Shrinkage
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 10:44AM The RCA has decreased in membership every year since the Nixon administration, or maybe it was Carter. This shrinkage is the source of great consternation. Typically it is taken as evidence that as a denomination we are asleep, irrelevant and unfaithful. Probably.
But maybe there are other factors at play in our shrinkage. Three things come to my mind.
Discernment
I once read an article by a Christian Reformed Church minister during the middle of the 1950’s, (I wish I could remember more about the author). It was a time when mainline church membership was thriving. Babies, a home in suburbia and church membership all seemed to go together. This CRC minister, however, said it was an era of decay and deception. A “true church of Christ,” he argued, should expect to shrink and be ignored in such decadent times. Eventually, we should expect nothing but a “faithful remnant” when Christ returns.
So how do we know when to play the “shrinking equals faithfulness” card, rather than the “shrinking equals unfaithfulness” card? I’ve yet to hear anyone suggest that RCA’s declining membership is evidence of stalwart resolve and integrity. Might it be?
Demographics
The RCA has had the misfortune to have the bulk of its congregations located in the northeast and upper Midwest. Maybe our slowness to start new congregations in the Sunbelt, our original reluctance to plant churches if there wasn’t an enclave of Dutch last names can be cited as unfaithfulness. But demographics have not been in our favor.
From my days in upstate New York, I recall small towns that once boasted of being the carpet-capital of the world, the glove-making or the shoe-making centers of the universe. A man could support his stay-at-home wife and family with a lifelong job in those factories. The towns, and the RCA churches in them, hummed. Those days are gone. Not only are the towns and churches much smaller, they also suffered from “brain-drain,” where the best and the brightest left.
Was this shrinkage a sign of unfaithfulness? Those who were uninformed, who lived in regions that were thriving, seemed to believe so. Often there was a quiet implication that if we just loved Jesus more, if we prayed as much as people in the Sunbelt, then our congregations in upstate New York would grow. But eventually some of the shifting demographics came to the Midwest. Then RCA congregations in California and Florida, that once could do no wrong, found themselves old and shrinking. Today, I notice that many of the “poster-child” congregations of the RCA from 10-15 years ago are struggling. They declared that they were going to “do church in a new way.” But now they face transitions in leadership, financial squeezes and a newer ring of exurbs farther out, where the growth and young people are located today.
Who Left?
It is pretty much accepted without debate that the people who left the RCA left for churches where the worship was more lively, the faith more fervent and the theology more conservative. To compete, then, we must start congregations that seem like Pentecostal and Baptist churches. However, Hope College sociologist, Don Luidens, has evidence that suggests there has been a quiet, but steady erosion of people from the center-left in the RCA. These people want more liturgical worship, thoughtful ministers and a socially-progressive church. They would say they want a truly Reformed church. Typically they’ll say, “I didn’t leave the RCA. It left me.” Many have drifted to the Presbyterians, Lutherans and Episcopalians. Truthfully, many have just stopped being part of a church. Perhaps our shrinkage is a result of unfaithfulness, but the unfaithfulness has been to our Reformed heritage, a willingness to sell our birthright for mess of pottage, and an unwillingness to trust our tradition.
I’ve asked more questions than provided answers. I don’t have the answers. But maybe we should be asking different questions about our shrinkage and what truly accounts for it.
Reader Comments (32)
Thanks, Steve. Insightful as always. I think the demographic observation is keen. I'm not sure I have seen the Luiden's research present in our anectdotal experience of Orange City. Both American (a more liturgical, socially progressive congregation) and First (a more traditional, conservative congregation) have experienced some shrinkage in the last two years. In both cases, people leaving have left for more conservative congregations (either PCA or EFCA). The reasons seemed to theological. They would have said the same thing that you have said of those seeking more liturgical, Reformed experiences. I.e., "I didn't leave the RCA; it left me." They would also argue that both the PCA and the local EFCA congregations are more truly Reformed than the RCA churches they left.
It made me wonder what we mean by Reformed?
In any event, faithfulness is key, and faithfulness will, I believe, ultimately bear fruit. It may vary, but some fruit will be seen, even if not in massive numerical growth. It may be in a deeper awareness of God's presence or in an increased joy in covenantal community. Our growth seems to be more a result of mission (and missional) involvement than in any wizz-bang new program.
I commented to a pastor recently, Worship style is irrelevant to church growth. Churches arguing about worship today are missing out altogether. It's the wrong discussion. The people not in church are not there not because of worship. It's something more. Any worship style, high or low church, organ or band, can be winsome or loathsome. What people long to see in worship is "Do these people who are worshiping really believe what they are saying and singing?" I think people are more interestend today seeing if the church will truly seek to act like the church.
