Growing PC(USA) Congregations
Growth is hard to measure, in churches at least. There’s spiritual growth and numerical growth, theological growth and potluck growth, and those nasty growths in the downstairs bathroom. That said, I found the following statistics on growth really interesting.
In 2002, a survey was conducted on 100 of the 400 fastest growing PC(USA) churches (on average, these congregations reported 42% growth in the previous five years.) These statistics are compared to “other” Presbyterian churches, a sample representing 47,341 worshipers in 253 congregations.
A few interesting tidbits from the survey, then my comments below:
- growing churches are younger churches. The typical growing PC(USA) congregation was founded in 1954, while other PC(USA) congregations were founded, on average, in 1884 — which is a good reminder how old the denomination really is.
- the largest service in growing PC(USA) churches is more likely than in other PC(USA) churches to include the Lord’s Supper, singing by a choir or soloist, piano music, laughter, applause, participation by teens, drums or electric guitar music, calling out “Amen,” the use of visual projection equipment, and people raising their hands in praise.
- putting the previous in numbers: of the growing PC(USA) churches, 26% use visual projection compared to 9% of the other; 39% use drums or guitar compared to 13% of the other congregations.
- growing congregations are less likely to offer groups that serve in the community, and less likely to have close friends in the congregation
- growing PC(USA) congregations more frequently report experiences of spontaneity, joy, inspiration, and a sense of God’s presence in worship.
There’s a lot of talk in the PC(USA) these days about decline, so it’s fun to look at stats on growth (of the numerical variety, at least). I don’t know about you, but I’ve found when you start speaking about growth among pastors serving congregations that are not growing, often they’ll quickly become defensive and the conversation itself declines quickly. Such conversations need to be framed in positive ways recognizing the gray areas of growth — like, perhaps, that growing congregations are less likely to offer groups that serve in the community.
But these statistics give an interesting snapshot of growing PC(USA) congregations, one that helps us understand our diversity and calls us to spread the good news in new ways.
Personally, I think growth — in its many forms — follows church done well. Worship done well gives the people a place to voice their praise of God. Service done well challenges and sustains disciples. Community done well nurtures those who gather in Christ’s name. Sometimes, church done well leads not to growth in numbers, but in other ways — growing into Christ’s ways. Well.
So, is your congregation growing? In what way? How and why?
For the survey and others like it, visit Research Services or Statistics.
image by Diane Groves
Connect Online
The statistics you quote are from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, and the survey was actually taken in 2001. Just to clarify, the 400 fastest growing averaged 42% growth in membership over a 5 year period. That’s actually a rather fast clip, and it means significant change for those congregations.
In my observations over the past few years, the growing congregations generally have three things going for them: a good location, a rather outgoing and capable pastor, and people who are excited. None of these guarantees anything. But the fastest growing congregations in our state have been in suburbs where housing growth is taking place, or in bedroom communities outside a town with a growing job base.
Unfortunately, some of the growth is based on the charisma of the pastor. The congregation here experienced that in the mid 70′s, as a young pastor came to town, drew a whole bunch of kids to the youth group, which brought their parents in for things. The place was full again, like it was in the mid 50′s when the current structure was built. But, as soon as the pastor left (3.5 years here), the membership and attendance dropped below where it was before the pastor got here.
But having a good location where growth can take place, and having a pastor who can bring people in – neither of these assures quality growth – resulting in changed lives. And this is the main reason people are opposed to looking at membership numbers as an indicator of how a congregation is doing.
Where I’m called, we’ve got a rather poor location (compared to a growing suburb), as the entire county population is less than 6000, and continuing to decline by 2-3% per year. And yet, we continue to grow a little bit (numerically) each year. In 3.5 years of this (first) call, the congregation has added to the active roll at an average 7.1% per year (this is looking only at the positive side, before deaths, inactivations, and transfers out). Over 22% of the membership has joined in the last 3.5 years. I believe we need to be adding 5-8% per year to the membership in order for the local church to still be positively influencing the surrounding context in 15-20 years.
How and why are we growing? Hospitality mainly. Each congregation has visitors during the course of the year. We’ve got a few people in the congregation who are very good at making people feel warmly welcomed. It also helps that we have quality care of the children, so that they want to come back. And my wife and I are active in the community, and we’ve let folks know that we intend to stay. But of course, the only reason for true growth is the work of the Holy Spirit.
We took part in the U.S. Congregational Life Study which was done in the Fall of 2008, as a follow up to the original study you quoted statistics from. We still haven’t received the results back from that. The goal was to survey even more congregations this time. So, there should be a book coming out later this year with more up-to-date statistics.
I worry about what will happen when I leave, as it seems extremely difficult for congregations in Western Kansas to call a pastor. That’s why I see growth in discipleship to be essential. The classes and groups and so many other things that connect people to one another – this is the glue that the Holy Spirit seems to love. I hope to be here for many more years. The decline the congregation was experiencing (numerically and spiritually) has seemed to be stabilized, and is improving. The rate of adding new members is 4 times what it was previously (when only 12 people joined the congregation over a period of 6 years – and only 2 of those remain active in the congregation).
To be honest, I see the potential for the small, rural congregations to lead us into the future. We are getting closer together with other congregations. Our PCUSA congregation is participating in several ecumenical worship services, at least 4 times this year. Each time with a different congregation, alternating years of hosting, or like we are doing with an ELCA congregation – going back to back in one context and then the other.
