Streams of Mercy

Recently, I came across an article in the PC(USA) News online. The author shared a Facebook post he came across that troubled him. It was a long lament about Presbyterian decline – “how perhaps God’s okay with it; how God’s winnowing us so other churches can thrive; how we pastors should accept our collective role as hospice chaplains for dying churches.” Just for the record, the post troubled me as well, so I took time to read the entire article.

I share part of it here.

“Having witnessed a 40-year decline from 4 to just over 1 million during my time as a Presbyterian, I’ve spent my career pushing back against such thought. On the hard days, I wonder if we’ve become an ecclesiastical version of Sears. From the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, Sears dominated the U.S. (just as Presbyterians did). They sold everything from clothes, tools, washing machines, dishwashers and more. Then Walmart cut into their dominance, followed by Home Depot. Finally, Amazon sealed their fate. Sears stopped innovating and adapting, trying instead to hold onto what was, rather than adapting to the reality of what is. Having grown both churches and non-profits, I know decline isn’t inevitable, but it requires adapting an entrepreneurial mindset and practices. Entrepreneurs see obstacles as opportunities; they focus on what’s possible, not what’s impossible. Ultimately, entrepreneurs see problems as potential paths for creating new possibilities … Entrepreneurs resist the urge to say, ‘This is how I’ve always done it.’ … Entrepreneurs are eager to learn what they don’t know, even if it means learning from those they feel competitive with … Entrepreneurs know that true creativity uniquely integrates others’ ideas.” (“Have We Become Sears?”, by Graham Standish, May 23, 2023)

He shared about facing the problem of how/when to have Confirmation Classes, when Sunday morning sports meant families had to choose between athletics and confirmation classes. They chose to embrace the opportunity to revamp their confirmation program.

Based on the Great Commandment, they created a unique curriculum with three emphases – loving God, loving others, loving ourselves. They offered “loving others” mission activities at times other than Sunday morning. They taught “loving self “ by teaching personal prayer, Bible-reading, discernment and responsible living that prepared them for life beyond the church. They offered “loving God” Sunday classes that integrated film, music, videos and more to teach lessons about who and where God is. They turned a challenging problem into a creative program.

The article provided much food for thought and would lead to fruitful discussion in coming session meetings. Standish concludes his article with these words:

“Entrepreneurs always look for opportunities, want to grow, resist their own complacency, and embrace creativity. Maybe we’ve become irredeemably Sears, but I hope not.”

He spoke of the need for “adaptive leadership” and challenged those of us who follow manuscript, lectionary preaching, with formal liturgies in the bulletin, to be open to something new. He calls for “entrepreneurial pastoring”, boldly examining what’s ineffective and adapting to what is effective. It will be interesting to see what comes of it all!

Elizabeth