And I take this as good news for churches. They don't need to beat their brains against the wall about not having the latest, greatest. The next decade could be an absolute joy for the church because a bad economy forces us to think about what really matters.
Well, enough blogging fo now.
God bless you.
Interesting thoughts, Steve.
Having grown up in the RCA and transitioned to seminary under the PCA, its been an eye-opening experience. The PCA (Also the EPC, Reformed Baptist and Sovereign Grace church's) are growing at an incredible rate in the same dreadful economic conditions as the RCA. The common traits are orthodox faith, historically rooted, culturally engaged (Think: Tim Keller), complementarian leadership, the doctrines of grace (aka-Calvinism), expositional preaching, and intense mentoring. I'm interacting with countless people leaving the seeker-sensitive, emergent, health-and-wealth, and liberal (read: weak on scripture, aggressive on moralistic good works) movements.
From my short (2 years) experience in the growing reformed (Read: faithful to the principles of the reformation) churches (PCA, EPC, RB, SG) I've notice they share very little in common with the current and newly planted church's in the RCA.
I wonder if we (RCA) can learn anything from these denominations?
The folks I talk to say the RCA affiliated seminaries have liberal professors. I am not sure if they are correct, as I do not have first hand knowledge. I guess the best way to evaluate that is to evaluate who and what the seminaries produce (or reproduce). It is also possible that some pastors who migrate in the RCA may also be coming from less conservative training.
My experience is that many RCA churches in my area seem to be 2 years behind the new ideas that sprout out of Willow Creek. Trying to clone Willow Creek or implement those ideas in the local church is sometimes fruitful, other times not. I agree with the statement above:
"Do these people who are worshiping really believe what they are saying and singing?" I think people are more interested today seeing if the church will truly seek to act like the church"
I'm serving as minister at a small older RCA congregation. The congregation brought me here to be the young pastor who draws in a younger group of believers. As we look at what we need to do to draw in the unchurched it comes back time and time again that we need to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, ie: not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. Anyone who wonders why their church is shrinking, I really believe it comes down to whether or not we are really living out our faith (as others above have said). People are looking to me to make some changes and get things going, and the only change that I really think we need is in how we are living our lives as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Jeremy...
How can I get a call in one of those growing Reformed churches?
Scott,
I'm not sure how to respond to your comment. Is it a genuine question or a bit of playful sarcasm? ;-) Can you flush out your comment for me?
Thanks to all for your feedback. Just to clarify, the demographic shifts I refer to are not the economic downturn of the last couple years, but the economic restructuring over the last 40 to 50 years.
Here I am outside any genuine expertise, but comparing the RCA with some of these very new groups may be a bit like comparing GM to Kia, or the US Postal Service to Fed Ex. It isn't always about who has the better "product," but also the parameters and configurations that are inherited. The RCA has over 350 years of history, blessings and baggage. It just is not as nimble. And slashing 500 dealers like GM is not an option for the church, nor should it be. For a really helpful take on all this, see Daniel Meeter's essay "Tradition" in the October 2008 Perspectives.
http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=4832
FWIW, I believe I read recently that the PCA had undergone its first decline in size last year. Maybe we should check back on the PCA in 300 or so years. Yet I would like to hear more about the differences between the "growing" Reformed groups and RCA new church starts. That seems more like an "apples-to-apples" comparison.
Jon, I very much like your statement, "Do these people who are worshiping really believe what they are saying and singing?" Yet if I'm not mistaken, the Episocopal Church in Orange City/Le Mars received an influx from American Reformed 10-15 years ago.
Steve,
If it’s unfair to compare the RCA with “nimble” congregations, can we at least try and learn something from them as we re-tool? GM could learn a lot from Kia’s nimble structure and the US Postal should take a look into the developments from Fed Ex. I’m thinking of things like Mission North America, Redeemer Church Planting Initiatives, Reformed University Fellowship, racial reconciliation through the Gospel (Redeemer Church, PCA Jackson, MS), commitment to strong preaching, and intense mentoring of men.
The RCA and PCA make disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit (to carry the car analogy). I’m a son of the RCA and have experienced the vast difference on how these two groups go about making disciples and being the church. The RCA has strengths that provide her with a strong foundation for the future; yet as our strong Reformed heritage evolves, I think we can learn a thing or two form our more “nimble” Reformed brothers.
