Thank you to our participants for their response to our recent survey concerning the effect of the current economic circumstances on churches.

 

This is a limited analysis due to the small response pool. We sent 240 surveys and have received ten responses so far. The responding churches were located in Massachusetts (4), Virginia (2), Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (1 each).

 

Six churches had current vision statements. One that stands out is from Dalton, MA, “Meeting the needs of the whole person through Jesus Christ.”

 

There is a running theme throughout the area of greatest ministry need. Eight responses centered on peoples needs. Those needs were expressed as the development of passionate leaders, lay participation in children and youth areas, and evangelism in the communities where each church is located represented the resounding chorus. 

 

Two predominate plans of response were prayer and training; prayer for more laborers, and in some cases the right individual, to meet the ministry needs; the training to develop people who could then lead and respond to the ministry needs of the church and the community it serves.

 

The current economic effect is as varied as the churches ranging from no effect to significantly effected.

 

To quote one pastor “When we have financial crisis people tend to go into survival mode and focus only on paying bills. Hinders vision and breeds discouragement.” Another pastor writes of a cost savings idea they have implemented: the use of pooled resources with other churches. And another writes, “This does not effect our work with children.”

 

The attendance items reflect varied results, including community changes, the economy, and pastoral change. But there is no economic affect noted on this sample to date.

 

Giving in this sample is literally on a case by case basis. Several of the churches have experienced giving increases due to attendance increases. But the remainder note stagnation or slight declines. The plans to deal with the impact are varied also. They reflect the personality of the churches involved. The range is from no plan to detailed ways to cut spending, including staff hires being put on hold and maintaining rather than new initiatives. One church offered this proactive idea they have implemented to keep their mission before the congregation, a “giving drive called Mission Possible.”

 

Adding services is the direction most churches responding are exploring. This may be an additional service on site or a service for those at a local nursing facility. Of the respondents only two are currently looking at facility changes or new development. 

 

In summary, this sample would never pass the Gallup results. However, there are insights that can be gleaned. The first is each church is going to need to plan to deal with the conditions they face, but they do not have to do it alone. Some will be blessed by growth during these days while, others will need to share ideas, resources and opportunities to make it through. But above all, it will require the prayerful seeking, asking, and knocking for God’s guidance and wisdom in these trying times.

 

Below you will find the questionnaire.

 

May God bless your ministry in the days ahead.

 

Kent

 

 

                    i.      Worship

                    ii.      Educational

                    iii.     Family Life

                    iv.     Combo

                    i.      Rental

                    ii.     Purchase

                    i.      Vision/ Mission

                    ii.     Church Administration/Finance

                    iii.     Development/Stewardship

                    iv.     Facility use and adaptation

                    v.      Master planning

                    vi.     New facility construction

                    vii.    Would you join a blog where the results of this

                             survey were discussed along with other ministry related questions?

                    viii.      Other _______________________________________

Note: The responses to question #11 will not be posted.