I was their church consultant in 2003. The church’s peak attendance was 750 in 1975. By the time I got there the attendance had fallen to an average of 83. The large sanctuary seemed to swallow the relatively small crowd on Sunday morning.
The reality was that most of the members did not want me there. They were not about to pay a consultant to tell them what was wrong with their church. Only when a benevolent member offered to foot my entire bill did the congregation grudgingly agree to retain me.
I worked with the church for three weeks. The problems were obvious; the solutions were difficult.
On my last day, the benefactor walked me to my rental car. “What do you think, Thom?” he asked. He could see the uncertainty in my expression, so he clarified. “How long can our church survive?” I paused for a moment, and then offered the bad news. “I believe the church will close its doors in five years.”
I was wrong. The church closed just a few weeks ago. Like many dying churches, it held on to life tenaciously. This church lasted ten years after my terminal diagnosis.
My friend from the church called to tell me the news. I took no pleasure in discovering that not only was my diagnosis correct, I had mostly gotten right all the signs of the impending death of the church. Together my friend and I reviewed the past ten years. I think we were able to piece together a fairly accurate autopsy. Here are eleven things I learned.
- The church refused to look like the community. The community began a transition toward a lower socioeconomic class thirty years ago, but the church members had no desire to reach the new residents. The congregation thus became an island of middle-class members in a sea of lower-class residents.
- The church had no community-focused ministries. This part of the autopsy may seem to be stating the obvious, but I wanted to be certain. My friend affirmed my suspicions. There was no attempt to reach the community.
- Members became more focused on memorials. Do not hear my statement as a criticism of memorials. Indeed, I recently funded a memorial in memory of my late grandson. The memorials at the church were chairs, tables, rooms, and other places where a neat plaque could be placed. The point is that the memorials became an obsession at the church. More and more emphasis was placed on the past.
- The percentage of the budget for members’ needs kept increasing. At the church’s death, the percentage was over 98 percent.
- There were no evangelistic emphases. When a church loses its passion to reach the lost, the congregation begins to die.
- The members had more and more arguments about what they wanted. As the church continued to decline toward death, the inward focus of the members turned caustic. Arguments were more frequent; business meetings became more acrimonious.
- With few exceptions, pastoral tenure grew shorter and shorter. The church had seven pastors in its final ten years. The last three pastors were bi-vocational. All of the seven pastors left discouraged.
- The church rarely prayed together. In its last eight years, the only time of corporate prayer was a three-minute period in the Sunday worship service. Prayers were always limited to members, their friends and families, and their physical needs.
- The church had no clarity as to why it existed. There was no vision, no mission, and no purpose.
- The members idolized another era. All of the active members were over the age of 67 the last six years of the church. And they all remembered fondly, to the point of idolatry, was the era of the 1970s. They saw their future to be returning to the past.
- The facilities continued to deteriorate. It wasn’t really a financial issue. Instead, the members failed to see the continuous deterioration of the church building. Simple stated, they no longer had “outsider eyes.”
Though this story is bleak and discouraging, we must learn from such examples. As many as 100,000 churches in America could be dying. Their time is short, perhaps less than ten years.
What do you think of the autopsy on this church? What can we do to reverse these trends?
Posted on April 24, 2013
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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473 Comments
I believe when you focus on the lost, the saved will grow. But when you focus on growing the saved, the lost are forgotten. Thank you for this sobering update on the kingdom. #fuel.
VERY GOOD ARTICLE, ONE OF MY TASKS THE LORD GAVE ME, IS BREATHING LIFE INTO DEAD CHURCHES,AND ELIMINATING THE DIVISIONS IN THE BODY, ONE THING I NOTICED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR CHURCH WHEN OUR PASTOR TRIED TO CONTACT ALL THE OTHER CHURCHES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE HOW WE COULD COME TOGETHER TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, HE GOT NO REPLIES! UNTILL WE CAN BREACH THE DENOMINATIONAL/ETHNIC BARRIERS IT WILL BE HARD TO STITCH THE BODY TOGETHER MEGA CHURCHES ALOT OF TIMES WON’T COME TOGETHER WITH SMALL CHURCHES, UNLESS THERE IS A TIE, LIKE THE LEADER CAME THROUGH THAT CHURCH UNTILL WE CAN MOVE FROM RELIGION TO RELATIONSHIP AND FOLLOW THE HEAD OF THE BODY ,THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND DO THINGS HIS WAY, WE WILL SEE THESE THINGS. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON NUMBERS ,FOCUS ON THE GOSPEL(JESUS) HE SAID LIFT ME UP AND I WILL DRAW ALL MEN TO ME! WE MUST UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONE BODY(CHURCH) AND IT HAS NO DENOMINATION/ETHNICITY BUT ONE NEW MAN GRAFTED TOGETHER BY CHRIST JESUS ON THE CROSS!
