New England Synod Presentation

Being the Church in the Age of the Dispirited

Scott Thumma Hartford Institute for Religion Research

A Christian Nation of 350,000 Congregations

80% say they are sure there is a God & belong to a faith group

75% of Americans identify as “Christian”

65% claim an affiliation with a congregation

49% are claimed as adherents by congregations

40% tell surveys they attend weekly

20% of Americans actually attend weekly

A Christian Nation?

And how many of these are involved – leading and serving?

And in New England?

And in Lutheran New England

Not Quite Dying…

But Needing to Change

Getting Older

Less Appealing to the Young

The time spent on computers by 8-18 year-olds tripled from 1999 to 2009.

With More Competition for Their Time

Nearly 70% of US children (age 6-17) play team sports, three out of four teenagers play at least one team sport.

8-18 year-olds average 71/2 hours of entertainment media a day (over 53 hours a week).

7th-12th graders spend 11/2 hours a day sending or receiving texts.

And Ours

Getting Larger

and smaller…

MegachurchProliferation

A weakening of denominational labels and affiliation within churches

Less Vitality

So how can you thrive as the Church in the Age of the Dispirited?

Churches Have To Be Wiser…And Less Wistfully Nostalgic

The Challenge: Change or die a slow death.

Contemporary Worship

And/or/both Innovative

Embrace Technology

The first step in Transformative Change is:

“Establish a sense of urgency” (Leading Change John Kotter)

You must change in order to address humanity’s quest for meaning and community – To offer an authentic encounter with God

in this day and age and into the future.

Real Change Requires Rethinking Church

•Think of “church” in less building & worship service-centric ways. •Expand what counts as involvement in the congregation. •Ask yourself - what do our potential visitors’ value? •Make faith more meaningful in their everyday lives.•Be less denominational and more visionary, progressive, activist – outspoken!•Do your good works in the world.•Intentionally create real community.•Make sure members' time spent in church is spiritually meaningful.

A Conversation about Change and Innovation

Scott Thumma

Email: sthumma@hartsem.edu

Web: www.hartfordinstitute.org