Enough for now.
You don’t mention whether any of these growing congregations are liberal or conservative, Adam. Is that deliberate or just an oversight?
The longevity of the pastor at a church also helps. I’m 14 years at Erin and almost every year we’ve grown, even after purging the roll. If churches have short pastorates, they never get the opportunity to see the 7-9 year breakthrough.
@Stushie, “Similar percentages in each group describe the theological position of their congregation as more on the conservative side (growing churches, 48%; other churches, 45%). About 40% in
each group describe it as right in the middle.” I didn’t think that was particularly noteworthy, but maybe it is.
@DennisS, right, the original study was earlier, but they followed up w/ PC(USA) congregations in 2002. Love your location points; same may be true for churches as is true for real estate. Want to say more, but no time now.
Peace.
I’d like to hear more about the 7-9 year break-through!!!
As far as location, it seems like many PCUSA congregations, with structures built in the 50′s (and even into the 80′s), are located in housing developments, and well off a main artery, where it is tough to direct people to the church.
A lot of statistics from that survey aren’t very helpful. Lots of the potentially helpful detail isn’t included. I’d sure like a chance to dig through the data.
Some of the things you really have to wonder about. 39% of growing had drums and guitars. Yet, 61% (the vast majority) didn’t have drums or guitars, and there were 13% of declining congregations which were using drums and guitars without attractional affect.
Rather than suggesting we need drums and guitars, maybe we ought to consider finding the growing congregations in our area and take the whole Session to visit the ones with similar contexts as ours. It’s sure to be educational.
I was just called to our church in September, so long term growth numbers aren’t in yet, but we’re about to welcome 13 new members. So, for a church of 200 people, I’m cautiously optimistic about growing. Our church was founded in 1956 and has good location in the sense of immediately adjacent to a neighborhood, an elementary school, a major arterial, and 2 blocks from the interstate.
We use visual projection, but we have no drums. Alas.
Even though we match with a lot of those statistics you mention, I think the reason we’re growing is that people are inviting their friends to church. Very few of our new members just wandered in (although some did). Most were invited.
Glad to hear the Spirit is working in Boise! Yeah, the survey did have some stats re inviting folks to church, I think, but don’t have access to it now. I’ve heard it said, “The average Lutheran asks someone to church once every 35 years.” Hope we don’t share that stat with our sister denomination.
Marci – Congrats! That’s awesome! Excellent point about people inviting people. This speaks to hope and hospitality. I believe this is the best way.
I first became a Christian in a congregation where the pastor is a great evangelist. He brings lots and lots of people into the Church. But most don’t stay much longer than a year. They soon start heading for congregations with more programming, with shorter sermons, with better connections to others in the congregation. The congregation attendance continues to stay about 130, even though the pastor is bringing in over 20 people a year (great location).
I’m hopeful for your congregation. It’s quite possible you’ll have even more than 13 joining before Easter 2010. I’m not sure how to understand the effect, but it seems to me that when a new pastor has a certain amount of energy, combined with strong faith, that it spreads into the congregation.
I found the completion of the third year to be the most difficult. (From about 2.5 to 3.2 years.) But at some point, a few months after completing three years, the energy and hope were back on an upswing. I got here (first call) in June 2005, and our congregation is just over 100 members. The first 12 months I was here, there were 6 join. The next year there were 9. The following year there were 5. As I approach the completion of the fourth year, there have been 10 join thus far. We are currently at 121 members. I followed a pastor who was looking for one more call before retirement, and a call where he could build some equity in a home. I think he was mainly going through the motions. He was here 4.6 years, spent a lot of time with one couple here, 12 total joined (mostly communicants) and only 2 remain active.
I know that not all those in seminary will make it 5 years in parish ministry. But I think those seeking their first call have so much to offer congregations. More congregations ought to open up to first-call pastors – unless they are truly an unhealthy congregation. And I hope more and more first call pastors will stay beyond that restlessness at about 3 years.
Adam,
Nice post and it’s a great subject. When I answered the call to this congregation 13 years ago we had 119 active members. Now we have around 185 active members and average close to 100 people in worship every Sunday. Our congregation is 141 years old in a historic district in downtown Raleigh. How did we grow? 1) Confirmation classes, 2) seeking out community leaders to find out what were the needs and how our church could meet the needs, 3) providing small groups (Older Adult, young adult, children’s ministry, Midday prayer) for people to fellowship. But the biggest is 5) taking risks. Don’t be afraid to follow the vision that has been given to you AND confirmed with the community of faith. Even if it does not work out you can learn from it and move forward!
If you’d like to see a laboratory, where the “statistics” of Church structure and death are being replaced with the “dynamics” of passion and life, there’s our little church in Decatur, GA. While the membership total is not yet growing (we are losing some of our older members for the newer members that join us), we are definitely turning ourselves outward, and remembering the joy of serving others, and remembering the responsibility to “tell the story” of faith to all those we meet. Its been about 3.5 years now to understand and and confess the damage of our disobediences, and to discern a pathway out of it. It may take 3.5 more to actually find our feet walking lighting along this new path. But, I can see it, as can most others in leadership, as can many others in the membership. And we are looking forward to be a dynamic statistic of growth in the PCUSA.
Rev. Joel Tolbert
Rehoboth Presbyterian, Decatur, GA
Thanks for the wonderful word, Joel. Many blessings on your ministry and the exciting things God is doing at Rehoboth PC. Great stuff!