Church Lifecycles

In a recent Christian Century blog recently is learned the average age of an American is 38, the average age of church members is 58. More than half of the members of mainline churches are over 65. The average life expectancy in America is 78. Meaning one third of the members of mainline churches will die in the next 15 years.

That gives one pause doesn’t it?

The church we attend pretty well reflects those numbers as a mainline church. We also have a new pastor who came with new ideas and new ways of doing things. He is a kid magnet; they flock to him like the proverbial Pied Piper. Of course, those kids have parents and they are coming. The church looks different and sounds different. Some of us old foggies may find this a bit disconcerting saying, “We never did it that way before.” What I believe this young pastor is doing is building a new church inside or alongside the old church, maintaining both. It is a good way of addressing the problems mentioned above.

If one is familiar with the life cycles of churches (I am) they have a birth, youth, middle age, old age and death, like human beings. So, churches will grow up and then die if they follow a normal course. You have to intercede in the cycle if a church is to continue. Or, you start building a new church inside an existing church exactly the way we’re doing.

I’m pleased. Beside, he’s (the new pastor) my golf partner.