The dizzying pace of change leaves Nebraska United Methodist Bishop Rhymes Moncure Jr. hopeful rather than depressed or bewildered. It's my dream, my prayer, my hope that the membership sees that as God's validation that something did happen 2,000 years ago and share it with others. Another peek into the future comes from a recent study of congregational life done by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. Researchers Carl Dudley and David Roozen surveyed 14,301 congregations in 41 denominations and faith groups. The data apply to about 90 percent of the nation's worshippers.
Several findings stand out.
One is that half of the nation's 300,000-plus congregations have fewer than 100 adults who regularly participate in congregational life. As is the case of Nebraska and western Iowa, the majority of congregations are in small towns and rural areas. The study also suggests that churches with a clear sense of mission and high expectations report greater vitality, growth and financial giving. Contemporary worship and electronic musical instruments make congregations more appealing to new members and a magnet for youth. It's no surprise, then, that evangelical Protestants, which exhibit these characteristics, led all groups in new church development in the last half of the 20th century.