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Introduction |
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What is
the future of mainline denominations? Do they have a
future? Does the Anglican Church of Australia have a
future? |
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Every
evangelical Christian member of a mainline denomination
ought to be concerned about the future of their
denomination for at least several reasons. |
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First, a
growing number of mainline denominations in the Western
world, including the Anglican Church of Australia, are
drifting into a religious pluralism which openly denies
foundational Christian beliefs as well as Biblical
values. They are also gradually embracing secular moral
standards along with all forms of spirituality from
neo-paganism to New Age. |
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Second,
if the present decline in membership continues, the
Christian population will be significantly smaller in the
first quarter of the twenty-first century. As a
consequence there will be fewer living agents and
resources to invest in mission and ministry. The capacity
of the churches to respond to the expanding need for the
Gospel in Australia and abroad will be severely limited. |
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One
encouraging sign is the growth of churches around the
world that are Biblically orthodox and evangelical.
Growth is occurring in the third world, particularly
Africa and South America. Often the growth is taking
place in spite of abject poverty and severe persecution. |
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In
Western countries including Australia it is mainly the
evangelical and more Biblically orthodox churches that
are on the lively and growing edge. However before we get
too carried away, we need to note that Australia has been
designated a mission field by international missionary
agencies because around 60% of the population do not
identify with Christian churches. The latest NCLS
research reveals that despite growth in Biblically
orthodox churches, overall, church membership is
declining. Coupled with this is the problem of an aging
church population along with a failure to attract younger
generations and migrants. |
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Drastic
measures are called for to remedy the situation but
unfortunately many lack the will to take the action
needed, some because they do not see that there is a
problem and others because they feel helpless to do
anything. |
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From a
Biblical perspective churches remain authentically
Christian and spiritually healthy through being faithful
to the Lord Jesus Christ and holding fast to their
Scriptural faith. From a sociological perspective the
denominations most likely to grow are those which are
able to change in order to reach the younger generations
and recent migrants. |
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The aim
of this paper is to explore how in the next twenty- five
years the Anglican Church of Australia can position
itself to proclaim the Gospel to new generations of
unreached Australians and migrants. |
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1.What is
a Denomination? |
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A
denomination can be described as a mainline church which
has developed from either a Western national church or a
broad Christian movement. It has an established
organization and tradition, and identifies with the
worldwide body of professing Christians known as the
Catholic Church. Denominations can be contrasted to
Christian fellowships which usually stand apart from
mainline denominations and their histories. |
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Denominations
are also social entities with a membership that can be
seen and numbered. They are not to be confused with 'the
Church Christ is building' (Matthew 16:18). Membership in
'the Church Christ is building' is through spiritual
birth and conversion. Denominations contain members of
'Christ's Church' but also nominal members. |
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2.The
Anglican Church of Australia |
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The
Anglican Communion is a worldwide fellowship of
independent national and regional churches that trace
their origins back to the Church of England. Today each
of the thirty-eight provinces that comprise the Communion
are held together by their common heritage, subscription
to a broad statement of faith known as the Lambeth
Quadrilateral (1888) and the recognition of the
Archbishop of Canterbury as their symbolic head. |
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The
Anglican Church of Australia is a fellowship of
twenty-four independent dioceses, within the Anglican
Communion. These dioceses are bound together by an agreed
Constitution governing doctrine and practice. Ordinances
of the General Synod, the national governing body, are
only binding on a diocese when accepted by the diocesan
synod. |
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Dioceses
are geographical regions which are divided into smaller
areas called parishes. Under the parish system ministers
are appointed and local governing bodies are elected.
Their purpose is to disciple and care for church members,
and to declare the Gospel to the unchurched in an area. |
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According
to the 1996 NCLS data and other sources Anglican churches
as a whole typically exhibit the following
characteristics: |
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~ small
congregations |
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~
Anglo-Celtic membership |
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~ more
women than men |
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~ aging
persons |
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~ a
higher proportion of educated persons than found in the
general population |
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~ few
newcomers |
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~
declining membership |
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~ a low
proportion of persons from 25-45 age group |
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~
nineteenth and early twentieth-century worship forms,
music and ritual |
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~
buildings and facilities of a previous era, some dating
back to the nineteenth century, often in need of repair
and costly to maintain |
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~
financially stretched |
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~
pastoral rather than evangelistic |
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~
maintenance- rather than mission-oriented |
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With the
advent of the motor car parish boundaries have largely
lost their relevance and significance. Church members
often travel some distance passing through a number of
parishes to reach the church of their choice. |
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The
generations raised in the Anglican Church do not remain
committed to their denomination. If they continue to
attend church they choose to affiliate with churches to
their liking and which they perceive to be geared to
meeting their needs. The churches they attend tend to be
contemporary, informal and highly relational. |
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Migrants
are more likely to attend non-Anglican churches which
they perceive to be more welcoming to persons of other
cultures. First-generation migrants are attracted to
ethno-specific churches and in some instances
multicultural congregations where no single ethnic group
is dominant. The presence of non-Anglo ministers and
local church leaders helps. Second and third-generation
young adults from migrant families have a preference for
multicultural congregations drawn from a similar age
background. |
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3.
