Dissatisfaction and Yearning Drive Protestants From Church To Church

From USAToday reports that...

Most of the switchers who changed their house of worship without making a residential move (58%) say their old church failed to engage their faith, or put their talents to work, or it seemed hypocritical or judgmental.

But 42% of the people say they switched because another church offered more appealing doctrines and preaching or the preacher and church members' faith seemed more "authentic."

WHY PEOPLE CHANGE CHURCHES

Why they left their old church1

• Disenchanted with the pastor or church: 51%
• It wasn't fulfilling their needs or the reasons they attended: 44%
• Something changed about the church: 33%
• Felt out of place at church: 31%
• Could not agree with church teachings or positions on issues: 27%

Why they chose a new church1

• Beliefs or doctrines of the church: 89%
• Authenticity of church members/pastor: 88%
• Quality of the preaching: 87%
• Prefer the worship style: 80%
• Found more evidence of God's work/changed lives: 76%
• New church cares for the community: 76%

1Respondents could name more than one reason

Source: Lifeway Research survey of Protestants. Based on 415 respondents who switched churches but had not made a residential move; margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points.

The Book of Worship - John Randall Dennis

The Book of Worship: 365 Inspiring Readings Based on Worship Songs and Classic Hymns by John Randall Dennis is designed to follow the weeks within the Church Year.

It includes the author's selections of hymns and choruses for every week in the year along with minor adaptations to Thomas Cranmer's collects from the Book of Common Prayer (the English is mildly updated for modern style and vocabulary).

Here's what I find valuable about it:

1. This author serves as a bridge between the theologically oriented pastor's concern for faithful worship and the congregation's yearning for "modern songs". Without agreeing with every selection, one can at least respect the author's guiding principle: each song must contain or allude to a biblical reference or references.

2. It presents these musical selections in the appropriate order for the church year to help the busy pastor prepare worship services that are seasonally relevant. It also helps keep the music in sync with the season and scripture readings while increasing the breadth of the congregation's muscial repetroire.

3. It puts the venerable collects of the Book of Common Prayer within the grasp of church members who will simply find this to be a very accessible aid that can be used in private or family devotions bringing the worship of the church into the home.

4. It includes devotional readings that pastors and church members may find thought provoking and helpful for personal or corporate devotion.

For such low price, I consider it a worthy compliment to more technical prayer books and worship books.

It can be a quite helpful tool in congregational renewal to help you bypass the worship wars

Creating A Climate For Church Growth

Is there a "common climate for church growth"?

Something commoon to all growing churches that transcends cultural oddities like the style of music or architecture of the building?

This article refers to several such traits. I'll list them but go to the article for more depth in discussing each one.

From Mayberry Driven Church

1. Commitment to prayer
2. Shared purpose as a church
3. Simple organization
4. Good communication
5. Willingness to change
6. Unified Leadership
7. Functional Goals and Objectives
8. Operate by faith