Back from the Brink: A Leadership Special Report
Disastrous conflict, moral failure, spiritual depression, or simply long, slow decline. Churches do come back from debilitating trauma. How?
October 1, 2005
The statistic is quoted often: 85 percent of churches in the United States have plateaued or declining attendance. That's approximately 340,000 churches. In other words, 340,000 churches need a turnaround. How can they do it? And what skills are required? That's what we wanted to know. So we invited churches that have witnessed a turnaround in attendance, finances, purpose, and/or spirit to participate. From the hundreds that responded, we chose 31 churches to study in depth. We then surveyed their pastors, lay leaders, and a sampling of members—761 respondents in all. We asked how it happened. And most important, If their churches could be renewed, can mine? In this section, you'll read the accounts of five churches that exemplify "turnaround." Connect with the Disconnected: Parkview Community Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Look Outward: Overlook Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama. No More Pastor-Driven Church: Calvary Bible Church in Rutland, Vermont. From Survivalist to Serving Spirit: Calvary Baptist Church in Ball Ground, Georgia Rebuilding Relationships: Britton Bethel Baptist in Britton, Michigan. But first, the results of our survey. Survey Results: Five Factors in Successful Turnarounds
Some turnarounds are dramatic: the fighting that divided a congregation and spoiled their reputation ends, and the church is suddenly alive and growing. Some turnarounds are subtle: after decades of stagnant attendance and lackluster ministry, a pastor leads the people to find renewed purpose, and the winds of the Spirit move again. All turnarounds are significant: the gospel is advanced by healthy churches. Yet even the more evangelistic denominations, focused on church planting, are battling inertia. Lyle Schaller's turn-of-the-millennium ...
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