PCUSA: Fewer members = smaller congregations

PCUSA Research Services: Fewer members = smaller congregations

Jack Marcum writes:

The key difference in these trends is not direction but magnitude. The numbers of both congregations and members have fallen steadily since 1983, but members have dropped at almost four times the rate of congregations.

As a result, the typical congregation’s size has dropped dramatically, from an average of 268 members and a median of 195 in 1983 to 152 and 97, respectively, in 2009. Over the same period, the share of congregations with 100 or fewer members increased from 36 percent to 51 percent.

Several consequences have ensued. Many congregations have larger facilities than they need and fewer resources for upkeep. Others can no longer afford a pastoral leader. More congregations in 2009 had no pastoral leadership of any sort (2,231) than was true just four years before (2,050).

Even so, when net membership losses began in the 1960s, no one set out to use this trend to reduce the size of most congregations. It just happened—the result of efforts, presbytery by presbytery and congregation by congregation, to keep the doors open.

The unintentional shift to smaller congregations requires an intentional response. The use of commissioned lay pastors is a major step already in place. More programs and resources tailored to the circumstances—and budgets—of smaller congregations would be another. After all, as the trend line of membership shows, there will likely be more rather than fewer such congregations in the near future.

Comments

[Neil]

I wonder if because we have lived with numerical decline for almost 50 years we have become numb to it. These are not mere numbers, every number is a person, and people matter to God.

We should (must) not sit by and accept this decline, to do so would perhaps be the greatest indication that we have abdicated our calling as a church whose responsibility is to be on mission and, as the Book of Order reminds us, to fulfill that mission even at the risk of losing our life.

[Michael W. Kruse]

Neil, at next month' GAMC meeting we will be discussing how we might be a catalyst for a movement to start 1,000 churches in X many years. It is a conversation that is emerging and coming to the GAMC. Our discussion will also touch on how our presbyteries might aid small churches in clarifying mission and/or repurposing assets. As you know, presbyteries plant churches, not the national office but we expect there are ways we can help spread the flame. It is particularly exciting in that I think there is real passion for non-Anglo church planting.