Denominational Functions |
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Traditionally
denominations have performed a number of functions. The
extent to which these functions have positive benefits is
determined by denominational culture, effective
leadership, appropriate programs and functional regional
and local structures. |
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Some of
the more important functions are: |
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~
preserving and passing on beliefs and traditions to
future generations |
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~
unifying diverse congregations |
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~
recruiting ministers, and providing initial and
continuing training |
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~
resourcing local churches |
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~
supporting worldwide missions |
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~ holding
property and managing funds |
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~
provision of central service agencies, e.g. theological
college, youth specialists, welfare agency |
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~
pastoral oversight of congregations and settling of
disputes |
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~
providing administrative services |
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~ working
for economy in expenditure, e.g. superannuation,
insurances |
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~
representation to other denominations and societal and
government agencies |
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~
providing a public profile. |
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|
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4 Major
Dilemmas Facing Denominations |
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Denominations
are confronted with a number of complex dilemmas.
Solutions have to be found but finding them is fraught
with difficulty. Some of the more important dilemmas are: |
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Biblical
Faith vs Contemporary Theologies |
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Being
faithful involves upholding the truth of the Gospel,
exercising faith in Christ, and being obedient in
furthering God's plan of salvation for humankind. The
Bible teaches that churches failing to do so will be
judged by God and overthrown. In the Book of Revelation
(Chapters 1-3), seven churches are exhorted to be
faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the
Church. These churches it would appear failed to heed the
exhortation and have been swept away. There is a warning
here for denominations and churches today that depart
from the God's truth and fail to carry out his purposes. |
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Gospel
Values vs Secular Values |
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Tom Sine
in "Mustard Seed versus McWorld" maintains that
secular values have replaced Gospel values in the lives
of Christians and dominate in church life. He identifies
a form of dualism consisting of giving mental assent to
Biblical values but living by secular values. He writes |
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"Essentially
most Christians (and churches) unquestioningly allow
modern culture to arrange the furniture of (their)
lives… In spite of all the talk about (the)
'Lordship' (of Jesus Christ), everyone knows that the
expectations of modern culture come first. Getting ahead
in the suburbs is first. Getting the children off to
their activities comes first. And we tend to make
decisions in these areas like everyone else does - based
on our income, our professions and our social
status." p.211 |
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Adapting
to the Unreached vs Ministry to Members |
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The issue
here is whether to minister to existing members only or
to engage in effective outreach to potential new members.
A related issue is whether to focus on younger or older
generations. In the end it is not a matter of either/or:
it is a question of priorities. The denomination has an
obligation to see that existing members and older members
receive ministry. However, they must make reaching the
unreached with the Gospel a priority. The plain fact is
the Anglican Church is not reaching the younger
generations and migrants with the Gospel. Nor are they in
a strong position to preach the Gospel to the poor, the
disadvantaged, single parent families, divorced persons
and those living an alternative lifestyle. As Christians
we are obligated to make disciples of contemporary
Australians. Common sense also says without the next
generation of Australians and migrants there will be no
Anglican Church of Australia. Anglican churches have to
be willing to adapt and change in order to reach
contemporary Australians. What attracted the pre-Second
World War generations, which predominate in Anglican
churches, will not attract many from the new generations.
Church authorities and congregational leaders must be
prepared to act on the principle that anything can be
changed except Biblical faith and values. |
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To be
engaged in effective outreach to the unreached and
ministry to members every local church needs a plan for
sustainable mission to fulfill the Great Commission
(Matthew 16:16-20). To grow healthy churches, according
to Christian Schwarz's research a church's plan should
cover empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry,
passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring
church gatherings, person centred evangelism and loving
relationships. |
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Developing
New Structures vs Maintaining Existing Structures |
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The
Anglican Church of Australia is locked into the English
parish system which predates the Industrial Revolution.
Growth is mainly attempted through existing parishes and
the establishment of new ones as populations expand.
Church growth research indicates churches that have been
in existence for several generations grow slowly if at
all. Those that do require a gifted leadership and need
to be willing to change radically. The cost of
establishing new parishes complete with adequate
buildings is crippling and limits available funds for
ministry expansion. |
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There is
no quick and simple answer to these problems. Different
situations require different measures. The advantage of
retaining the parish system in some form is that it
ensures that a minister with his congregation is
responsible for ministry in every local area covered by a
diocese. The parish system, however, needs to be adapted
and expanded. In the era of the automobile parish
boundaries are largely redundant and ministries cannot
nor should be restricted by them for the sake of 'kingdom
growth'. |
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To be
effective diocesan and regional authorities should
encourage the growth of large churches with team
ministries, partnerships between smaller churches and
especially new church plants directed toward particular
target populations. Church plants are especially crucial
in reaching migrants. Careful planning should be given to
such measures as moving a congregation to a more
strategic location, possibly an off-church site.
