Religion, religion.Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpaMea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpaThose are the words from one of the stanza's of Jimmy Buffett's "Fruitcakes". It pretty much sums up what I think is happening in religion in the U.S. The simple truth is that religion and church going is in steep decline. I've seen the statistics and they are irrefutable. And if you are connected with a church at all you see it. There are some pockets of resistance or maybe persistence but there are also more and more examples of churches closing their doors or trying new ways (that ultimately don't work) to attract people. There are a ton of reasons for it, some obvious and some not so obvious. One of the characteristics of the modern age that gets quoted quite a bit is that millenials and genZ and genX and whatever are "spiritual but not religious". Okay. Maybe so but peel the onion a bit to find out why. Why is almost always the key in any question.
Where's the church, who took the steepleReligion's in the hands of some crazy ass peopleTelevision preachers with bad hair and dimplesThe God's honest truth is it's not that simple
It's the Buddhist in you, it's the pagan in meIt's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic ain't she?It's that born again look, it's the wasp and the JewTell me what's goin on, I ain't got a clue
I've mentioned on this blog several times that I'm an Episcopalian. If you're interested you can type Episcopal in the search bar and read past posts. From those you'll see that I've been frustrated and somewhat ashamed of the positions of my church as expressed by the national church, the local Bishop and from the pulpit. I think that in the last several years the church has lost it's way. In an effort to appeal to everyone they've lost focus on what makes a church attractive for many in the community. And let's face it, people aren't going to do something they don't enjoy or are not in line with their principles, values and norms. Notice I didn't say religion. I said church. That's where the "spiritual but not religious" comes in. I think a lot of people are believers, but they can't stomach what is going on in the church. As for me, I stay because I'm a believer and because of the people. I get what I need from the worship aspects of the church and I have a lot of good friends there. Simple as that. So far, I've been able to ignore or put in a box the stuff that is objectionable. But sadly I could foresee a day when it just becomes too much.
So the point of this post is to share what I consider one of the most excellent, spot-on, beautifully written essays I've read on the decline of the church. I share because it makes me sad and mad and frustrated. And when I see something done very well and aligns with my views, I'd like to share it. It's written by a good friend and Epsicopal Priest who is a loving and brilliant man. It gives him no joy to write these words and the courage that it takes to put pen to paper in this manner is refreshing. But in the scheme of things, and like this post, it makes little difference. The current leadership in the church seems to be talking in an echo chamber. To paraphrase a famous actor in a quote that is widely known..."they can't handle the truth".
Why Does the Episcopal Church Continue to Decline?
If you are an Episcopalian, you have to be concerned about the downward spiral in the Episcopal Church. Annual data yet again indicates that domestic dioceses in the United States continue to decline in membership and attendance. In 2018 baptized membership was 1.68 million, down 2.1% from 2017, and down 18.5% since 2008. Average Sunday Attendance was 533,000, down 4.2% from 2017 and 24.4% since 2008.
In 1965 there were over 3.4 million Episcopalians in a population of 199 million. In 2018 there were 1.67 million Episcopalians in a population of 328 million. That means the Episcopal Church’s market share of the population has declined from 1.70% to .509%.
In addition to the decline of members and the loss of market share, 74% of Episcopal churches average 100 or less in Sunday attendance. Only 4% average 300 or more. The median average Sunday attendance is 53.
But it’s not just size that is the problem. You can’t worship on a Sunday morning and not notice all the gray heads (including mine) in the pews. Few Episcopal churches have thriving church schools or youth groups, and young families are at a premium. More than 55 percent of Episcopal clergy are over 55, with more than 40 percent of priests expected to retire in the next eight years. The average age of the average Episcopalian is anywhere from the high 50s to low 60s. The average age of the average American is in their mid- 30s. And the gap is widening.
Episcopalians have always thought of their church as the Cadillac of churches. That may be true, but the late Terry Fulham observed: “The Episcopal Church is the Cadillac of churches with three flat tires.”
Despite the grim statistics, the Episcopal Church has much to commend it. The church has the second wealthiest membership of any religious body – only the Jewish community is wealthier. Because of an emphasis on tithing and proportionate giving, Episcopalians give generously. The average pledge in 2018 was $2,964. Even as decline continues, members remain loyal to their churches and give relatively sacrificially.
