Another bugbear as I begin a new term and with it a new regime of not letting people stand in my way (always the same since I was in the first year at school - new books, new start and a determination to see homework done and handed in on time - book looked like rag in weeks and homework still always last minute :-) ) and stop Church growing and doing because it is comfortable.
I am meeting more and more people who fall into one of three groups, the most frustrating of these being 'maintenance church'. (i'll tell you about the other two later - promise!).
Now these people are in a church where the congregation stays pretty static. People leave and people arrive and they are comfortable in terms of numbers and (even with the recession) giving. These are the churches that the Pharisees within the church structures love to see for they are not declining and, better still, they are paying their way. The former is a product of the place rather than the minister or pastor and the latter, in these days whereby the mantra, "Can't pay - Can't have!", make these the talisman churches.
The problem is that those who are maintaining are planning on decline as the time comes when an older critical mass reaches the time to check out. Explaining this to a minister I was met with the response that by the time that happened they'd have moved on and so it wouldn't be their problem. This, I think, is a symptom (and the cause) of many of the problems we are facing and the creation of a terrible legacy for our nation too!
A church member once told me that we needed to be doing more for the members of the church and less outside with the people who don't come. Now this YIMBY (Yes in my back yard) was concerned with their needs and the things that served them. They didn't want to go out and do and (to my knowledge) never have regardless of where they were! This is a different situation (but still needs addressing) BUT
We need churches to be engaged with their community, for this is who we are called to serve, and to engage with people outside the church building by taking the Gospel, this means going because of Christ and telling others about His love, especially if your church is stable and the parish share isn't a struggle. And if you have enough to pay your way - how's about looking at those around you who can't and help them - one day it might be the other way around (2Cor 8:13 - 15):
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”
A stable church, especially those which are historically comfortable, needs to plan for the times when the famine comes a knocking. Getting out and doing is something that we must all do (in Jesus' name) and not something that is done (like evangelism) when the Parish Share needs a paying?
We need missional churches and missional leaders and enabled members who are trained, equipped and released to do the job and if your minister isn't doing that then you'd better tell them that they're planning for a new career some time soon!
As for who cares? Well I do, because a stable church is a great place to build from!