Congregational Development
All too often we hear the word and think immediately of fall pledges for the church. Indeed, for many Episcopal Christians, October or November can feel like another April 15th! Stewardship, however, is far more than "paying church taxes" or "meeting a budget." It is all about perceiving what we are and what we have as gifts from God to be shared with the people and the world around us, rather than as possessions to be hoarded and guarded at all costs. A wise saint once warned that when we own many possessions, the temptation is for the possessions eventually to own us.
This is why stewardship is best viewed as a foundational aspect of the Christian life. We are stewards of the mysteries of God, stewards of one another, stewards of the world in which we are planted, stewards of our time and treasure and talents. The challenge before us is to move from an April 15th mentality to a December 25th perspective of gift and giving. The opportunity before us is to move from a once-a-year pledge drive to a year-round, holistic experience stewardship.
With these things in mind, the following practical tools and online links are presented to encourage you and your congregation to rethink what it means to be Christian stewards. Please check back again as new resources are periodically added.
A free version of PowerPoint Viewer can be downloaded by clicking here.
Keys to Congregational Growth
- 1. Congregations that change worship format and style are more likely to grow. More than half the congregations that use contemporary styles of worship have experienced substantial growth since 2000. Frequency is important as well: The more worship services a congregation holds, the more likely it is to have grown.
- 2. Congregations located in new suburbs are more likely to experience growth. But surprisingly the second best area for growth is the downtown of metropolitan areas.
- 3. Congregations that have experienced major conflict are quite likely to have declined in attendance. The strongest correlate of growth is the absence of serious conflict.
- 4. Congregations that have started or maintained a website in the past year are most likely to grow. The effort to have a website indicates that the congregation is outward looking and willing to change by non-traditional means.
- 5. While most congregations in America are composed of a single racial/ethnic group, those that are multi-racial are most likely to have experienced strong growth in worship attendance.
- 6. More important than theological orientation is the religious character of the congregation and clarity of mission and purpose. Growing churches are clear about why they exist and about what they are to be doing - "purpose-driven growth."
- 7. Congregations that involve children in worship are more likely to experience significant growth. Also, important to growth is the ability of congregations to attract young adults and families with children.
- 8. Almost all congregations say they want to grow, but it takes intentionality and action for growth to occur. Congregations that developed a plan to recruit members in the last year were more likely to grow than congregations that had not. Particularly helpful in achieving growth are sponsorship of a program or event to attract non-members or the existence of support groups.
--Kirk Hadaway, author, "FACTs on Growth"
Questions? Please contact:
The Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek
Canon to the Ordinary &
Canon for Congregational Developmenttimothy@azdiocese.org
(602) 254-0976 ext. 2229