Add to this a charismatic Presiding Bishop who is an excellent communicator, diocesan bishops who increasingly reflect the gender diversity of the general population, parish clergy who, for the most part, are well-educated, and a thoughtful and caring membership.
The standard answer to church decline is to blame the changing culture – the movement from Christendom to post-Christendom, from modernism to post-modernism, from cultural homogeneity to a secular, pluralistic, materialistic, multicultural society. A recent Gallup survey reported that 50% of Americans polled in 2018 said they were members of a church, synagogue or mosque, compared with 61% in 2008 and 70% in 1998.
And yet, there are churches that are growing. Independent or loosely federated churches are being planted all over the country led by entrepreneurial pastors who are as attuned to the culture as to the Bible. Even the Roman Catholic Church, with all its many problems, continues to do relatively well, thanks to an influx of immigrants and new converts, the thousands of day schools and an excellent religious education program.
So, we need to move beyond culture to determine why the Episcopal Church is declining. Admittedly, it is a complex issue, and one could list many factors: failure to train clergy to minister effectively in a changing culture, the lack of appeal among Millennials and Gen Z for our style of worship, outdated and costly ecclesial structures, the failure to reach large numbers of immigrants, and the fact that the vast majority of our churches are small and are unable to provide the kind of need-meeting ministries to attract new members.
But with all that acknowledged, I think there are three crucial reasons for church decline.
First, the Episcopal Church has re-branded itself to attract the least reachable demographic. Since the election of Gene Robinson as the Church’s first openly gay bishop, and the subsequent departure of several hundred thousand traditionalists, the Episcopal Church has re-branded itself as a proudly and unabashedly progressive church with a target audience of attracting educated, secular liberals.
And yet, educated, secular liberals are the least likely to be attracted to organized religion. They are not just “spiritual but not religious.” They are “spiritual but secular.” They much prefer a quiet Sunday at home, or outdoors, or at their second home, or simply taking care of chores or shopping. Their highest values are autonomy and self-actualization. They find meaning in vacations, their children’s sports, their careers, yoga, politics, technology, accumulating wealth, the arts, and being supportive of causes they think will change the world. Many of them are active in Democratic politics, feminist organizations, or environmental groups. They see themselves as functioning perfectly well without religion, so why would they need or want it?
Branding is the art of surrounding an organization with a powerful and compelling story. Branding provides answers to the simple human need to differentiate one thing from another. Brands represent identity. The Episcopal Church has lost its identity because it has become synonymous with liberal secular culture. It doesn’t stand for anything other than what liberal culture stands for. “Observe the current state of the once-dominant Episcopal Church. Episcopalians committed an unforgiveable sin: they forgot their brand because they lost their story.” - James Twitchell, Branded Nation
The Episcopal Church has embarked on a growth strategy that is doomed to fail. It doesn’t matter that the Episcopal Church brands itself as being “inclusive” or practicing “radical hospitality” or being “LGBTQ friendly” or supporting the Green New Deal. The United Church of Christ has branded itself that way for many years, and it is in steep decline. Educated secular liberals find meaning and significance in ways other than church.
When Presiding Bishop Curry preached at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, his sermon was widely acclaimed. Ed Millibank, the former head of the British Labor Party and an acknowledged atheist, said that the message almost persuaded him to rethink his faith. The key word here is “almost” – Millibank remains a committed atheist. Converting secular atheists or agnostics is extremely difficult, even for our Presiding Bishop.
If the Episcopal Church is intent on reaching educated secular liberals, then it needs to think long and hard on this central question: How does the church help those who no longer need a God to encounter the living God of their lives? There is no easy answer to this question. Methodist theologian George Hunter wrote a book some time ago titled, How to Reach Secular People. It was an excellent attempt to build a bridge between Christianity and the secular world. More recently, David Zahl has written an intriguing book titled Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It. Zahl makes the point that there is no grace in any of these secular religions.
