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The statistics are disturbing: while there are gloriously outstanding exceptions in every district of our Annual Conference, collectively, the effectiveness of our congregations in carrying out Christ’s mission to make more and better disciples is declining.
- Average weekly worship attendance is down 12% or 20,423 persons over the last six years.
- Professions of faith are down 34% or almost 3,500 persons annually over the last ten years.
- It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of American Protestant congregations are stagnated on a plateau or are spiraling in decline and
- that between 3,500 to 4,000 congregations close annually.
Why is this diminishing pattern of fruitfulness so wide spread?
Certainly, the answer is complex and varies in different communities and congregations. But the zoomed-out, 30,000 foot answer must deal with the pervasive need for congregational transformation from two perspectives:
- radical changes in our context for ministry, and
- the loss by leadership in many congregations of vital, motivating faith and commitment to Christ’s purposes for His Church.
The reason so many efforts at restoring congregational fruitfulness have failed is that they have not adequately address both these realities.
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