Thanks for the thoughts…
No sarcasm, Jeremy. I have been considering whether to stay in the RCA in its current state.
Thank you, Steve, for a thought-provoking post.
Scott--I am wondering how your congregation feels about your thoughts of wanting to leave the RCA since you are a minister of an RCA congregation. I am also wondering if you would expand on your comment about the RCA's "current state"--what has you so upset that you are willing to leave this body of believers?
Thank you.
Jeremy,
I am a member of an RCA church that is not "seeker-sensitive, emergent, health-and-wealth, and liberal (read: weak on scripture, aggressive on moralistic good works)" and I love it.
JJ
I’m tired of misunderstanding each other on message boards. If you would be willing, I would love to hear about your vision for the RCA, give me a call sometime at 616-340-2881.
My wife had our first child yesterday so you might want to wait a week before you call ;-)
Thanks,
Jeremy V
Anonymous:
I find it troubling that you wish some clarification from Scott, but don't have the courtesy to sign your request.
Blessings, David
Steve,
Your addressing a "great consternation" is much appreciated.
How many leave the RCA (and CRC for that matter) for churches that are more "socially progressive" such as the PCUSA, ELCA and Epscopal denominations? - all three are themselves declining in membership! And i would posit that our GS and other RCA leaders are already in fact "socially progressive".
Jeremy goes right to the crux of the matter; "orthodox faith" and/or biblical orthodoxy is needed to make disciples and bear fruit. It pains me to see many RCA rumblings and disagreements dismissed as simply liberal or conservative points of view and therefore of equal weight and of no consequence to the whole. Scripture is a very clear standard for the sons and daughters of God.
And i empathize with Scott, it would be easy to leave the RCA for green hills far away. But i suspect that as the undershepherd he would care for Jesus' sheep and want to take his flock with him.
Blessings
Regarding shrinkage, I have personally witnessed (and been a part of )125- 150 people leaving my former church in the past 5 years. So where and why did the people go? It seems like 40% (mostly aged 45 and above) went to more conservative RCA or CRC churches. For many, staying with the RCA denomination is important even when RCA churches give themselves different names and do ministry in ways that can blur their denominational identity.These folks would say that the GS and next level leadership are way too liberal.
Approx 40% went to more progressive independent churches who were known for good preaching and teaching. I believe this group sees little value in belonging to a denomination... and yes these folks were largely 45 yrs old and younger. They have heard that belonging to a denomination is not really a trendy thing or of much worth, so they see no compelling reason to belong to an established denomination. If they paid attention to the goals and vision of the GS and next leadership, they would probably have commonality. Sadly the other 20% are roaming around not connecting with any local church on a regular basis.
I guess my point is that reasons vary for shrinkage. I think shrinkage happened to us due to squabbles over vision and over what our core values should be. We can combat this shrinkage however when we continue to invite and welcome people who need a church home. The church home can be a safe haven for people when Christ is truly our passion and discipleship our goal versus getting bogged down in the areas of personal preferences. I agree with the ancient line that we all have an opportunity to be a part of the problems or be a part of the solutions.
Friends - a Question or two.
Pastor or Lay: In your church are the messages and fellowships Christ-centered or Works-centered? Does your "heart burn within you" during the "sermon"? If an unbeliever was visiting your church would they be exposed to John 14:6? Are your members excited to bring the lost to hear of Jesus, "the author and perfecter of our faith"? A preacher commented along this line - would your members think the Epistles were the wives of the Apostles? ;-)
Blessings <><
Mick,
I'm not quite sure what your questions are trying to get at, but they reflect a false dichotomy. There is no preaching Christ without preaching works. There is no John 14:6 without Matthew 25:35-36. There are two sides of the same coin... to parts of the same message. To try to preach Christ without the follow-up of faithfulness is to pretend that Christianity is a transactional religion about nothing more than simply getting people converted - which, of course, Jesus never focused on.
I hope that people who visit the church I preach among, would hear both that Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension were efficacious for them... but also that there is no true salvation unless it plays itself out in spiritual growth and development over the long haul.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
Tim, thanks for your response.
My questions were to address Steve's "great consternation". Spiritual growth is personal and corporate and both should bear fruit that will last. What factors do you see as contributing to declining membership in the RCA? We do not have much cause for rejoicing as we should expect reading Luke 15:7,10 - perhaps your flock is and exception?
Tim, i appreciate your optimism in writing of the Belhar in the Grand Rapids Press.
