Here is a link to one of the best articles I have seen analyzing the historical and current situation in the United Methodist church. It is well worth reading. Chaplain Philips has both the wisdom of a long time United Methodist and the slight detachment and broad perspective provided by his years in the military chaplaincy.
Tag: American church
George Barna is an experienced researcher who has studied churches for many years. Here is an article that seek to flag possible issues that may be leading to the decline that mainline churches have been experiencing. It is helpful as it reminds pastors like myself of pitfalls to avoid and emphases to maintain.
Here are some take-homes that I noticed for our own UM church in Copper Hill.
- I pray that I am allowed to stay at Copper Hill many more years. I was shocked to read that the average tenure of pastors in mainline churches is only 4 years which is one-half what it is in non-mainline churches. Annual conference just passed, and looking at the NYAC report of our UM area, I could tell that we are not doing well in that department. This week I begin year four at Copper Hill UMC. I am just beginning in the work that I believe God has called me here to accomplish. I believe it is unfair to the church for a pastor to stay at a church less than six years unless there are extenuating circumstances.
- Unfortunately, I note in the article that Copper Hill is typical of many mainline churches in that we have been adding members but only fast enough to stay about even in attendance. We need to seek ways to increase our outreach.
- Fortunately, we are well ahead of the curve in demographics. We are blessed to have young adults with children attending, visiting, and participating in the government of our church. This is awesome.
- I note that Barna calls attention to the need for commitment. Apparently, mainline churches are falling victim to their own pluralism. If the pastor does not give a clear gospel message that calls for salvation through Jesus, the raison d’etre of the church is compromised. The people in the pew catch the lack of purpose. Over time, attendance falters; giving declines and extremely few from the younger generation feel called into ministry. But if the gospel is front and center, the message of the cross has its own drawing power. The church, properly presented, is part of the greatest cause on earth. Churches with that attitude will have an excellent record of raising up both younger and middle-aged people for ministry.
Sometimes we are discouraged by the church’s decline
Sometimes we look around and are discouraged that the work of God seems to be in decline. And it is not our imagination either. One key indicator, though not the only one, is church attendance. Stats show that the percentage of people attending church is down and that the regularity of attendance of those who attend is also down. People in general feel that the church is losing its influence. This is not the first time in US history this has happened.
But God has sent revival to the Granby area before
But the good news is that God has repeated visited our area and reversed the trend. Here are three accounts of historical revivals in the Granby area that had marked positive effects upon the churches. These are three actual accounts of Granby area revivals including quotes from eye-witnesses, accounts found in historical records. I hope they will inspire us to believe that God is able to visit us again in the 2nd decade of the 21st century.
Jonathan Edwards 1741
Jonathan Edwards was one of America’s most accomplished intellectuals and theologians. Born in what is today South Windsor, CT, Edwards became a leader of New England’s first great awakening. His 1741 sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” first heard by throngs of believers in Enfield, CT is considered one of the most famous and influential ever delivered in the United States. [http://connecticuthistory.org/people/jonathan-edwards/]
“We went over to Enfield where we met dear Mr. Edwards of Northampton who preached a most awakening sermon from these words, Deuteronomy 32:35, and before the sermon was done there was a great moaning and crying went out through ye whole House…. ‘What shall I do to be saved,’ ‘Oh, I am going to Hell,’ ‘Oh, what shall I do for Christ,’ and so forth. So yet ye minister was obliged to desist, ye shrieks and cry were piercing and amazing.” – Stephen Williams
In 1747, Jonathan Edwards joined the movement started in Scotland called the “concert in prayer,” and in the same year published An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(theologian)]
East Granby 1814-1815
The reorganization of the Turkey Hills ecclesiastical society coincided with the religious reawakening that swept through Connecticut in the wake of what historians refer to as the age of “free thinking and free drinking.” In a July 1815 article on recent religious revivals, the “Connecticut Evangelical Magazine and Religious Intelligencer” lists Turkey Hills as one of the societies that “had been favored with special showers of grace.”
In the autumn of 1814, Mr. Nettleton commenced his labors in East Granby. This was a waste place. The moral condition of the people was exceedingly deportable. But God saw fit to turn again the captivity of Zion. Under Mr. Nettleton’s preaching, there was a very interesting revival of religion. -Rev. Bennett Tyler
The effect of that revival upon the church, and upon the community, was most happy and lasting. The schoolhouse and private rooms were filled with trembling worshipers. A solemnity and seriousness pervaded the community, which had not been experienced for years before. – Rev. Jonas B. Clark
33 people joined the Congregational church during the year of the revival.
[East Granby: the Evolution of a Connecticut Town by Mary Jane Springman and Betty Finnell Guinan pp. 117]
Copper Hill Church 1871
In the ministry of Lemuel Richardson, in 1871 there was an extensive revival of religion, attended with remarkable manifestations. The writer, at a single evening meeting in the church, which lasted from 7 o’clock until midnight, witnessed as many as 15 persons who became apparently unconscious. Some were stretched upon the floor; others were lying or being supported upon the seats. This visitation of “the Spirit” was regarded as a great blessing, and it certainly did strengthen the church in numbers. – Charles Horace Clark
[http://historicbuildingsct.com/?cat=273]
[Revival] gatherings often attracted so many people that they had to be held outdoors. When they lasted several days, the participants camped out nearby. Thus they became known as camp meetings. There were camp meetings at various locations near Copper Hill throughout the 19th century.
