Hoarding and Survival

The tale of the rich church....

Lectionary: Luke 12:13-21 

It is a scary time for many Christian denominations: decreasing membership and finances, a pandemic that doesn’t seem to end even though people like to pretend it’s over, inflation and economic instability, and a government increasingly intent on catering to the wishes and whims of christofascists.  

To be fair, one could make the argument that things have always been pretty bad, especially for those on the margins of society. It’s just every and now and then, the situation becomes so dire that those in positions of privilege: white, middle-class Christians, are now impacted and are now paying attention.  

Another important point: white Mainline Protestant Christianity has been on the decline for years if not decades but are now holding steady. Plus, it is important to note that Mainline Protestant Christianity is not the only form of Christianity in the US.

However, every few months another think piece appears proclaiming the death of white Mainline Protestant Christianity followed by other articles claiming such claims are exaggerated or are in error by focusing only on this form of Christianity.  

But I’m not here to quibble about whether or not the death of Mainline Protestant Christian congregations is imminent or has been exaggerated. What I am interested in is exploring the ways in which some denominations and congregations have responded to the increase in irreligiosity and decrease in church attendance and membership. It is important to point out that while Mainline Protestant Christianity may not necessarily be on death’s door, plenty of individual congregations are.  

In too many cases, denominations and congregations have looked at the decline in membership and finances and responded like the rich man, although to be fair, many aren’t taking a laid-back attitude and saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” Instead, many are reacting with fear. They are hoarding because they are afraid that they won’t be able to survive for the next 10, 20 or 30 years.  

There are congregations, who even in this time of decline and stagnation have a healthy endowment. And too often, these congregations, decide that what matters is ensuring that they continue to exist in the same form they have for the past 50 or so years.  Their building has been around for 100 years, and they are determined it will be around for another 100 years even if only 5 people show up.  

They naively hope that if they could just hold on a little bit longer, the heydays of the 1950s and 60s, will return and the pews will once again be filled and the church coffers frequently replenished. (Though, if we were honest- the “good old days” weren't really good. Not for queer people and certainly not for Black and brown people). 

But I’m here to say: the 1950s and 60s aren’t coming back. Thank goodness for that because as a queer, brown-skinned, Latinx, I would be shut out from even more spaces than I already am. Harking to an idealized past-one that was rife with injustice and oppression- but where the pews and offering plates were filled-helps no one.  

Instead, I am asking congregations whose membership are declining and yet who still have some form of wealth-to ask themselves: what legacy do they want to leave behind? Do they want to be known as a congregation with a beautiful building that persisted for years even if only 5 people showed up, or do they want to be known as a congregation that sought to implement the kingdom of God, here and now? Who used their wealth to make their neighborhood a better place? ”  

I’m not going to sit here and say, “well if you turn your attention outward, reach out to your neighborhood, focus on justice, then your congregation will grow.” Maybe it will, but maybe it won’t. Too often people look at the declining church attendance and membership and say, “well, the answer is for the congregation to become more actively involved in the community and social justice issues.” 

 I mean, yes, congregations need to be actively involved in justice in their communities, but if their main motivation is tied to increasing attendance, then when things get hard, as they will because standing up for justice is not easy or simple, then their commitment to justice will be abandoned. Or if the congregation isn’t growing, they will turn to the next fad in church growth.  Working to help create the kingdom of God on earth-a kingdom where equality and justice reigns, is not necessarily a sure-fire congregational growth method.  

Congregations need to get comfortable with the reality that they will not be around forever, certainly not in whatever current form they may be. I’m not saying for congregations to just throw in the towel and just start liquidating all their assets and funds, nor am I saying they shouldn’t be concerned with being sustainable. 

 But I am saying that ensuring the survival of their congregation and/or church building, shouldn’t be the end all be all for every decision they make. They may need to reimagine what it means to be Church and what that looks like. And they may need to be ok with the fact, that the congregational life, as they’ve known it, won’t be around in the next 50 years. But what may be around is the actions they’ve taken to create a more just and equitable world.  

Congregations are having to make difficult decisions regarding what it means to be church. And I don’t mean to minimize the grief that comes from being forced to do ministry in a different way, or possibly losing a very cherished building. Grief is very real. However, I believe that even in the midst of grief and death, God brings about the possibility of resurrection.  

I do want to acknowledge, that while there are some congregations with declining membership who are wealthy, there are many, many others, who cannot pay their bills. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t make the decision to hoard wealth, because they do not have it. They barely have enough funds to keep the light on and yet they do what they can to reach out to the hurting and marginalized in their community.  

I know this doesn’t keep the lights on or the doors open, and this doesn’t mitigate the pain and grief, but know that you are doing God’s work. That your ministry matters. And that even as you make difficult decisions and face closure, know that God has been at work through you. God’s promise of resurrection may not look as you hope (ie it may not come via a sudden influx of wealth or members) but it will come.  

Image: Inside of a beautiful cathedral. Text: Congregations...are going to have to decide whether they are willing to imagine new ways of being and doing church or whether they are going to hold onto the old status quo until the bitter end.