Editorial: Church involvement; how much is enough?

(Image: National Back to Church Sunday)

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How much of themselves should laypeople give to their church?

This is more than an idle question. The answer will determine whether U.S. Christianity attempts to fulfill the Great Commission or declines into obscurity.

Before we go on, a caveat: Of course, Christians can express their faith outside their congregations. Splendid church-affiliated ministries and para-church organizations abound. But the local church remains the most grassroots, neighborhood-based, practical and available avenue for Christian engagement. What’s more, relatively few Christians who are not active in church make an impact for Jesus through other organizations. Congregational vitality is essential to the cause of Christ.

knox newEditor Marv KnoxThat said, the prognosis is disturbing. Across the Baptist landscape—accommodating geography, church size, worship style, theological leanings, race and ethnicity—church leaders say they feel their congregations are slipping. The involvement of laity is trending downward.

We see this most graphically in plateaued and declining churches. These congregations’ baptisms, attendance, offerings and other quantitative measures of vibrancy are flat or decreasing. But the challenge isn’t isolated to those churches. Pastors and leaders of strong, growing churches often say they have to draw in multiple members for a net gain of one, because the average involvement of members is declining.

A respected veteran pastor recently said his congregation’s “active” members commit about four hours to their church each week. He’s a pastor known for excellent life-applicable preaching and superior engagement of laypeople. (In fact, that conversation prompted this editorial. If a tremendous pastor can engage his congregants only at that level, what happens at churches with less-talented leadership?)

Church ‘consumers’

If you analyze four hours of involvement per week, you realize it’s only enough to attend events or consume the church’s product. It’s not enough to provide significant away-from-church ministry, prepare and provide leadership, and also attend Bible study and worship.

An excellent youth minister—known for challenging students to grow in faith as well as enabling them to enjoy coming together—reports his most committed students only attend half the time. These are the kids who want to be there, but between academics, sports, extra-curricular activities and family, they show up for every-other event.


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Ask experienced ministers how they define “regular” church attendance, and be prepared to hear a larger number than you might expect. Not so long ago, most would have said members who consider themselves active in their church attend three out of four Sundays, or certainly two out of four. Now, minister after minister says folks who attend one Sunday out of six believe they are active in their congregations.

Participation declining

Survey upon survey shows participation in America’s churches is declining. Even among churches whose membership is holding steady, engagement is dropping. If you want to read interesting articles on the problem, click hereherehere and here

To be sure, churches owe their membership an obligation. Sermons and worship should be interesting, challenging and inspiring. Bible study should be applicable. Ministry opportunities should be purposeful. Fellowship should be compelling and warm. 

But members can’t expect all that if they don’t involve themselves in the life of their church. It’s not simply the paid ministers’ responsibility. Even the part laity can’t directly control—sermons and worship—is much more engaging and meaningful when a full house gathers to participate.

Suggestions

So, if we can agree local congregations are vital for the cause of Christ in cities, villages and neighborhoods everywhere, how much of themselves should laypeople give to their church? How radically would our congregations be revitalized if members committed themselves to helping church “work”? Suggestions:

• Attendance at weekly Bible study and worship if you’re in town. No sleeping in or mowing the yard on Sunday morning. And no commitment to kids’ sports that take place then, either.

• Involvement in at least one church-infrastructure assignment—such as teaching Bible study, serving as a deacon or working on a committee, etc.—that involves preparation or activity outside Sunday morning. If it only happens when you’re at church anyway—such as ushering, greeting, etc., that’s great, but it doesn’t count.

• Participation in at least one outside-church ministry a month.

• Tithing, plus generous giving to other offerings. Of course, this is more than time, but churches cannot function if they’re not funded.

We don’t serve the church. We serve Jesus and the people who need to experience his good news.


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