| In many places, church leaders face the question whether they should invest in buildings to cater for large regional congregations? It is evident, not only in the capital cities, but also in many large rural centres, that the days of small, close, suburban communities has come to an end. Many tiny congregations which served those who lived in walking distance will close within the next decade. At the same time, some congregations have grown large as they have served large populations, in an age in which most people drive to church.
Strengths of the Larger Church
What will the future be like? Will small local congregations disappear, to be replaced by large, regional congregations? Various trends suggest this may be the case. While there is some talk of the importance of local community life, there is little evidence of its value in people's habits. Cars continue to be the major form of transport, and people draw on resources and services of the larger region. Certainly, money is still being poured into regional shopping centres.
The National Church Life Survey argued that larger congregations were more attractive to younger adults. Many younger people enjoy being part of a large, enthusiastic crowd. Large congregations are mor likely to have a range of activities, catering for a range of needs and interests for various age groups and people at different stages of life. They can cater more easily for a wide range of people. The NCLS argued that small congregations, on the other hand, find it more difficult to grow numerically and retain younger attenders (Kaldor, et al., 1997, pp.78-79.).
Strengths of the Smaller Church
It would appear from anecdotal information that many of the large regional congregations in Australia have ceased growing. Many large regional congregations, it would seem, reach a plateau. On the other hand, many small congregations are experiencing small-scale, but significant revival. Sine argues that the days of the mega-church are over and Sweet says that the future lies in decentralising congregational life.
Many church-attenders, although not all, want a context in which they are personally known and valued. Large regional congregations have depended on this occurring through a multitude of small groups. However, others prefer a small Sunday congregation where they will soon get to know other attenders, and enjoy the sense of community that is expressed in worship in a small church and in the shared cups of coffee after the service. Not everyone wants to be part of large crowd.
Small congregations have the advantage that they can cater more readily for individual and specialist needs and interests in worship. They can adapt to the needs of a student group, or people with poor mental health. They can gather round the deep concerns of certain members about the environment, or care for the people of a near-by nursing home. Small congregations offer the chance of diversity in an age in which everyone wants something a little different.
Issues
The issue for the major denominations, particularly the Anglicans and Uniting, is that they often have many congregations within close proximity serving similar groups of people, offering similar styles of worship. The distinctiveness of these congregations lies in the history of people's affiliation rather than in the styles of worship and the nature of mission through which they engage the wider community.
These small, local congregations play a significant role for many people who attend them. Sometimes they are the last vestiges of local community which was formed decades ago. As these people have seen many local shops replaced by large regional shopping centres, local doctors replaced by regional health clinics, local sporting clubs replaced by a great variety of options offered throughout the region, local congregations have remained the centre of their communities. Understandably, they are not anxious to give up that sense of community which enjoys such deep roots, even if it is dwindling in size. A variety of solutions are possible in which care is offered to these remnants of local life through part-time ministry, lay ministry teams, ‘circuits', and so on.
At the same time, community for others may need to be created in other ways. For newcomers to the neighbourhood are unlikely to make friends through meetings at shops. Rather, community must be created by bringing together people who have common interests or passions. The future may well lie in a wide variety of networks than in larger institutions.
We look forward to the next National Church Life Survey which will take place, not only in Australia, but in New Zealand, the United States and Britain, in May. The results will help in pointing us towards the trends for the 21st century.
Philip Hughes
Reference:
Peter Kaldor, John Bellamy, Ruth Powell, Shaping A Future: Characteristics of Vital Congregations, Openbook, Adelaide, 1997.
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