some are more focused on which translation of the Bible they prefer, as an example, so try to not make sweeping generalizations.
Find a Bible believing church. There are so many in the USA
This is humorously called a Calvinist Revival. All the pretend Christians leave and the church membership shrinks, but they are all solid.
Wow! You haven’t visited the right church(es) for sure!
It was a nice little church and I enjoyed the 10;30 Mass.
But over time an ever changing number of priests came and went and each one became more and more ‘’woke’’ until I finally got fed up with it all but continued to go until “Mama'' passed away. When she did I stopped going.
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