The Rev. Canon Frank Logue of the Diocese of Georgia has written a fine piece on his blog “Loose Canon” on the ways that churches must change EVEN if they want to keep the status quo. A good read. What do you think?
Change Required to Maintain the Status Quo
From the Loose Canon blog
If you want to maintain the status quo at your church in the coming decades, one of three changes will have to occur:
1) Younger members of the church will have to increase giving to match older members, or
2) More members will be needed, or
3) Cut backs will be required, perhaps drastic actions on staffing and building costs.
This is true for the vast majority (if not all) of mainline churches across the country. No matter the denomination from Baptist to Episcopalians, the cost of running a church is going up, while the givers who have supported the budget at its accustomed levels are dying off and younger members are giving at lower percentages. This widespread fact of church life is forcing change even on congregations that just want to maintain the status quo.