Flipping the Script of Church Owned Property
…and shrink in attendance, the economics of ministry are rendering growing numbers of churches financially at risk. Some fall into disrepair, some are sold, and some are even abandoned. But…
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…and shrink in attendance, the economics of ministry are rendering growing numbers of churches financially at risk. Some fall into disrepair, some are sold, and some are even abandoned. But…
…average worship attendance as the standard barometer for health. Rather, they will be focusing on engagement. How people are engaging in the church through ministries such as discipleship, service, worship,…
…it better imitates the practices of big congregations. Or when the attendance numbers make it worth God’s RSVP. Small congregation worship matters for this simple, essential, primary, theological reason: God…
…a resource from the Lewis Center 4 Clues for Inviting Others to Church Effectively by Doug Powe 50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance, a free tip sheet from the Lewis…
…to share in your online worship. What are ways you can advocate for and help support them as well? Related Resources Improving Worship Attendance in a Post-Pandemic World, a Lewis…
…you put it on your list: for example, if you really need a volunteer to take on attendance records, then put it on your list. If you don’t list it,…
…pastoral leadership. Fewer congregations now can financially support a full-time pastor. In the United Methodist Church, the number of churches with average attendance of 25 or fewer increased by 2,059,…
…their attendance at conferences, coaching networks, online trainings, etc. Don’t confuse seminary tuition stipends with leadership development. While it is great to invest in seminary education, practical leadership development is…
…to the church through measures such as regular worship attendance, Bible study, and tithing. But as important as these measures are, I’ve yet to find (in my church at least)…
…your future, not your past. Many congregations have experienced significant numerical decline over the past three years — in both attendance and operating budgets — and now are coming to…
…United Methodist Church in 2019 based on the worship attendance of the congregations. As you can see, size makes such a difference for the utilization of paid lay staff that…
…the habit when churches reopened. If you look at the data, you really see neither theory has much confirmation. If attendance declined three percent between 2019 and 2022, is that…
…in town. It was the first time our attendance went backwards since I took the pastorate in 2002. Each church is uniquely called, supernaturally equipped, and specially positioned to reach…
…weeks when the total attendance was in the single digits. Again, I thought that if I set myself on fire, people would come to watch me burn. That’s not what…
…through the offering plate, mostly through physical transactions on Sunday morning. We know online giving has exploded because of the pandemic. Also, since the pandemic, as attendance has trended downward,…
…way. Start with a micro church so that you learn how to disciple people, and let it grow through discipleship rather than attendance transferred from other churches. Doug Powe: That…
…4 Ways Preaching Can Boost Worship Attendance Popular preacher and author Charley Reeb shares four preaching strategies to grow your church, all based on the notion that we have to…
…lower anxiety. During the transition, maintain contact and focus on attendance and how retirees are doing; emphasize what a gift their presence and prayers are to the life of the…
…patterns of worship and congregational life, worrying attendance trends, churches reevaluating their building needs, and underlying demographic changes that challenge assumptions many churches hold regarding their future. Read more now….
…the group, specific tasks and roles for participants, expectations for attendance and confidentiality, as well as the beginning and ending time. These covenants should be reevaluated on a regular basis…
…refund is available for courses cancelled before classes begin. No refund is available for courses cancelled after classes begin. Non-attendance does not constitute cancellation. Please contact Rachel Williams at rwilliams@wesleyseminary.edu…
Register Now Learn new perspectives and practices for funding ministry in an increasing challenging environment. Tuesday, February 1, Noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern Even before the pandemic interrupted attendance and giving patterns,…
…attended, too! Those in attendance shared their stories. We were truly able to share this saint’s life. I offered prayers, read scripture, gave a commendation, and we sang “Amazing Grace”…
…I was fascinated that more clergy were talking about “attendance” when worship was virtual than when it was face to face. Certainly, part of this notice was due to the…
…not experiencing rapid growth. So, they’re not going to increase their average worship attendance by a significant amount. If you’re in a town of 7,000 and you have 47 churches,…
…of inactive former church members signified by the worship attendance declines that began in 2002 and continue today. But engaging with these “new people” will require major adjustments in how…
…As someone who works primarily with mainline congregations, I hear a familiar story. It revolves around declining and aging attendance, long-overdue maintenance, lack of missional imagination, and stretched budgets. Churches…
…I am convinced that durable relationships and community connectivity are more indicative of church health than much of our membership data and attendance stats. And a few of these healthy…
Free Webinar — Register Now Learn new perspectives and practices for funding ministry in an increasingly challenging environment. Tuesday, February 1, Noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern Even before the pandemic interrupted attendance…
…any change and someone is not going to like it. Life changes and relationships often impact a person’s church attendance. Misunderstanding and unmet expectations cause some people to leave. Some…
This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free e-newsletter from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary available at churchleadership.com.