3 Reactions to Church Decline Superintendent MAY 14, 2014 by THOM SCHULTZ  Ms

THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW CUMBERLAND DISTRICT Macon, Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson and parts of Clay, Smith, Robertson, Davidson, and Cheatham Counties Volume 7, Issue 7 July 2014 Cumberland District Staff Rev. Scott Aleridge, District 3 Reactions to Church Decline Superintendent MAY 14, 2014 BY THOM SCHULTZ Ms. Carolyn Bullock, District Secretary The American church is in trouble. (But don’t tell anybody.) Scott Hilgadiack, Editor Cumberland District That’s one way to “manage” the Review compounding news that the church Inside this issue: as we know it is shrinking and losing First Annual Conference; First 3 its impact. Since releasing our Rainbow Stole book Why Nobody Wants to Go to A Way Forward for a United 6 Church Anymore I’ve noticed three Methodist Church general reactions to the current Making Disciples Top United 9 state of the church. Methodists’ Priorities TN Conference Adult/Older Adult 10 Ministries Events 1. DENIAL. Some people refuse to believe or accept the trends. Or they attempt Music Professor James Story 11 to deceive their people. For example, the pastor of a small, struggling, Honored by GRAMMY Foundation traditional church wrote this in his church’s newsletter this month: “Traditional Preparing to Receive a New Pastor 12 churches have not suffered major declines in attendance.” That statement is breathtaking in its untruthfulness, especially knowing that this pastor wrote that Ben Alford’s Half-Century Journal 13 now in Hardback line inside a church that has seen its attendance drop by 90 percent over the years. The facts of church decline have been well reported in research, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries 14 Upcoming and Sponsored Events articles and books–not to mention the observable evidence all around us. Local Church Events 16 2. PARALYSIS. Many church leaders and members recognize the problem. They Job Announcement—Church Pianist 16 often realize numerous things they could try to improve their situations. But Lebanon UMC Celebrates 17 they choose to do nothing. Some wallow in grief and sadness, unable or Commissioning unwilling to deal with their losses and disappointments. Some are bewildered by Lebanon UMC Pleased to Announce 17 the Confirmation Class of 2014 their choices. Some hope against hope that circumstances will magically turn Prayer Request 18 around on their own. Some fear change of any kind. Some fret that any change will cause someone to get upset and leave, or trim their tithe. Some just sit still, praying that they can ride out the deterioration until they retire. PAGE 2 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7 3. CHANGE. Some actually see the problem, own it, and step forward to fix it. They embrace change, even though it often makes them uncomfortable. Rather than desperately trying to defend the past, they tend to look forward. The successful change agents are not changing God’s message, but they’re exploring different methods to spread the message, to be more effective stewards with the gifts God has given. Fortunately, fewer people lurk in the DENIAL camp these days. But you can still find them everywhere–in dying churches as well as growing ones. Some fear that acknowledging overall church decline might implicate them, that they or their cherished methods may be responsible for some of the decline. And that’s too unsettling to accept. So, they often use their bully pulpits in an attempt to anesthetize their people into ignoring the obvious. They seem to think that if they can convince their people that no problem exists, or that someone else is to blame, maybe the folks in the pews won’t give up. The trouble is, the trends are so obvious and well-documented, that leaders who preach “everything is fine” tend to lose all credibility. And credibility is something any effective leader cannot afford to lose. Nowadays, I find most church leaders and members sitting in the PARALYSIS camp. They’re plagued with fear, indecisiveness and lethargy. Even if they find a way to bring new vitality to their ministry, they typically study it to death, brood over it, sink it into a committee coma, and delay it until sometime next year, or the year after that. As much as those first two groups drain my hopes for the future of the church, I find great hope in the CHANGE people. They are ordinary people who believe that God will do extraordinary things through them. They pray fervently, and they rely on the One who makes all things new. They’re open to God’s leading. They listen to God’s command to “fear not.” Even though they realize they don’t have all the answers, they’re willing to step out–one step at a time into a future that isn’t perfectly clear. They’re willing to experiment. And they’re wise enough to explain their sense of faithful adventure to their people, in order to bring them along on the journey. They embrace the prospect of failure, knowing that some ideas will inevitably fall short. But they know they’ll learn from their failures, which will help advance them toward their next ministry success. Overall, I’m actually encouraged by these challenging times. Yes, we’re living through the end of an era. But I know God will not abandon his church. And I believe he’s up to something new–that we can be a vital part of –if we don’t deny reality or sink into paralysis. It’s time to welcome some needed change, and walk boldly into a new day. PAGE 3 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7 First Annual Conference; First Rainbow Stole by Brett Isernhagen “Young man, I have to ask you. I’ve been trying to figure it out all day. What does that rainbow scarf mean?” This is how the majority of the conversations I had at North Georgia’s Annual Conference started, as they pointed to the rainbow stole hanging around my neck. In a way, this question can sum up my whole experience over those three glorious, trying days in Athens as I was asked that question of others and prompted by the Spirit as I asked that question of myself. This conference was in many ways a pilgrimage for me. For one, it was my first annual conference ever and without a working watch, an agenda, and voting privileges I often felt as a foreigner, unsure of where to be when and what to do once (if) I got there. Adding to this tension is the fact that until Bishop Watson read my name in the last half hour on Thursday I was still a member of the South Georgia Conference. Outside of a few friends from school, I knew no one. The only familiar face was my DS, and he was retiring. I knew none of the stories and characters that seemed to bind everyone together. I didn’t even know where 70% of the towns were that the people I did get to talk to came from. Most meaningful of all, however, was the pilgrimage I made as I walked through the halls and the town with a rainbow stole hanging from my neck. I journeyed into a sacred space, far removed from my own experiences. Even though I had silently supported full inclusion of all people into the life, worship, and ministry of the United Methodist Church, the exact opinions and qualifications I harbored as recently as a little over a year ago would embarrass me and hurt many if I had ever made them publically. For instance, even when I learned about Reconciling Ministries Network I hesitated in joining, lest anyone had room to mistake me as a homosexual, as if it were something shameful to be thought of as. Having now come to full acceptance and rejoicing with all of God’s children I felt comfortable enough to wear it on my sleeve, or more precisely my neck. Even then, God was not finished. My pilgrimage was just beginning. What I noticed first encouraged me: there were a really great number of people publicly proclaiming that all expressions of God’s creation were of true sacred worth. I was surprised by the incredible range of my new friends and allies: the stoles were worn by everyone from the youngest youth delegates to the some of the most senior ministers I saw. This was far from a young person’s struggle. This was a struggle for the whole Kingdom of God. So many people responded positively and were so encouraging when I answered their questions about the stole, what RMN was and what it did. It was so encouraging in fact that for a while I didn’t notice the other reaction, which was equally shocking. I soon realized that not all people were so enthused. Some refused to talk to me, to return even a simply “hello.” I could see it out of the corner of my PAGE 4 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7 eye. I could see it in their eyes. They would look first at my stole, then to the ground as if colorful fabric defined me as a person and as one who would soon minister in their midst. I cannot imagine the courage and the pain my LGTBQ sisters and brothers have to have when they are judged on one part of their identity, judged just for being honest with their created selves and the world around them. This was a movement not just for marriage, not just for ordination. It soon became clear to me that this was a movement about love, the love so many of us have no idea that our brothers and sisters are being denied by our church.

Load more