Blessings ><>
Mick,
I'm certainly no expert on why denominations grow and shrink (although I have a few ideas why congregations often do one or another, but that's probably a different discussion.) In the end, I'll be honest, I don't care all that much. I don't place much trust in numbers; as a matter of fact, although I admit numbers CAN be a sign of health, I don't believe they always are and sometimes we even see numerical growth despite spiritual unhealthiness. At best, numbers sometimes indicate that something is going well. All of which is a long way of saying I'm not particularly concerned about the decline of membership.
Dunningville (the congregation within which I minister) certainly has its problems - every community does - but it also is a good place to be. I've learned in my 9+ years here that even healthy communities see ebb and flow in a variety areas. As a "small" congregation (by SW Michigan standards), we see such ebbs and flows in our Sunday school classes and youth groups (currently more ebb... a few years ago more flow... ) and other areas too. I think it's likely that the same kinds of things happen in denominations (albeit for a variety of reasons, and over longer time periods).
I believe there is much to rejoice about in the RCA, even if membership is declining. There are some beautiful things going on in many RCA congregations; there is some powerful work being done by some of the denominational commissions; there are some wonderful things being done by some of the staff.
I do think there are some faulty emphases in some areas and that we're doing some things that we will regret in the future, but that's part of being a denomination... We don't always agree on everything. I'm good with that.
The scriptures portray heavenly celebration when repentance takes place, but repentance and conversion aren't the same thing (although American Evangelicalism tends to conflate them), and even if they were, I don't believe they are the only thing that bring about divine pleasure. I see growth in the RCA (and I believe God does too)... it may not be numerical growth... but, as I said, that doesn't bother me in the least.
Of course, there are many who'd disagree with me... That doesn't bother me either. :-)
Grace and peace,
`tim
Another engaging, truly needed discussion.
Having joined the RCA only a few years ago, I don't
have a long time connection but some of the issues addressed
in these posts are seen in other denominations.
Far too often in many places, the issues seem to come from
an either/or mindset.
Contemporary/Traditional
Liberal/Conservative
Works/Spirit
etc.
I think while the attempt at understanding church shrinkage is a faithful
one, it does miss the point if this is the view we take on looking at the
"why".
Perhaps the Church is in a Transformational period at this moment in time
and is being "re-formed" even as we speak. Perhaps "Church" will
not look anything like it does now, or has for the past 50, 100, 500 or 1,000
years. The RCA conference I attended back in the mid '90's did address this
possibility. We are in the midst of the change and very often if not always, one
can't see what is going on around one - because we are just too close.
And, one more thing. Steve, in your first post, you stated you had more questions
than answers. I think it's a good thing. We are neglecting to ask the hard questions
and do the hard & thorough work required to discover the in-depth, full answer needed.
Our culture is far too reliant these days on "discovering" (& I use the term loosely here), an answer via Google or whatever. We want to jump to answer the question w/out really delving into all that the worthwhile answer would entail.
Thanks to everyone who keeps posting—more evidence that despite the fate of The Church Herald, a need for some discussion place continues.
I don’t mean to suggest that the RCA can not learn anything from growing denominations that have the advantage of being newer and more nimble. New RCA church starts may be the best place to look at what others are doing.
My concern, if it hasn’t been already apparent, are the older, historic congregations that often receive not-so-subtle put-downs because they are not growing. Yet they face all sorts of challenges that newer, more nimble churches—RCA and otherwise do not. It isn’t as simple as “if we truly live out our faith” our church will grow. Or that just because a small, struggling church somewhere in the rustbelt is not growing we are to assume the pastor’s heart doesn’t burn while she/he preaches. There are all sorts of other factors at work. In my original post I mentioned “demographics” which might a subset of divine providence. All of North Africa and Asia Minor were once Christian, but no longer are. Does that mean Christians in those regions weren’t faithful and fruitful? Or were the churches there victims of a tidal wave of history?
Too often in discussions of shrinkage and church growth, I hear an impatient immaturity, a shallow zeal, a generational (and spiritual) arrogance. I wonder where does “honor your father and your mother” fit into this discussion? What does “I believe in…the holy catholic church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins…” mean for our discussion? I think they should be in the mix.
I don’t know if the church will look completely different in 100 or 200 years. I do know the church will still be and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And I do know that the church in 200 years will still be composed of flawed, erratic and mediocre people who are loved by God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Steve,
Can you expand and shed some light on this thought:
“Too often in discussions of shrinkage and church growth, I hear an impatient immaturity, a shallow zeal, a generational (and spiritual) arrogance. I wonder where does “honor your father and your mother” fit into this discussion?”
