Refugees and immigrants are broadening the religious spectrum. So church leaders are spending time and energy on consolidating parishes, reassigning pastors, and struggling to cope with the new realities. He went on to observe that the church has yet to find an answer. For the last twenty-five years the church has been heavily invested in social ministry, partly at the cost of spiritual depth. The result has been a loss of confidence in the proclamation of the Gospel, he said.
People are afraid to be too pious.
As a result, they may not participate in church activities in their home parish, but they will seek out worship opportunities when they are on vacation, and completely anonymous. I have the feeling that Lutherans in Germany recognize their problems, and they are struggling to adapt. We saw many efforts at local congregational renewal. May God give us equally clear eyes to see our own problems, and the courage to address them. Blessings to you in the days ahead.