In many churches, the summer months bring about quite a number of changes. The bottom seems to fall out in terms of attendance and participation and programming. So what is going to happen this year? Many churches have already experienced a noticeable decline in attendance since the zoom only pandemic time. It is not unusual for churches to be at 30-60% of what they were before the pandemic. Now comes summertime.
I read a book recently called, “Churches and the Crisis of Decline”. The author, Andrew Root, actually presents a hopeful view of what church can be and might be in the future, but he is unafraid to be honest about some of the current challenges. His argument is that the structure and vision of many churches over the last few decades has actually led to a focus on immanence rather than transcendence. This focus is indicated by assumptions that large, well-resourced churches are thriving while smaller churches are failing. A focus on the structure of the church as an organization has meant that resource growth is taken as the criteria for whether a church is “alive” or not. This is often a poor measure.
As decline in the institutional church continues (including among the larger churches), Root sees a hopeful possibility. Maybe such a decline can open up opportunity for churches and church leaders to actually have something transcendent to say. In the immanent way of church, pastors are hired largely for the ability to run an organization or for their ability to create a programme that attracts young people.
This vision is based in innovation and entrepeneurship, not necessarily transcendence. We are not in need of another conference, consultant or series of books on practical steps congregations can take to accrue resources. Rather, we need to pursue the more difficult task of exploring how the church might return to transcendence, finding its life in revelation itself.
Andrew Root
In faith terms, this means considering what revelation from God might mean at this time in our history, listening for a word like that and then conveying a word from God for our time.
If you listen, the pastors and leaders who loudly and confidently (arrogantly) say that they know just what God is saying to the world today often have very little transcendent to say at all. They too often invite us into culture wars or act as if God really hates the world. The people who speak as if they have actually listened and heard something transcendent speak with much less fear and haste and virtually no need for control.
What might it mean to hear something transcendent in the summer months? What might it mean to listen for the presence and voice of God in an almost empty church or as a pastor seeking to lead a congregation through the summer? Maybe you are a church leader who has a large portion of the summer off from work. If you are going back to church leadership you are no doubt thinking about what next year and the year after that might be like. Can you hear the revelation of God this summer? Such transcendence is where life comes from, for you, for your congregation, for the church in the future. If you are a person of Christian faith, you likely believe that such revelation has not ceased. We are facing a time of real change in the history of the church, but people like Andrew Root are hopeful because the structures that have been in place for decades have not always been most helpful in noticing transcendence. As those structures come down, as they crack and decline, space is created for something more hopeful.
On a smaller scale, a simple change like the arrival of summer can point towards this.
Are you interested in hearing something transcendent for your life, for the world? You don’t need a full church for that. You need only a listening ear and some company interested in spiritual hope and joy.
I suppose the question in the summer should not be, “Where did everybody go?”, but rather, “How can I hear the presence and voice of God in this time?”
Dear God;
Thank you for the change of pace that summer brings for so many. Grant that we would long for an awareness of your love for all the world. Grant that we would hear you, even through our fears and concerns, through our dullness. This summer we pray for peace. Let us know your transcendent love for all people in a way that speaks past our own political and social views. Let us see the humanity of all people, even those with whom we strongly disagree. I saw that news story yesterday about the people in Ontario who jumped out of their vehicles to rescue someone from a crashed and burning car. It struck me that they likely had differing political views. What they were able to see in that moment was someone desperately needed help. Help us to see things that matter more than our viewpoints at times where the need is less obvious, but just as real.
When I was cycling yesterday, I saw those wildflowers on the side of the trail and they just about made me cry. They weren’t there the other day and now they are among the most beautiful decoration I have ever seen. Dear God, let me see your presence this summer, and for those of us who are granted the title Christian leader, let us to have a word of hope for those we serve and for the world that you love.
Amen.
A note on Rector’s Cupboard podcast:
We are re-releasing an episode from season one. We interviewed Katherine Stewart who is leading voice on the “Christian Nationalist” movement in the United States. Stewart had a piece in the New York Times this past week in response to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The article looks to what the next steps are for the Christian nationalist movement. I have found that Katherine Stewart is one of the most helpful and well informed voices on what Christian nationalism is and on what the movement hopes to achieve in the days and years ahead. Stewart describes more than she editorializes. She listens to the leaders of the movement and the current and intended future impact.
Sadly, this is well-said. Hopeful this tide can be turned. The one commandment Jesus gave is "Love one another even as I have loved you." The religious right has forgotten this or maybe they never truly knew it to begin with.......
Beautiful, so well said, Todd.