"[M]en, drums, a joyful environment, and a concerted effort not to be too 'reverent' "

"According to a new study, success stories [in church growth] often involve men, drums, a joyful environment, and a concerted effort not to be too "reverent."  That sentence is taken from the Christian Science Monitor report on a new study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. 

Interestingly, the Hartford report says that, "[w]hen all congregations are combined, there is very little relationship between growth and theological orientation."  Here's more on that issue:

In fact, the proportion growing is highest on the two end points: predominantly conservative congregations and liberal congregations (growth rates of 38% and 39% respectively).  Growth is least likely among congregations that say they are "right in the middle."  Only 27% of centrist congregations are growing at the highest levels. . . .

Within evangelical denominations, it is the less conservative churches that are most likely to grow. . . .

The proportion of growing churches is low among mainline congregations of all types, but it is higher for liberal mainline churches. . . . The fact that the most vital, growing mainline churches are most likely to be found among their most liberal and most conservative churches may partially explain the conflict between traditionalist and progressive elements in these denominations.

The report also stresses clarity of mission and purpose as a factor in church growth as well as a sense that the church is doing something different from other groups or institutions in society.

So are conservative churches growing?  The answer is yes, but primarily because they are part of growing evangelical denominations where most churches are theologically conservative.  But the findings of the Faith Communities Today survey suggest that it is not theological conservatism per se that leads to growth, but rather something intrinsic to the evangelical Christian family and their constituency.  . . .

More important than theological orientation is the religious character of the congregation and clarity of mission and purpose.  Growing churches are clear about why they exist and about what they are to be doing. . . . They grow because they understand their reason for being (whatever that may be) and they make sure they 'stick to their knitting' -- doing the things well that are essential to their life as a religious organization. . . .

Essential to the mission of any religious congregation is to create a community where people encounter God. . . .[There is a] strong relationship between growth and the sense that the congregation is "spiritually vital and alive."  This is perhaps the key to whether a congregation is actualizing its unique purpose -- doing that thing that congregations are more able to do than any other organization in society.

I recommend reading the entire report.  The findings will be of interest not only to those interested narrowly in church growth, but also to those attempting to understand how religious trends shape American public life and vice versa.

Comments

[DuWayne]

That is a very interesting study, thanks for sharing it.

I have been talking about this specific subject a lot lately, especialy as it relates to the numerous discussions about reducing the impact of religion on secular society, I have been in lately. There seems to be a misaprehention that the majority of growth in Christian churches, is all going to conservative, fundamentalist churches.

I will clarify that I consider myself a Christian deist, though a more flattering label I was given was, theistic rationalist. I do however attend church and am involved with a lot of multi-church (also interdenominational) events. What I have noticed, both in my own church and many others, is that while the dogma is very conservative - the congregations are not.

The majority of people in my own church, fall very close to the middle. While the extreme liberals, outweigh the extreme conservatives - theologicaly speaking. Politicly speaking, the majority is moderately conservative, next being moderate liberals, while at the extremes, conservatives outweigh the liberals (in my church, me).

As the issue of science education is of extreme interest to me, I will also note that while the vast majority of people in any of the churches I have involvment with, are creationists. What I have found interesting though, is that most of the people I talk to about it (quite a remarkabkle number really) don't want creationism taught in public schools and want their child to understand the evolution. Even as they try to undermine the teaching of evolution back at home, they recognize that understanding it is critical to their child's education.

I was beggining to think that my perspective was scewed simply because I live in Portland OR. A very high concentration of liberals and home of the bulk of the population that makes Oregon the least religious state in the country.

Another intersting correlation between that study and my personal expierience. My church recently lost our drummer, to a church closer to his new home. Thankfuly, we have a new one - attendance dropped by about 15% by the third week without a drummer. Attendance also went up when I (a man) began singing with the worship team, previously all women. I can't honestly say that there wasn't a lot of other things going on to bring in more people, but I know it has helped.

Thanks again, this is an interesting blog. I actually came here via Kris, who commented in the next post. I went to her blog after reading a rather harsh exchange elsewhere. After reading her short reference to the next post, I thought I might find it interesting - which I did.

[Kris Weinschenker]

All of this goes to show ecclestiastical Babylon is coming soon to church near you.

The worship of God is not about glitz, and mega-churchs, it's about building a personal relationship with the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Something that VERY FEW "churchs" are REALLY interested in.

Oh...and I just heard a FAW MORE interesting statistic today. Only around 12% of so-called "Evangelicals" bother to actually READ the Bible.

[Melissa Rogers]

DuWayne, thanks for sharing your interesting story and for your kind comments. You highlight some fascinating subtleties that are often missed by the media and by researchers. Your notes about the drummer and the male singer seem to align perfectly with the study.

Kris, I would agree that there are risks of losing our focus and this study points to some of them, but I wouldn't write off mega-churches off as you seem to do. My experiences is that they are mixed bag, just like other churches. However, I'm sure you are right that many more say they read the Bible than actually do it. I'm curious as to where you got the statistic, however, because usually people are loathe to admit these kind of things.