Grace may be a way forward for the church. After all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about God’s unconditional love for each and every one of us, a love which none of us deserves but God gives anyway. The church is supposed to be a place of grace for everyone willing to live with grace towards everyone in need of grace. The church is a community of wounded people, men and women with troubled minds and burdened consciences, all loved by God. The challenge for the church is to put into practice what grace means and how to live and witness to it.
The late church growth scholar Peter Wagner posited this principle: For churches to grow, they need to reach the reachable. The Episcopal Church is trying to reach the unreachable – the people least likely to attend church or have an interest in organized religion.
Second, the Episcopal Church has failed to target the most reachable demographic. A second reason the Episcopal Church is in decline is that it is failing to reach the most likely demographic interested in attending church: families with children. This is where we see a sharp difference between growing churches and declining ones. Growing churches effectively reach
Growing churches, mostly independent or loosely federated, spend lavishly on children, youth and young adult ministry, provide programs for parents and even grandparents, and adapt their worship and ministries to attract their target demographic audience, though singles, seniors and people with special needs are not ignored. These churches are passionate about helping people experience God. They make belonging to church worthwhile with clear benefits to members and seekers. They add value to people’s lives. Yes, in some ways theirs is a market-based, consumer-driven approach to attracting members, but it works. Some would call it evangelism.
Americans are having fewer children, couples are marrying later in life, and families are more complex and non-traditional than ever before. That said, families are still the most likely to attend church.
How different are most Episcopal churches! Few of them have anything to offer young adults, families, children and teens. In most Episcopal Churches, everything is geared around older adults, meeting their needs, adapting their preferences, shaping ministry and worship around their lifestyles. Like it or not, the Episcopal Church is “the old people’s church” with music, liturgy, language and spiritual practices many younger people (and even some older ones) find boring, bland, didactic, wordy, irrelevant and beyond comprehension. In other words, there is a reason why Millennials and Gen Z do not attend Episcopal Churches – there is nothing of perceived value that the church offers them.
The worship and ministries of most Episcopal churches are geared for introverts, but most Americans – 70 percent – are extroverts. In addition, 55 percent of Americans are judgers, but most Episcopal preaching and teaching is geared to perceivers – exploring the questions but not providing the answers. No wonder families in need of moral and spiritual guidance go elsewhere. Outside of a socially liberal gospel and nebulous and ambiguous theology, the Episcopal Church seems to offer families and others little support in their spiritual journeys.
Episcopal churches need to do a better job of adapting to the lifestyles and needs of young families. This does not mean offering “Christianity light” but connecting Christian faith with the daily lives of members, many of whom come to church with burdens, problems and concerns. The challenge is to make Christian faith relevant and applicable to people’s lives, and to give them strength for the journey of living another week.
The church needs to do a better job of proclaiming Jesus as the way, the truth and the life, giving families solid values to guide them, offering clear biblical teaching and moral guidance, providing a framework for living and a positive, hopeful atmosphere to live and witness to the teachings of Jesus. And the church needs to do this in way that resonates with the people it wants to attract, offering the good news in terms and forms that relate to their situation, that speak to them in their language and their cultural style, addressing their existential questions. This means a willingness to meet people at their own level of need and understanding.
“A church’s music determines the kind of people it will attract. Tell me your music and I will tell you the kind of people who are in your congregation.” – Pastor Rick Warren
Third, the Episcopal Church has narrowed its appeal to political and theological liberals and those attracted to traditional liturgy and music. There was a time when the Episcopal Church was deemed “the Republican Party at prayer.” That certainly is not the case anymore. When the traditionalists left the Episcopal Church after the election of Gene Robinson, there was a pronounced turn to the left, both politically and theologically. The leadership of the church became increasingly progressive, and even Presiding Bishop Curry’s commendable focus on Jesus makes him out to be a liberal Democrat.
The problem is, the Democratic Party as it is constituted today, is rapidly becoming the party of secularists and the religiously unaffiliated. The Democratic National Committee recently passed a resolution praising America’s “religiously unaffiliated” as the “largest religious group within the Democratic Party.” The resolution states that “Religiously unaffiliated Americans overwhelmingly share the Democratic Party’s values.” The resolution goes on to state that one in three members of the Democratic Party are “religiously unaffiliated.” This compares with just 8% of Republicans.
