Most mainline protestant denominations in North America are facing membership decline and church closures. In the period 1980 to 2004, Canada's largest denomination, the United Church of Canada, has experienced an annual compound annual rate of decline of 1.36% in households under pastoral care, representing a loss of almost 200,000 households. People are not leaving the denomination to join another, they are leaving "church." The challenge posed by this exodus from the church is the forced closure of numerous churches, as well as the struggle to maintain vibrant churches in many communities. Many leaders in these churches would like to see church growth rather than decline, but answers seem evasive!

In addition to the challenge of "being the church" is a post-Christian society, there is the element of "stress" in the church that makes it difficult for many clergy to operate at their best. The winter 1996 issue of Leadership, a national survey of Protestant clergy that revealed twenty-three percent of ministers report they have been fired at least once, and forty-three percent said that a faction (usually fewer than ten persons) forced them to resign.

The liberal Protestant church in North America is shrinking, and hundreds of congregations close their doors each year. Many churches sail on, as if nothing has changed, and we ask the question, "Is the ‘ship’--the Protestant mainline church, too big or ‘stuck’ to change its direction or course? The leaders, ministers, theologians, and church members work so hard, yet they must feel helpless in affecting the necessary change, thus the ‘ship sails on’, albeit a much smaller ship with an elderly passenger list."

Spirit Renewal Ministries believes that the church can be saved from decline, and our ministry is dedicated to working with churches and their leaders to effect positive change, leading to a spiritual renewal that will lead to healthy church growth.

Resources on Church Renewal

The path to renewal in Protestant, mainline denominations will not be through the path of amalgamation of two or more diminishing/faltering congregations to economize on asset utilization, and taking advantage of a larger pool of human capital. Nor will it be attained by focusing on administrative and financial issues.

The possibility for renewal (or revival) is directly connected to the willingness of the church’s leadership (clergy and lay leaders) to embark on a disciplined path of discernment that will (hopefully) lead to a renewed praxis of faith. This renewed praxis of faith will be found along a ‘spiritual/God centered’ path, where the focus in on the ‘Word of God’ and the presence of the ‘Spirit of the Lord’ within the community.

Spirit Renewal Ministries works with churches and religious organizations and their leaders to move from a place of decline, complacency, and despair, to a new place of hope, excitement, and growth. We also support churches in a growth mode when extra resources are needed to supplement ministry needs in time of growth and change.

Our ministry support is adapted to your church and its unique needs. We spend time with your governing bodies, clergy, leaders and congregation to understand the community of faith and its religious practices, as well as the challenges and opportunities. A historical analysis, combined with a review of the social and cultural dynamics, along side the narrative description of the church's culture and tradition provides the background necessary to articulate an understanding of the praxis and a new horizon of meaning which will hopefully lead to a revised way of being, leading ultimately to the spiritual renewal of the congregation.

We believe that authentic Christian praxis is the key attribute to renewal--not the institutional/administration/functional acumen in which the church invests so much of its resources and energy. Communities of Christians who are open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and faithful in their response to God’s call, will be renewed in the Spirit.

HELP