Six Reasons Why Churches Experience Long Term Decline and Lack of Vitality
You might ask, why do some churches seem to thrive and others struggle? 
Some churches are in decline, others reach a plateau, and others have trouble attracting new members, especially young people.
The answer to this question is very complex. It is found in several broad areas that impact the churches ethos including societal, history, theological beliefs and understandings, as well as the church's lived experience.
When a church begins to experience long term decline and a lack of vitality, there are a number of contributing factors that may be at play, including the following:
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The clergy may spend too much of their time doing administrative work keeping the "bureaucracy of the church" humming.
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The church may have trouble articulating what it truly believes, especially with respect to the person of Jesus Christ.
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The church's lay leaders may spend more of their time and energy managing the financial and property matters of the church, rather than being attentive to the spiritual needs of those the church serves.
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There may be issues of power and control that stifle the true work of the church.
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The church may not recognize and value their minister's true spiritual gifts, and may actually hinder the work of the church by not supporting the minister.
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The church may be afraid to change. The church would rather continue it's gradual decline than to face the changes that might enable new life and growth.
In as much as the causes are complex, the solution may not be easy or obvious. For many churches, years have gone by as the trends developed. This does not mean that there is no hope. Contact Spirit Renewal Ministries for an initial consultation or conversation. Our services are available to help churches who are in decline, facing closure, or simply in a period of stagnation. Numerous books have been written on the subject of church renewal - we list but a few for your reference.