It is hard to find much difference between the positions of the Episcopal Church and the Democratic Party. While there are longtime Republican members in the Episcopal Church – the remnant of a bygone era – it is difficult to imagine any committed Republican or conservative being attracted to the Episcopal Church today. Those attracted to liturgy, tradition and heritage tend to become Roman Catholics. There has been a movement of prominent conservative personalities who have joined the Roman Catholic Church in the last three decades. Bobby Jindal, for example, a former Hindu and Governor of Louisiana, converted to Catholicism because of its dogma, a belief system “time-tested and true” as he put it. While the Episcopal Church is not a dogmatic church, we need to reclaim the political and theological center where people of different political persuasions come together to worship in the beauty of holiness as a church of common prayer. We also need to consider if we are a truly inclusive church or simply a church of the like-minded. If the church is to expand its appeal, it will need to make greater room for different voices and viewpoints beyond standard liberal political and theological thought.
The Episcopal Church is unlikely to reach moderate and conservative voters (70% of Americans) with its political and social positions and its liberal clergy. And yet, 40% of self-described liberals are non-religious and many do not believe in a personal God.
In addition to political liberalism, there is an even more serious problem for the Episcopal Church – a significant number of clergy and laity do not know how to talk about God in a way that people sense and recognize. There is an inability to talk about Jesus except as anything other than a social and political liberal. The supernatural aspect of Christianity is rarely, if ever, mentioned. Speaking about the miraculous, exploring the supernatural, talking about the Holy Spirit, affirming the mystery of the Incarnation, Redemption and Resurrection is difficult for many, and even an embarrassment for some. I have heard clergy admit they find preaching on Easter Sunday extremely difficult because of their own lack of belief in the physical resurrection of Jesus.
I have elsewhere argued that the Episcopal Church has no clear gospel message. The emphasis on inclusiveness has blurred what the Church believes about faith and morals. A belief in an implicit universalism has made any kind of evangelism unnecessary or even unacceptable. Episcopalians are more comfortable advocating for social justice than saving souls. They prefer a prophetic ministry of peace and justice to talk of any supernatural or miraculous encounters with God.
The Episcopal Church has forgotten that people need spiritual ecstasy, a sense of communion with God, a feeling of being caught in the hands of One who could sustain them in trouble and direct them in times of confusion. That is what people look for in churches today. Many have lives of “quiet desperation” and need more than socially conscious or nebulous sermons that leave them hungry for more.
The missional challenge of the church is formidable. With each passing generation, the culture becomes more and more unchurched. Many people today do not know the language of faith or even the Christian story. To onlookers, the Episcopal Church appears alien and strange in its life, worship and practices. Sadly, the church seems incapable of responding to this missional challenge in any effective way.
The United States is changing demographically with an influx of immigrants coming from Latin America, Africa and Asia. These immigrants tend to be socially and theologically conservative. If they are Christians, most end up either in the Catholic Church or evangelical and charismatic churches. The latter are particularly effective in attracting immigrants, and these churches are growing.
It may be that the Episcopal Church will continue to survive by attracting a small but dedicated niche of people who prefer liberal political and theological thought combined with sacramental worship and traditional music. Any new Prayer Book is sure to reflect a more radical theological and social agenda, and this may make it difficult for some members to remain in the church. A church of 1.6 million members could easily become a church of less than one million in five years, with no plateau on the horizon.
There is no easy turnaround. The decline in the Episcopal Church membership reflects losing our way as a church. We need to fall in love again with Jesus, who transcends all political and theological categories. We need a renewed confidence in the gospel that God’s love in Jesus transforms lives. We need to reclaim the theological and political center and draw the circle wide in welcoming people unlike us into the church. And we need to be more willing to change our methods of ministry while holding fast to the unchanging gospel message.
“Never have Christians pursued relevance more strenuously; never have Christians been more irrelevant.” – Os Guiness
I love the Episcopal Church. I value the church’s Anglican heritage, spirit of inquiry, thoughtful holiness and open faithfulness. I want the church not just to survive but thrive in the years ahead. But for growth to happen, we need to begin by asking a central mission question: How does the Church best position itself to respond to what God is doing in the world? On that question depends the future shape of the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi
September 20, 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment