2.11.2009

No Future

I have a habit of printing off interesting articles and allowing them to pile up on my desk.  I was going through my stack yesterday and found an article entitled "No Future for Methodists Unless Change Occurs, Say Leaders."  It's an older article, from March of last year, but the message is one that needs to be heard by every leader and member of the local church.

I'm a first-generation United  Methodist.  My mother was raised in the Catholic Church and my father in the Southern Baptist Church.  Ever wondered what happens when you mix those two together?  You get a United Methodist!

I believe myself to be very ecumenical in my approach to ministry.  Jesus is Jesus, whether you're Catholic, Baptist, Episcopalian, Disciples of Christ, Lutheran, or Presbyterian - or non-denominational for that matter.  I also see value in the denominational structure because there are just some issues that we, as Christians, will never come together on.  I will always struggle with the Baptists because I believe in baptism as a sacrament that needs only be done once and infants are eligible.  I will disagree with Catholics because I believe that we should observe an "open table" in Holy Communion - that it is offered to all, just as the grace of God is offered to all.  You get the idea.

Back to the article.  It talks about how membership in Protestant churches has been down over the last several decades (since the 1950's actually).  United Methodists are the second largest denom to Baptists and we're still 8 million strong, but the only places we're showing an overall increase in numbers is in parts of Africa and SE Asia.

Half of Gen-Xers and Millenials have left the denom and some have found homes in other churches while others haven't found a need for the Christian community at all.  The UM's that remain are getting older and whiter.  Younger people aren't coming in and the future, according to the Council of Bishops, is looking bleak.

I sit in church meetings regularly and I have frequent conversations with church members.  Everybody's concerned with where the young people have gone.  Average age at Mt. Bethel is probably around 60 with very few young adults, youth, or children.  Survival is going to be painful for the long-time members of churches like Mt. Bethel.  In the first half of the 20th century, if you built a building with a steeple, people would miraculously appear and they would attend faithfully.  They'd put up with bad preaching and watered-down missions and evangelism.  Times have changed.

The churches that are growing don't wait for people to come to them, they are reaching out to people.  And they're not doing it in a way that promotes faded-out traditions but focuses on meeting the needs and interests of people that have either never been a part of the Christian faith or were once a part of the traditional church and were wounded or left unfulfilled.

Things will have to change.  No, not every church will need to convert to contemporary worship and not every pastor will have to figure out how to sport the untucked striped shirt and gelled hair (thank God).  We will have to take a look at our structures though - go from a hierarchy approach to a team approach.  Every member has to figure out how to be a minister to others, looking to the pastor for leadership (discipleship) and inspiration and encouragement.

People come to church because they're looking for something and their options are wide ranging with more churches in communities that offer more ministries.  People are hungry for what's missing.  If we refuse to feed them for the sake of tradition or for the sake of our own comfort or power, then we have a problem.  If that's the Methodist way, then I don't want to be Methodist.

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In the same vein, kudos to those pastors out there who are pushing limits and helping their people reach others.  Grace to the pastors that are planting new churches with the sole purpose of reaching the unreached.  And to the lay leaders that hear this call and have the desire to see things change, feel free to visit Mt. Bethel anytime - we have others who have the same desire, but you can never have enough voices.

1 comments:

Mezzo Forte said...

It is a well known fact that UM churches are basically "dying on the vine" but I don't necessarily think it's because we're too traditional or don't reach out in all cases...I think the governing body of our denom is generally a very liberal minded group. Many seminaries are taking God as Father out of the teaching. They too often are more worried about not ruffling feathers than taking a stand for what is morally and Biblically sound and right. I think when schools of theology start telling soon to be preachers not to refer to God as Father or in the masculine and soon to be preachers just comply without question...we have a problem. I think it is great to have "open hearts, minds and doors" but when that philosophy hinders or completely halts true accountability among believers then what good is it? Do we want people to fill up the pews or do we want a body of believers that will hold one another accountable in love- even at the risk of upsetting them...Jesus made a lot of folks uncomfortable by telling them the truth about their sin - He totally loved them, unconditionally, that's why He was bold in His actions. I think we need ministry opportunities but I also think churches can become so ministry oriented that it just becomes a “let’s do this program or study so we can get this or that group involved” and we start trading quality for quantity. Ya know what I mean. It is important to meet the needs of the community and the needs of the congregation but sometimes, the church gets so busy doing what the flesh sees as God’s work that we push God right on out of it and it becomes “our church does this” and “our church does that” rather than “look what God is doing…how He’s using us”.
I am a fourth or fifth generation UM and the daughter of a UM preacher and I have seen the UMC at it's best and worst. And like you, I have differing thoughts on doctrinal issues but that is a whole other “soap box” for me especially where infant baptism is concerned.
I believe that the UM is headed for a split...it's not a matter of if it's a matter of when. There will be the Wesley Methodists and the New Methodists (for lack of a better term). I don’t think we have to abandon tradition to reach people…I like being a part of a denom that is so rich in its tradition although I must admit that I wasn’t raised in “high church” but I enjoy our traditional service equally as much as our blended. I believe that there is a way to maintain the integrity of our tradition while reaching the community with God’s love. Yes, things will have to change and they will…that’s where that little ol split will come in to play. You’re right people come to church because they are looking for something, but I don’t necessarily think that they are looking for more stuff to do…they are looking for Jesus and our job , our mission – the thing we are commissioned to do is to show them Jesus. Programs and ministries are great and necessary – don’t get me wrong. But what we are called to be is salt and light…to show those around us God’s love and to reach out with His word. I’m guessing that Jesus and the 12 didn’t have a lot of programs or ministry opportunities or drums and guitars (and I lurve me some drums and guitars) to draw the people. They drew them with the truth in love…with the Gospel. I understand totally what you are saying and don’t necessarily disagree…I just think that the Word is enough and if you walk it as well as talk it everywhere you go – people will be drawn to that and want some of what you have and will come to where you are to get it. I’m not saying don’t strive to provide opportunities for study, outreach, etc. It’s important but we always gotta remember to keep the “main thing the main thing”-right? It’s a very fine line between being a transformed body or one that has conformed to the world just to get them in the doors. They will know we are Christians by our music…NO…by our ministries…NO…by our LOVE..yeah, that’s the ticket. If you love them…they will come!
Keep on keepin on brother! God bless you – love you guys!