Old Dog, New Tricks

Many churches are struggling with the best way to grow the church. I had started to rationalize the idea that our church was growing because we are staying even. It seemed like a milestone to maintain our numbers while so many other churches were losing members and perhaps the definition of "growth" needed to be reconsidered. I think I took the coward's way out. Our Presbytery is using one tool to measure growth and that is by the number of adult baptisms; not content to receive new members by transfer of letter, but from outreach, discovery and transformation. The following blog asks many questions that I would not have been brave enough to ask.

I,GeekRev - "Old Dog, New Tricks"

Last week I was at General Assembly. There we had the election of a new moderator with feet firmly planted in the PC(USA) and the postmodern world.... In some small ways it feels like our denomination might be at the beginning of a turning point. It feels like there are enough people with voice and power who are beginning to have conversations about the fact that church as we do it is not working. Sure, it’s working for a good portion of the people sitting in the pews to some degree (arguably), but the church does not exist for its members.

I have a million and five thoughts swimming in my head about what the church should be. And I am brought back to a question I have had before. Can the typical PC(USA) church change enough to be church for the younger generations? Let me rephrase that. Can the typical PC(USA) church change enough to be church for the younger generations while they are still young? Or is the primary way to reach people who aren’t in church today with New Church Developments?

What do you think? If our churches today can change enough to reach people not in church then why haven’t we done it already and why do you think we can do it now? If we can’t do it with existing churches then how are we going to do it? - Shawn Coon, July 2008

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are blessed with a caring and vibrant congregation. We thank you for the leadership who investigate the hard questions, who seek to follow your will, and who are willing to struggle with finances and dreams. At a time when it's easier to stay in the comfort of our own homes, these leaders are committed to providing the best care of the congregation and our neighbors, at the expense of many hours of work, study and prayer. At a time when it's easier to maintain the familiar surroundings of our church and worship styles, leaders are committed to perserving and nourishing its members and also committed to include outreach and evangelism. We long to share the joy of a Christ-filled life. O God, how are we going to do it? Amen