FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

 

   

Declining and Thriving Congregations
Why do some congregations thrive, some decline and many do neither? Recently I read an interesting review of a book titled “Growing Spiritual Redwoods” by Bill Easum. Easum is responsible for a similar group of congregations to what we in the LCMS call a district. After many years of serving in his position and observing congregations, he writes in his book that he believes the mind-set of members in declining and thriving congregations differs significantly. The following are a few of his characterizations:
Declining: committed to the church  Declining: managing committees  Declining: holding offices Declining: making decisions  Declining: trained for membership  Declining: serving at the church  Declining: preoccupied with raising dollars Declining: doing church work  Declining: retiring from church work  Declining: surveys internal needs  Declining: eager to know everyone  Declining: loyal to each other	Thriving:  committed to Christ Thriving:  deploying missions Thriving:  doing hands-on ministry Thriving:  making disciples Thriving:  on a life quest for quality Thriving:  serving in the world Thriving:  preoccupied with souls Thriving:  matching people with gifts Thriving:  life-long personal growth Thriving:  Surveys community needs Thriving:  eager for everyone to Know God Thriving:  drawn to the unchurched
Easum is not Lutheran, thus his terminology may be a bit different from ours, but we Lutherans agree with his conclusion that lives are changed through the “transforming power of Jesus Christ.” For life-changing work to occur, congregational and personal ministry must be founded upon the simple truth of Ephesians 2:4-5, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” The highest priority is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as savior of the world. This means that what we do is always:
B  Christ centered.  B Anchored firmly upon faith in Jesus Christ and the use of Spirit given gifts (Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12-14). B Obedient to Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations(Matthew 28). B  Focused upon the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of those within the church family and equally the people of the community at large. B  Promoting life-long spiritual growth and Christian service within and outside of the congregation.
How would you rate your congregation? Is it declining? Is it thriving? What should your congregation continue to do? As you evaluate your congregation’s ministry what needs to improve? Change? Be modified? Stop? How would you rate your personal ministry? Is it declining? Is it thriving? What should you continue to do? What needs to improve? Change? Stop? The seven deadly words of the church are, “We have always done it this way.” Imagine what your life would be like if you lived it based upon such a philosophy. You would be traveling by foot instead of using modern transportation. You would wash your clothes in a stream or by hand in a tub of water instead of a modern washing machine. You would be ignorant of what is going on throughout the world instead of having instant access to the world through modern media including the internet. There would be no furnace, microwave, or refrigerator in your home. There would be no telephone, let alone cell phone and e-mail. You would be speaking German (Spanish, Mandarin, French, etc.) instead of English. The doctrine of our church is the doctrine that must remain until the end of time. Traditions should always be respected but never worshipped. Changes should be made only after careful, prayerful, intentional study. Change should always be in conformity with the doctrine we believe, teach and confess.