Has the small town country church become passé?

In today’s society we see more and more small town and country churches fading away into oblivion. “Why?” we might ask ourselves. Didn’t our forefathers come out of these quaint small congregations where everyone knew one another, shared their pain and happiness. They would rejoice together at the birth of a healthy child and commiserate at the death of a loved one. With all of this built-in support system around them, and around those in these modern day small town and country churches, why would people leave? Conversely, why do mega-churches thrive today?

There may be more answers to the why in both scenarios than this rather opinionated article can or dare to propose. But, I’ve never been called faint-of-heart, more rather at times fool-hardy. So here is my two cents worth.

An obvious reason for the struggle small churches have is finances – simply stated, not enough seats in the seats. This is in no way empirical data gathered myself, but I’ve been told that one out of every ten regular attendees will tithe regularly. If this is true, simple math can resolve the fiscal issues most churches face. For example if there are 70 regular attendees in a small church with those tithers giving an average of $100 per week, that equates to $700 per Sunday or $2,800 per month (based on a 4 Sunday month). Now if the regular attendance numbers were – say – 300, and the same $100 per week tithe amount were used, this church would receive $3,000 per week and $12,000 per month. The answer here becomes as said earlier, obvious, the small church cannot afford to keep it’s doors open. So, in order for a small church to remain financially viable, several of those tithers must contribute infinitely more than the average. This is easier said than done, so small churches fade away usually because they simply cannot pay the bills any longer.

Another reason for the demise of the small church is anonymity – and the desire of people in our society to have anonymity. Being able to come and go without notice. No responsibility, no accountability and no close relationships – keeping it totally superficial and impersonal. This way you have complete freedom to go to church or not, tithe or not and no one notices. Neat, kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost! This way you can do whatever you wish and have no fear of “running into” someone who is from your church – or worry about someone seeing you doing whatever. Total anonymity – now you see me, now you don’t. After all who needs the added responsibility of having fellow parishioners question your behavior, after all, it is strictly between you and God. As one of several hundred or thousand to go every Sunday, who will miss you every once-in-a-while should you decide not to go? And another side to this coin is the desire for recognition on a grand scale – an ego trip. If you become one of the church leaders in a large church hundreds or even thousands will know your name, and know how important you are.

A third reason for the small church failure rate is the “ruling class” who have been there forever refuse to change and refuse to allow growth. Often heard in meetings of the leadership and in private, “We like things just the way they are.” The obvious hold true here, when these members pass away, so does the church. Often times, from my observations, these are the money people of the church – those who donate that more than average amount and therefore are “entitled” to more say in the church planning and operations. The church is exactly where these “elite” few want it to be – no more, no less.

Finally, a dying church rarely will see it coming. As with a business entity, the most tell-tale sign is reduced revenues year-over-year. As expenses increase due to inflationary pressures and/or maintenance requirements of an aging structure, and, donations decline, the church fails just as a business would. But, a failing church takes much longer to die than a business would. A dying church will suffer a great deal before it breathes its last gasp. People will come offering help in the form of ideas, work and leadership abilities only to be frustrated by the roadblocks established over the years of complacency. But it will struggle on until the DS figuratively puts a gun to this suffering church’s head and pulls the trigger.

Can this trend be reversed? Not easily. Perhaps a dynamic minister and a healthy influx of money can be the elixir the church needs. Maybe everyone working towards the same ends is the answer. Maybe both are needed. But short of a God given and a God driven miracle – it just ain’t going to happen. We has met the deceased and they is us!