Dear Brothers and Sisters of Mary and Martha,
This is a difficult article to read, but it’s really worth
taking the time to do so. There are some
good insights here (especially following up on the sermon I preached last
Sunday – about the Church needing to become comfortable in her own skin
again!).
Brothers and Sisters at Bethany House, would you please take
a few moments and read this article? Once
you get past the “bad news”, there are some encouraging things to note!! This is especially true for us as we
investigate “The Benedict Option” and ways of being a vital Church community!
Father Todd
“The Pandemic and the Demise of the Church”…
by The Rt. Rev’d. David Epps
A recent Barna poll has indicated that, in the next 18
months, 20% of all churches in the United States are likely to close as a
result of the pandemic. If accurate, this would mean that, in the United
States, 9,491 Southern Baptist churches (out of 47,456 churches as of 2018)
would shut down. With 17,000 parishes, the Catholics Church would close 3,400
churches. The Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ would both lose
2,400 churches. Other denominations would be similarly affected. Part of the
reason may be financial.
An April 24, 2020 article in the Washington Post states that
churches, especially small churches, are living week to week, have eliminated
much of paid staff, and are struggling to pay their mortgages. Even though
congregations may not be meeting as usual, the expenses are virtually the same.
A significant portion of church-goers have a “movie ticket mentality.” That is,
“If I don’t go to a movie, I don’t pay for a ticket,” which translates as, “If
I don’t go to church, I don’t give an offering.” It is a flawed concept of
stewardship but is wide spread in some circles.
Another factor may be that only about 20% of churches were
live streaming their services prior to the pandemic. The church was, thus, out
of sight and out of mind. Many church
leaders were having to learn how and what to do and decide if they could afford
to live stream. Most realized that they could not afford to neglect live
streaming.
More troublesome, 58% of pastors surveyed believe that their
own church will not survive the current crisis. If the pastors themselves have
this gloomy viewpoint, it stands to reason that their congregations will likely
be affected by their pessimism. Leaders set the tone. Even if they try to hide
their true feelings, many people are able to pick up on the non-verbal signals
and indicators. If the captain believes the ship will sink, what hope has the
crew?
Of course, this phenomenon is not new, even among church
leaders. In the Gospels, Jesus himself seems to be regularly chiding his disciples
for their lack of faith. They seem to
have forgotten that it is Jesus who said, “I will build my Church,” and that he
promised that the “gates of hell” would not prevail against it. The Church has
survived Roman persecution, Nazism, Communism, the Black Death, atheism,
militant socialism, Fascism, and all manner of unfavorable circumstances.
However, faith is required on the part of its members and leaders so it is very
possible that some individual churches will not survive. The Church, however, is
in no danger.
Another disheartening fact is that, for churches that do
live stream, fully 1/3 of the active congregation does not and has not tuned in
to watch. It’s hard to argue with politicians who say the church is not
essential when that many people who are church members see their own church
service as irrelevant.
If churches fail, it will not be the fault of the pandemic.
It will not be the fault of the government, as indifferent or hostile as
governments can be to spiritual matters. The blame will rest in the hands of
its leaders and members who allowed it to die through neglect, apathy, and lack
of faith.
I, for one, have a more positive outlook than Barna or the
Washington Post. My personal experience is that the church leaders I know are
finding ways – sometimes very innovative ways – to minister to their people.
Most are working harder than they were prior to the pandemic. In the church I
serve, almost all of the people have continued to be faithful in their giving.
This summer we received an annual offering to help build churches in this
country. Our “pandemic offering” was several hundred dollars higher than in
2019 when there was no pandemic. The offerings on Sundays are down but the
checks we receive in the mail and donations online are up.
Churches, including our own, have discovered that the
audience they have from live streaming is likely several times larger than
in-house attendance prior to the current situation. In other words, people who
have never visited their church are visiting for the first time through live
streaming.
There is the danger that people who have broken the habit of
church attendance may be tempted to stay absent. It is also possible that those
who have only been to “virtual church” during this time will want to stay home
in their pajamas and drink coffee as they watch church from the comfort of
their recliner. This would be a shame.
When Genesis records that God said, “It is not good that man
should be alone,” He meant that. Man (or humankind, if you prefer) was not created
to be a solitary creature. In the New Testament, the admonition is given to
“not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” When Jesus himself
addresses seven churches in the Book of Revelation, those messages are given to
the gathered church, not to individuals. Almost all the Epistles are addressed
to congregations. There is no such thing as “solitary Christianity.” There is no, “It’s just me, my Bible, and
Jesus.”
The pandemic will pass soon enough and the Church will be
changed, I hope and trust, for the better. Already many churches are planning
to re-open, new ministries have been created, some programs and ministries have
been re-started, and ministries before the pandemic are being re-evaluated as
to their current relevance. The Church will be here long after the pandemic and
hostile politicians are but a memory.
In the meantime, “having done all to stand, stand
therefore.” Have some faith, participate when and where you can, be faithful to
give generously to your church, pray often, and read God’s Word. Pastors and
priests, please lead—don’t limp—through this crisis. None of this has caught
God off guard. It’s His Church, not yours, so adjust your attitude and actions
and trust Him. He is faithful when we are not and He has answers when we are
clueless. Let’s thrive, not merely survive, during these days!
The Rt. Rev’d. David Epps is the Rector of the Cathedral of
Christ the King (www.ctk.life). During the crisis, the church is live streaming
at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. He is the
bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-South and can be contacted at davidepps@ctk.life.
This article appeared in The Citizen newspaper, Fayette
County, Georgia for the September 23,
2020 edition.