[East Granby: the Evolution of a Connecticut Town by Mary Jane Springman and Betty Finnell Guinan pp. 127]
Praying for God’s Visitation Today
At Copper Hill Church we are praying and preparing for God to visit his people again. As a part of this, this Sunday we will be participating in the second area united Grassroots prayer service. This series of prayer services is a cooperative effort of our church, Life Church and West Granby United Methodist Church and the three pastors. At 6 PM, March 6, we will be uniting in prayer at Life Church. Each prayer service has a special emphasis. The first one, held at Copper Hill, emphasized prayer for our country. This coming service, hosted by Life Church, will emphasize prayer for our churches and for New England as a region. A third one to be hosted by West Granby UMC is planned at a date to be announced.
Should worship planning and leadership be done to create a great performance or primarily to help the congregation be involved in what is happening?
http://worthilymagnify.com/2014/09/30/worship-at-a-crossroads-congregationalism-versus-performancism/
This excellent article explains a conflict that exists in the Christian church today. As the author says, a performance orientation in worship services that focuses attention on what happens up front can describe either a traditional service or a contemporary one. But I actually think what has brought the contrast the author describes into sharper focus is the modern trend to place church congregations literally in the dark as in a theater. This trend, I believe, decreases interaction and is culturally set up for a performance mindset. It makes the congregation feel more like an audience.
I have always taught that the most important thing that happens on Sunday morning is not what happens on the platform, it is what happens in the hearts of those in the pews. The job of worship leaders and pastors is to suggest/guide/facilitate those responses in the congregation. But that job cannot really be accomplished unless the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in people’s hearts. Every Sunday morning, what the pastor and others leading worship are trying to accomplish cannot be done by human beings. The transformation of lives, the healing of souls, the conversion of wills, the sanctifying of lives–this is all God’s work. Whatever happens up front has as it’s only purpose to help those who are attending to connect with God and his truth and respond to it. Focusing on performance first will not get this job done. Being aware that congregational involvement individually and collectively in the service is essential is basic to being used of God in worship.
I need to say though that focusing on congregational response in no way means that those leading worship should settle for less excellence in what they do than those who might have a performance mindset. Absolutely not! God’s work is worthy of our best efforts! God uses excellence by his servants to affect the lives of others. Those who minister show their heart for God in their excellence.
Washington Hill United Methodist Church
Did I mention that I love old churches? If you have driven by the corner of routes 219 and 179 you have probably seen the old brick sanctuary of Washington Hill UMC on the corner. The sanctuary is a gem of early colonial Methodist church architecture. It has never been “modernized” with things like electric lights, bathrooms, sound amplification, or hidden heating systems. The building dates from 1834 and has a wrap-around balcony on three sides, all the better to seat more people within easy earshot of the preacher. Heat is from a great ancient wood stove in the rear center with a stove pipe running the length of the sanctuary to extract more heat. Lighting is by oil lamps along the sides. Music was originally by pump organ, which still is there. The church has two rear doors and the pews have a divider in the center. It makes me wonder if it was built for the very early colonial church seating arrangement of men on one side and women on the other.
Annual Thanksgiving Eve service
It is tradition in this area to hold a Thanksgiving Eve service there. My wife and I were privileged to attend this year. Luminaries had been placed in the lawn and the stove had been lit ahead to make it warm inside even though snow was falling outside as the elevation is higher there than here in West Granby. The antique oil lamps cast a warm glow over everything, but the lighting was dim enough that one needed a flashlight to read fine print easily away from a lamp. The service is sponsored by the North Canton UMC church which is linked with this parish and considers it its mother church. The pre-service tradition is a time of hymn-singing. The ground floor was full of people gathered to give thanks to God in this unique setting and there were some people in the balconies as well. Pastor Sandra Wanamaker led the service. Tonight a concession has been made to convenience and the organist plays a pump organ patch from a modern keyboard. I was invited to share the platform and participate in leading the service which I did, reading Scriptures and receiving the offering for an area food pantry. One other visible piece of time warp were the little LED flashlights in evidence as folks read from their hymnbooks.
Thinking back
I could not help but think about the nearly two centuries of people who have given thanks to God in this spot. As I looked out into the dimly lit faces, I thought of preachers in by-gone eras in our country and others who preached by lantern lights. Yet the message of God’s love displayed in Christ has not changed. The Good News of salvation by faith in Jesus has not changed. And certainly, the need of humankind to give thanks for the great gifts of the heavenly Father is, if anything, even greater today, when we enjoy so many blessings of extended life, material wealth, and technology that our forefathers never dreamed of. As the Bible says,
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Ps 100:4-5 NIV
During our 50th celebration we received many compliments as a church family. Some were for relatively unimportant things. Others for very significant factors. The highest compliment we received, I believe, was from one person who does not often speak publicly. She rose in testimony time and said that she liked our church and was attracted to it because we not only taught the Bible and preached about it but we lived it too. That has to be one of the key characteristics of every good church. Jesus said it was the description of every wise follower of his. Here’s a great article on how to choose a good church. I think the four ideals this author unpacks describe Community Wesleyan in Kirkville too.
http://blogs.christianpost.com/smallpreacher-biggod/how-to-find-a-good-church-9728/
I found a great video clip that tells the story of Francis Asbury. Asbury was an early Methodist leader in the colonies, sent by Wesley himself, and ultimately responsible for the explosive growth of early Methodism. His sacrifice and zeal for reaching people with the good news of Jesus serves as an example for all of us still. Whenever I am reminded of his story as this video does, I am inspired to “never be lacking in zeal (Ro. 12:11)” but always have a vision for what God wants to do in this world. It is no wonder that so many things in our country have his name. I only pray that we would first and foremost revere his God.
http://www.afa.net/Radio/show.aspx?id=2147491277&tab=video&video=2147499797