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20% Of US Churches “Have No Future”

Orginally published on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 at 11:00 AM
by Todd Rhoades

In his new book, "Who Shall Lead Them?  The Future of Ministry in America", Larry Witham discusses what he thinks churches will be like in years to come.  Here are a couple of his quotes from a review in the Indianapolis StarGetting "The Call" Later in Life
Ministers in most Christian churches are receiving the call at later ages, with the average age at ordination now 37. In two decades, the age for entering ministry has increased by about 12 years. Half of all active clergy are at least 50 years old and those younger than 30 are rare…

More Females in Ministry
The increase of female ordinations over the past three decades has been dramatic, Witham says, up to 14 percent. This does not include the theologically trained but nonordained "ecclesial ministers" in the Catholic Church. Women in the Catholic Church now make up nearly half of all administrators in the nation's dioceses and an estimated 82 percent of parish officials. Male priests, though, are still the final authority.

Fewer Churches
Roughly 20 percent of U.S. congregations, and perhaps more, have no future," he says. While small congregations are decreasing in number, larger communities are growing; 10 percent of congregations now host 50 percent of the churchgoing public.

You can order a copy of the book from Amazon.com here.

FOR DISCUSSIONWhat do you think?  I have long felt that many, many churches are a few deaths away from extinction. 
















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 TRACKBACKS: (0) There are 2 Comments:

  • Posted by Jason Fletcher

    I would think that his estimation of 20% of churches having no future is a very conservative estimate.

  • Posted by

    I agree and disagree with the author (but not at the same time in the same sense).  If you pay attention to the secular futurists, it will give some insight into how “religion” is viewed.

    Although we all know Scripture propogating suffering and death for those who follow Christ, in America it doesn’t seem this teaching will ever be true. BUT

    Consider the term “radical” and “religion” and you’ll start to see a pattern forming amoung the lawmakers and “powers that be” (like the futurists - Peter Schwarts and Alvin Toffler) and how and WHO they view as such.

    What’s most interesting is #1 how the Christian community is sort of “falling into the model” by using terms about Study Groups and Small Ministries as “cells” (playing into the hands [or minds] of people who would like nothing more than to rid the world of Christianity) and #2 how dividing lines in the Christian community is becoming not only evident but absolutely apparent with one group considering themselves as the “true christians” and calling the others “radical” while the other group would term the “true christians” as being “liberal” and themselves as well… “radical - FOR Jesus”.

    The point being, both will fall into this secular view as bad BUT one side will seemingly be willing to help the secular world define who and where the radicals are.  Much like the muslim “conservatives” are doing with the Islamic “radicals” only in this case it is morally right but in the next 20 years, all ridding of religious radicals will be considered morally right, even by the “true christians” (self proclaiming).

    So how do I agree?  Yes. the small churches will die off as most are no longer really seeking to know WHO GOD IS but rather define SELF with God (slight difference but a little lie mixed in with allot of truth is still a lie).  BUT The Church (Believers) will flourish under this future persecution, to the ends of the earth.  Email, web sites, internet, etc.  most importantly in the hearts of men.

    To start the journey read War Antiwar by Andy TOffler (written in 1991 or 1993 can’t remember) and compare it to Inevitible Surprises by Peter Scwarts (2003???).

    There is enough evil in tomorrow so just keep it in mind when you read articles like this.  Great post Todd, good article… of course you know me, I “read into it” but take a gander for yourself, when you have a moment wink

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