I so see the importance of church – yet it is so difficult for many of us to find a church that works! Here’s what I found out that may be helpful. Relevence! So many churchs that I’ve visited not at all relevent yet the word is so relevent and too many preachers are talking lots and saying nothing practical enough for the folks to take home and apply! Perhaps another thing to watch for is the ‘SPOOKY’ stuff that keeps regular folks from ever attending your churh or the spooky stuff that stops the regulare congregation from ever bringing their friends to a church function. One more thing that could help is someone needs to let the preacher know to stop blaming the Holy Ghost for his being long winded – so often the only one that loves hearing the preacher go too long is the preacher and maybe his spouse!
When I moved from Illinois to Tulsa Oklahoma, I was amazed at there being churches on every corner. I just chalked it up to being in the belt buckle of the bible belt. After being here for six years now I have discovered that just because there are churches, it seems everywhere, that doesn’t mean they are all doing well. “Holding onto life tenaciously,” as you mentioned earlier doesn’t even begin to describe what I have observed. There are many churches here that have offered to join with each other so churches would not have to totally shut down, but because of “The remembrance of the old days” refuse too, thinking they can and will once again thrive, only to inevitably have to close their doors. I do not understand why staff and congregations will not pull churches together to glorify and lift up the name of Jesus. It’s really bewildering!
It’s interesting reading your posts. It seems often from the leadership standpoint that we criticize the Bride of Christ for various reasons and point to the demise of local churches because of the fault of the people. Many pastors I have encountered have the same issues as factors charged against our flocks. I know so many pastors and people with whom I have attended seminary that come into churches “with a God given agenda” telling the church how they need to change. How can we not expect churches to be dysfunctional with the average tenure of its leaders (and I would argue its not always the churches fault). Any family that switched daddies as much as churches do are bound to have issues. There has to be a willingness to become one of the people of the church and the community. To many leaders operate from a positional respect without willing to plant their flags in a church long-term and have a willingness to develop a vision utilizing the way that God has gifted the whole local body. I read articles like this and the comments especially and it always seems like the assumption is that there is an underlying problem with the people. How are sheep to act when there is no guiding shepherd who loves them that they can trust? Many of these small dying churches I encounter are full of loving people. What they often lack is a someone who loves them enough to walk with them and celebrate an inch of victory over the expectations of radical growth. If you are going to do an autopsy of a church start with by examining its pastors. Often our (pastors) long term mindset is what needs changed.
Ben –
Please read the follow-up post where my first issue deals with leadership.
Thanks.
Thom,
What a poignant message! With 30 years of bi-vocational ministry seving in “Helps” and “Administration” I have witnessed the “Ichabod” condition more often than I care to recount. What is not growing is dying. When fruit-bearing ceases, action must be taken to prune dead branches, water the roots, and sometimes re-plant. Typically these failures can be categorized by a lack of vision, hope, and obedience. The analysis you provided perfectly shadows the same reasons why businesses often fail. If you look at this from a secular perspective, the same rules apply. Unfortunately, most fail to recognize the cycles, indicators, and necessary steps to make course corrections. Based upon the posts, you have struck a nerve with many servants of God looking or solutions.
Now here’s an article I read yesterday that addresses the effect of the total inverse of this situation, and indeed if such a movement can capture a parish’s imagination and action, there could be a whole new kind of revival.
Like any God-breathed revival, however, it will be scary, because we who are doing it and even leading it will have no idea how it will actually happen, or what it will “look like”, or even what it will /believe/ when it is through changing us all. Aslan is not a tame lion….
Oops, here’s the link:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/05/the-neighboring-movement-a-simple-radical-idea.html
I did not read through all the replies but in the article and about 15 of the posts I read, I was wondering if perhaps the problem is that the life of Christ, HIS power and life reigning in US is lacking in the mission of a dying church. A church focused on Christ would likely be vibrant and alive. Any “ism” is addressed when the love of Christ is the whole focus of any ministry. Growth in the hearts of the members may be slow and likely, some will not want Christ to soften some unyeilded parts of their hearts, but, if the love of Christ is the heart of the church, the only reason the doors will close is in God’s timing. And, when the love of Christ softens hearts and attitudes, it is HIS love that will draw all men to HIM (and by extension…to a church).
