Kirk Hadaway: Characteristics of congregations that are growing
Historical context: Part of the problems that all mainline churches have today is that the 1950s are considered normative. But really, that wasn?t the case: never before nor since have all dominations grown, and mainly because of booming population. But then came smaller families, and all churches growth rate began to decline. Mainline churches fared worse, because our birth rates were below the more conservative churches (since our birth rates were never as high as the more conservative churches to begin with).
We also had a greater falling away (became inactive: Kirk says that most mainline churches don?t drop out, they just drift away, still seeing some connection to their church, however remote.)
In early- late 1980s, Episcopal statistics began to show better stats than other mainline churches.
Only the Episcopal Church and the UUs (Unitarians) among the mainline churches are now growing, although it is small growth (and the UUs are still very small).
[Part of the growth in more conservative churches - as much as 70% of the growth - is the result of the larger birth rates of those churches].
"In recent years, the growth profile of the Episcopal Church has begun to more closely parallel that of the Southern Baptists."
In the Episcopal Church, 35% of congregations are growing; 15% are declining, which is the same as the southern Baptists.
How has the Episcopal Church grown?:
not by birth rates, not by average age, not by holding on to our children, but because we are successful at attracting more unchurched (or former members from other, especially conservative, churches) adults than other churches (same is true as UUs).
So why are these adults attracted?
Our liturgy, spirituality, theological substance, intellectual openness. The culture is changing to open itself to spirituality. We are distinct in that we have an identity (You see Lexus cars with Episcopal Church stickers on them, he says!)
Church leaders are concerned for renewal and growth, and there?s less a sense of growth as selling out.
Characteristics of growing congregations:
1 Are more effective in reaching our "traditional" constituency of affluent, well-educated people
2. Are better at reaching married couples with children.
3. Are an integral part of a local community: we go out into the community, and people know who we are; we are present to the community.
4. Vibrant worship that is not static or stagnant: not museum worship.
5. Emphasis faith development, spirituality, theological education.
6. Are involved in evangelism (broadly defined)
7. Are involved in social justice issues.
8. Do not let conflicts go unresolved.
9. Have a sense of purpose, not just a purpose or mission statement, and part of that is that want to and expect to transform lives.