So How Are We Doing?

For nearly four years, we have heard our Bishop say over and over again, "Every congregation a mission post to make Christ known in our congregations, our communities and the world." So how are we doing at this mission thing?

Numbers are not the ultimate test but they are interesting. Using worship attendance over the past three years, out of our 188 congregations (New Creation, Lima is too new), we have 84 declining in worship attendance, 70 that have stable worship attendance, and 34 that have growing worship attendance. Forty-five percent of our congregations the past three years have had declining worship attendance. Thirty-seven percent of our congregations have had worship attendance that is flat or stable. Only 18 percent of our congregations have had an increase in worship attendance.

What is troubling is that some of our congregations reporting stable attendance are actually in communities which are growing. What is encouraging is that some of our congregations reporting increases are actually in communities that are declining or stable.

The above statistics apply to parishes averaging up to 50 at worship (small congregations), parishes worshipping between 50 and 150 (pastor size congregations), parishes worshipping between 150 and 350 (program size congregations), and congregations worshipping above 350 (corporate size congregations).

Our synod has 24 congregations in the small category, 87 in the pastor size, 64 in the program size, and 13 in the corporate size. Two of our small size congregations are growing; 18 of our pastor size congregations are growing, 12 of our program size parishes are growing; and only two of our largest size parishes are growing. Nineteen of our small congregations are declining; 40 of our pastor size parishes are declining, 22 of our program size parishes are declining; and three of our largest size parishes are declining.

Numbers do not tell the whole story and there are so many different factors that go into the above statistics, but they are interesting. So how is this mission thing we have been talking about for nearly four years going?

The prayer of the day for Sunday, Lent Five went like this: "Almighty God, our redeemer, in our weakness we have failed to be your messengers of forgiveness and hope in the world. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, that we may follow your commands and proclaim your reign of love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

And may the whole synod say, AMEN.