Most of our Sunday guests find us on the web. They may have seen our new colorful banners and gone to the internet or they may have started with an internet search and found us that way. Some guests are invited by members or friends, and others have simply walked by and dropped in; but the majority of our guests find us on the web.
We have a significant number of guests every week, and it is a joy to welcome them to our church each Sunday.
From 2006 to 2008 we have had a 34% increase in Sunday worship attendance. That is a significant increase.
However, our membership numbers are not significantly higher. And, it is membership growth that will keep our Universalist presence in this region alive and well. If we don’t increase our numbers, there is a risk that Universalist Christianity will die in this region.
We need to ask ourselves, “Why is it important that this church survive?” And, “What are the challenges we face in keeping it alive in an age where fewer and fewer people are going to church?”
A good portion of my non-spiritual reading is on “church growth,” and I can tell you with reasoned discovery that church growth is a complex issue. When you include the challenges of an urban church, as well as the Universalist factor—universal salvation—it becomes even more complex.
We cannot begin to address all of the complexities of church growth in this column, but we can embrace these simple, yet dynamic guidelines that will make a difference. In order to achieve a significant increase in church membership, I sincerely believe that we need at least the following:
a dynamic music ministry program with a breadth of repertoire, and more volunteers in the choir;
an intentional welcoming presence each and every Sunday; and
a path to membership that is visible and consistent for newcomers.
This year we had an outstanding interim music director, Joseph Lawson, who has accepted a position as Assistant to the Choral Master at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Congratulations to Joe! His last Sunday with us will be June 29th.
Joe’s contributions this year have been wonderful, and he has contributed to a greater breadth of musical repertoire for UNMC. The Board of Trustees and I are working to find another interim music director, keeping in mind that we may have to have several interims before the church finds someone who will make the music program here a true music ministry. When we do have a musical ministry with a broad repertoire, we will witness church growth regardless of the growing trends of religious indifference in the United States. The Board and I are committed to finding a music director who will keep us on the path that Joe has begun this year.
We also need more volunteers in the choir. You don’t have to be perfect singer. If you love to sing, come and stand by a strong section leader—you will sound great! If you can’t sing, invite your friends and neighbors who enjoy singing to visit us for a Sunday service. Perhaps while they are here, they will feel a call to share the blessings of their talent. Anyone who has any kind of musical talent can contribute to the music ministry of UNMC.
Research shows that an intentional welcoming effort makes churches grow.
A group of dedicated volunteers needs to answer a call to the ministry of intentional welcoming. Each Sunday these welcoming ministers make guests and newcomers feel welcomed and included. They remember those who have been guests before, make introductions, and help newcomers find ways to be included in the life and ministries of the church. Under the leadership of Ron Eanes, the Welcome & Membership Committee has undertaken a number of significant initiatives this year. Is this a ministry to which more of you can open your hearts?
Research shows that having a visible and consistent path to membership makes churches grown. Newcomers, especially those who are unfamiliar with church life, always want to know more about us. When someone knows the responsibilities of being part of a church, they feel more comfortable in committing to the ministry of the church. Newcomers want to know Unitarian Universalist history, our local church history, and all about the ministries, activities and programs of the church. We need to have regular newcomer classes scheduled, which means we need more volunteers on the Welcome & Membership Committee.
If you have been wondering what you could do, please let me or Ron Eanes know you feel called to help.
And last, but by no means “least,” we all need to recognize that Universalist Christianity and UNMC are about “all of us.” It is about sharing God’s word with the world. It is coming to church on Sundays to connect to the greater community so that together we can work toward creating God’s kingdom here on earth.
Yes, we are nourished spiritually when we come to Sunday services, and it makes a difference in our lives, yet, as our congregation grows and becomes more diverse, we need to recognize that different spiritual offerings need to be created within the framework of our traditional, Christian service. We may not have a responsive reading from Psalms every Sunday, but we will have responsive readings from Psalms throughout the church year. We may not hear our favorite hymns every Sunday, but we will hear them from time to time. We may not have a processional every Sunday, but during Advent and Lent and on other occasions we will have processionals. And the members of the choir may not robe every Sunday, but they will robe for special occasions and wear stoles at different times throughout the year.
There is a saying that is used in football vernacular that illustrates this concept—“on any given Sunday”— meaning that on any given Sunday any team could win—despite expectations, despite the odds, despite the injuries. With worship, on any given Sunday someone’s needs are met, and someone else may have to wait until next week. Know that the minister and the worship committee are doing their best to meet as many spiritual needs as possible, while offering a diverse worship service in praise and joy to God and to each other.
There are many, many Christian services in this region, but ours is the only Universalist Christian church that welcomes everyone to Jesus’ table of inclusiveness. Can we risk the loss of a Universalist presence in the nation’s capital? Can we grow to become the vibrant, joyful, loving church God would have us be?
Have a blessed spring,
Pastor Lillie