Sue, I think that might have a /lot/ to do with what is meant by “focused n Christ”.
There are many parishes and even whole denominations who are focused of Christ as one might focus on a piece of artwork: admiring it, counting its beauty, analyzing the methods used and the possible meanings behind it… but ultimately having little impact on their daily life and work. The individual is enriched, but the art stays in its frame or on its pedestal, and no one else is touched but the believer.
Inversely, Jesus talked about a double focus, a two-sided law above all laws, from which all other laws (and actions) are (or should be) derived: Love God *AND* Love Neighbor. So, if by “focused on Christ” you mean focused on living out his teachings beyond the walls of the buildings, and acting as he did in the lives of the people who /don’t yet believe/, then, yes, I agree.
Hi Warren….sorry if I caused any confusion….. When I said, “focused on Christ” I was not referring to an outward focus rather a Christ-centered passionate, fervent desire that everything, every decision or action is based on the love that Christ has for us. That our love for everyone flow out of a heart that has been regenerated and transformed by a relationship with Jesus. Where the Spirit of God speaks love to the very heart of everyone we come in contact with.
Yes, it has NOTHING to do with a church building. WE are the church, the building is just a convenient place for us to meet where we control the environment. i.e….though a bar is a building, it would not be the most conducive place to praise and worship…not that God would have any objection to touching the heart of someone in a bar. But, then, the church building is not the only place where we live out our Christian walk, it is just a place where believers meet, encourage each other in love, hear the Word and continue the process of renewing our minds so that we are transformed more and more into the image of Christ. And for the sake of clarity….I do understand that many churches are like a war zone….bickering, gossip and backbiting…just like the world and not focused on Christ in the way I was describing above. Unfortunately, that is why so many unbelievers steer clear of churches….they perceive us to be hypocrites. And sadly, some believers have so many unhealed life-wounds that their lives look no different and outwardly do not present the Gospel as anything more than another set of rules to follow.
But, not to worry….God is bigger than all of our unhealed hearts! He is so much more wonderful than most believers know. It’s His grace that speaks life to our hearts and it is by that grace that love reaches into the hearts of the unbeliever and draws them to Himself….we get to enjoy the privilege of being part of the process 🙂
Very sad this chronicle of a death foretold. I think the most significant factor that could lead a church to die, is not willing to examine and evaluate relational and spiritual life of the church, or after the review is not willing to accept the findings of the review to change direction to God’s preferred future for the church.
Brother Thom, thank you for the autopsy on this church. It is a stark reminder of what nearly happened to the church I have the priviilege to pastor today. Seven short years ago, this church seemed destined to close. The lawn mower was housed in fellowship hall. The curtains moved when the blustery Ohio winter winds blew. The roof leaked and the baptiistry was filled with spiders, cob webs, and Christmas decorations of days gone by. Five pastors in eight short years each leaving shaking their heads. The diagnosis seemed terminal. Yet God had another plan. God had left a remnant of people who continued to pray and seek His face. The church called me as pastor. We, with the help of our state convention and local association got some grant money. We did a campus rehabilitation, installed a new sign, paved the parking lot and started reaching out. Despite the objections of older members who insisted it would not work, we had our first vbs. I prayed, please God send us souls. He did. Six children came to know Christ that first year. We continue to reach the lost, visit, and are attempting to meet needs in our community. To God be the glory. Victory Baptist Church continues to thrive and impact our community.
We press toward the goal of such a high calling!
Thank you Mark.
You are right on target with the article. Before the church dies…even before it starts making the decisions you talked about In the article, I believe most churches make the fatal flaw of forgetting to love one another. As Southern Baptists, we boast of being a denomination of more than 16 million. But, with about half of our members no longer associated with a church, we are actually a denomination of 8 million…or less. The typical church is no different. More than half of the membership of the typical church is no longer associated with that church or any church. We do not love one another when our fellow church members (also called our brothers, sisters, or our church family) walk away from the church and we act as if nothing has happened. We must do better!
I cannot believe this article. It is as Tom has lead by the Holy Spirit to pen this piece. So many churches have this as their mission statement “Us four and no more.” Put these 11 statement in practice and you can post “Spiritual Bankrupt” on your church door. Keep up the great work!