Amalgamations, closures and selling properties may be the
most responsible way in which to exercise stewardship
over capital assets. Inventive and creative solutions
ought to be encouraged in deciding on the best location
for ministries. |
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One of
the worst things the denominational leadership can do is
to discourage ministers and congregations by blocking new
church plants and other creative initiatives. Creative
initiatives and calculated risks need to be taken. |
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Resourcing
vs Regulating |
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Church
leaders and authorities ought to work on the principle
that the denomination is primarily a resourcing agency.
Denominations can resource local church life in a number
of ways. They can be proactive in ensuring there is a
continuous stream of highly trained ministry recruits who
are placed in ministries to which they are suited. They
must avoid selecting and placing ministers on the basis
of formal qualifications ahead of commitment, competence
and character. They can ensure ministers are supported
and provided with ongoing professional training. They can
provide resources and training for discipleship education
for lay persons. |
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They must
resist the temptation to drain local churches of funds
for central diocesan positions, projects and programs.
Mission and ministry happen at the local level. If they
are not happening there, they are not happening. The
exercise of control by central bodies and officials over
local churches needs to be kept at a minimum. The right
people ought to be appointed to positions in the local
church and then trusted to perform their ministries.
Proper but not cumbersome procedures are needed where
financial and other resources are involved.
Accountability should provided for locally along with
some form of general oversight by selected persons from
within the wider denomination. |
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Rising
Costs vs Reduced Income |
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The
funding base and financial contributions to churches are
falling. One cause is fewer givers due to declining
numbers. Another cause is higher costs to maintain
ministries. Increased spending by members on perceived
needs and the extras that are part of contemporary living
also affect giving. Financial forecasters predict that as
personal spending rises church giving will drop because
members will put other priorities ahead of their church
giving. It is also predicted the number of church members
with lower incomes will increase significantly in the
future. Responsible stewardship of church funds and
assets will be essential. Discipleship education will be
needed to teach and challenge Christians to give
sacrificially. New and creative approaches not involving
high ministry costs will have to be found to sustain
local evangelism and ministry. Australians may have to
look to the third world for solutions. |
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|
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Conclusion |
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The
Anglican Church in Australia is, along with other
mainline denominations, suffering from what has been
called the "Hollywood Movie Set Syndrome". When
a person goes to a movie set at Universal Studios in
Hollywood the houses and the buildings appear real but
look around the back and there is nothing there. Our
mainline churches give the appearance of being grand and
highly successful institutions with cathedrals, church
buildings, large public services and synods. However, the
real situation is that the local church infrastructure is
falling apart with declining attendance, falling income
and an aging membership. In a growing number of places
there is little or nothing there. |
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We
started with the question: "What is the future of
denominations in a post-denominational era?" |
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Do
denominations have a future? The answer is
"yes" if church authorities and leaders are
prepared to adapt to contemporary society in order to
attract new generations of Australian-born adults, youth
and children, along with new generations of migrants, and
unreached Australians. Every aspect of church life must
be open to change except the unchanging Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the unchanging Saviour. |
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References: |
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Corney,
Peter. Change and the Church: How to Manage and Initiate
Change in the Local Church. Aquilla Press: Sydney, 2000. |
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Collins,
J C & Porras, J I. Built to Last: Successful Habits
of Visionary Companies. Century: London, 1996. |
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Kaldor,
Peter et al. Build My Church: Trends and Possibilities
for Australian Churches. National Church Life Survey/Open
Book: Adelaide, 1999. |
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Mead,
Loren. The Once and Future Church: Reinventing the
Congregation for a New Mission Frontier. Alban Institute,
1991. |
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Mead,
Loren. Five Challenges of the Once and Future Church.
Alban Institute, 1996. |
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Ryle, J
C. "The Church Which Christ Builds". Holiness.
James Clarke: London, 1956, pp216-228. |
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Ryle, J
C. "Visible Churches Warned". Holiness. James
Clarke: London, 1956, pp229-240. |
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Schaller,
Lyle. 21 Bridges to the 21st Century: The Future of
Pastoral Ministry. Abingdon: Nashville, 1994. |
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Schaller,
Lyle. Tattered Trust: Is There Hope for Your
Denomination. Abingdon: Nashville, 1996. |
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Schwarz,
Christian. Natural Church Development:A Guide to Eight
Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches. C & P
Publishing: Emmelsbull, Germany, 1996. |
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Sine,
Tom. Mustard Seed versus McWorld: Reinventing the
Christian Life and Mission for the New Millenium.
Millenium Monarch: Crowborough, 1999. |
