Five years ago (November 2000) this newsletter featured discussion of the
landmark book by Robert Putnam, "Bowling Alone." The upshot of that book is
that our culture is loosing what he calls social capital. While not easily
defined, this term attempts to capture the need for trust and civic
participation in society.
Congregational Development within The United Methodist Church is increasing across the denomination, one of the signs of hope. Congregational Development is a modern rendition of the Church Growth Movement.
A unique crucible in the study of congregational development is before us.
After hurricanes Katrina and Rita hammered the Gulf Coast, massive damage
and dislocation took place, including United Methodist churches and church
folk. Upon going to the website of the Louisiana Annual Conference, one can
find pastors and churches impacted by Katrina listed.
As this newsletter goes to press, we have just passed the forth anniversary
of September 11. We were reminded of the horrendous loss of life and
property and the impact that had on our world. Amazingly enough, this news
did not get top billing since we have been dealing with the aftermath of
Katrina.
We in the United Methodist Church are very conscious of diversity. We
certainly have it across the church, at least with respect to theological,
political, and racial/ethnic categories. A category which is less discussed
is class. While complex, much of class distinctions have to do with economic
well being, an area for which little hard data exists for UMC members.
As the Annual Conference Reports are scrolling forth in Newscope, several
figures are usually quoted. These include membership and attendance changes,
as well as clergy ordained and retired. Casual observation suggests that
there are usually more retirements than ordinations.
US News and World Report just ran an article entitled, "Through the Roof,"
describing the current extraordinary escalation in home prices in many
markets, and above average run up in most others." Many other publications
are addressing the same issue.
Earlier this year the Congregational Developers Network from the Annual
Conferences met for their yearly meeting. Much was discussed and presented,
including a look at the United Methodist Church through two lenses. First
the grim reality as portrayed statistically, and then, to not leave everyone
despairing, signs of hope.
Recognized futurists Marvin Cetron and Owen Davies have developed a special
report entitled "53 Trends Now Shaping the Future," published by the World
Future Society. Though the excerpted version appearing in the March-April
2000 edition of The Futurist magazine did not mention church, the changes in
the world around the church clearly have an impact on it. We will note some
of those which most directly influence the church.
Annual Conferences proactive in church planting obviously desire to start
new churches in growth areas where the new populations are not being served.
More conferences are now using the parent church model where an existing
strong, healthy church provides most of the support for the new church.
Every year this report has been written, it starts with words to the effect that the United Methodist Church (in the USA) has lost members every year since the 1968 merger. This most recent comparison period is no exception. Unlike some more recent years all three major categories of measurement have declined, some seriously.
It is that time of year when pastors and helpers are filling out the year end report to be submitted to the Annual Conference.
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