3 branches “progressive, traditionalist and radical”
How many Methodist churches are barely hanging on financially at this time with one church.
Can they stay open if they lose 10~20~40% of their members?
How many of their current active members are ages 65-80?
How many members have found an online church and not Methodist during the pandemic and will probably stay with the online church except for funerals or other events?
The Catholic churches in N. California in spite of being pro immigrants are closing some of their schools and some of their long time parishes due to lack of interest/attendance.
My Mother and her 3 sisters were long time church goers.
After they buried their husbands, sold their homes and moved into senior retirement homes, they went to church via tv or visiting rectors at the homes. They were not interested in going out even with family to attend church.
About every 2-3 months,they would get together in the same retirement home for a couple of days of bridge playing. The only prayers were for biddable hands.
They were still Christian believers, and they no longer really wanted to attend church. They read their bibles and their Day by Day booklets. They loved reading Max’s daily readings/lessons.
After a year of the pandemic, many friends, relatives and us like the online services. We will probably do both online and in church when our church reopens for services.
A nice, interesting answer and anecdote.