I’ve been concerned with this possible reaction in the current discussion of church growth, planting, and revitalization. Can you give some examples of where this has been expressed and how it could have been avoided or better communicated?
A fellow servant,
Jeremy V
Tim, You are right to say that there is much to rejoice of in the RCA - on church by church testimonies, and person by person.
But measured as a whole i become easily discouraged by the numbers - the Reformed Review paper that shows "in the last 40 years the East (region of the RCA)... membership, dropping from nearly 150,000 members to just over 50,000." As a member of my church's governing board i have a responsibility to address or search out what is causing a seeming pandemic within the RCA.
Steve, thank you for the reminder - "the gates of hell will not prevail against it' (the Church). Yes, you are right - But again i am discouraged by the declining numbers in the church that is the RCA. Perhaps you think of me as an "impatient immaturity"?
Tom, in my judgement the shrinkage is not over personal preferences but of deep and longterm divisions related to biblical orthodoxy. Consider the recent split of the Episcopal Church, or last week's action by the ELCA. And plain and simple - abortion is murder. Is the RCA a people set apart, holy and acceptable to God? Does the RCA reflect Barna statistics of the rate of divorce within the church being the same as without the church?
Pastors, Barna says 50% of Christian men have a problem with pornography! Are you bold to meet with those fighting temptation(s) and besetting sins and bring them to wholeness by showing them God has a better way?
Forgive me if i seem accusatory of any of you because i read you all as humble, obedient and willing servants of Christ Jesus. But you may read me differently regarding the overseer(s) of the RCA.
There is a deep and informative discussion on Kevin DeYoung's blog about the Lord's Supper and the Roman Catholic Mass.
Blessings ><>
Friends,
Forgive me if i was like bitter, or cynical, or angry. Just read something for me to remember my first love, and to rightly fix my eyes. "Confession of a Recovering Mission Fanatic" - see Kevin Deyoung's Blog.
Blessings ><>
One example of "decline" in the east. I served the Woodcliff Community Reformed Church in North Bergen, NJ as interim pastor from 1984-1985. The church was built about 1911 and had a substantial "plant" -- beautiful Gothic sanctuary, large gym, lots of classrooms, and two bowling alleys. In the 1950s, this church was bustling with families. North Bergen borders the Hudson River directly across from Manhattan and lots of men commuted into the city. It was a middle class neighborhood where families settled after WWII. By the time I arrived in the mid-80s, it had 100 members and 60-70 in worship. Mostly older couples and only one or two families with children. In the last three decades many families had moved further out to suburbs where the houses had larger yards and more space. Mostly older people remained in the area. When the children from the 1950s married and had children of their own and moved away, they might have driven in to Woodcliff for a couple of years, but soon found a different church closer to home. This story could be repeated for dozens of churches in the New York metro area. "Decline" here has very little to do with theology, orthodoxy or faithfulness to Scripture, and everything to do with demographics. Neighborhoods changed. The RCA did not do a very good job of attracting the new residents.
The obvious question is why didn't the baby boomers join RCA churches in the further out suburbs? A few did. But the RCA did not do a very good job on church extension in the east. It formed some new churches that did quite well (Levittown, NY was booming in the 1950s). But it did not have the resources to start churches in all the places to which its members were moving. The RCA chose to spend more of its benevolent money on foreign missions than on a well-formulated plan for church extension. The Midwest did a little better at this, in part because they had more resources.
Church growth and decline is a complicated topic and there are a number of books in which sociologists of religion have tried to analyze the patterns. Most agree that decline is far more about demographics and particularly the lower birth rate (average of four kids in the 50s and two now) than about theology. There are also studies which show that the baby boomers left the church in fairly large numbers in the 60s and 70s because they found it boring, irrelevant and hopelessly conservative. Some have come back. Many have not.
It's also important to recognize that church membership in the 1950s was extremely high ... sort of a blip in the pattern. Mainline churches tend to measure themselves against this very high figure which may not be realistic. In prior decades, church membership was not at 59%. The 50s was an unusual time.
So I wonder if perhaps we stop berating ourselves and each other. Certainly there are things we have not done very well. There are many things we could do better. RCA churches have at times been boring, irrelevant, unwelcoming, judgmental, etc. Some people do leave because they think the RCA is too liberal. But others leave because it is too conservative. Churches with deeply committed pastors and members have "declined." Churches with what seem s to be rather shallow preaching have grown. And still ... the spirit blows where it wills ...
Lynn Japinga