The Road to Growth - Untraveled Paths?

At our October meeting, the board began the first of three monthly discussions on growth. We’re reading Loren Mead’s book, “More Than Numbers: The Way Churches Grow”. Despite the title, our focus in October was our numbers – from a variety of perspectives. This was to give us some grounding in our history for the past 50 years, with a specific interest in who we are today. As Mead tells us, “any human institution that does not develop an effective method of recruiting new membership (and leadership) will die.” In November and December we’ll talk more about other ways we grow – spiritually, organizationally, and in our commitment to others outside our four walls.

It will not come as a surprise to any of you reading that most of our congregation is older than 65 – and 85% of us are older than 45. This is not bad or good – just is. What is a positive sign, however, is that our church demographics in terms of length of membership fall into a common pattern of most people being either relatively new (0 – 10 years) or long time (>20) members. This bi-modal pattern can be a sign of a healthy congregation as new members are continuing to join. The challenge we face, as do other churches like us, demographically, is that the value-systems that were established from life lessons differ in some significant ways between our newest and long time members and naturally lead to different ideas about what’s important and how to achieve it. This is not a problem to be fixed – but a challenge none-the-less as we seek out ways to be in community and spirit together.

Also no surprise, membership has been declining since the early 1990’s – reflecting the aging community we live in. During this time we have seen schools close as the younger population decreases and since 2000 we have had no growth in the communities of our biggest membership draw – and in fact a slight decrease. This poses a challenge to us for membership growth, as our long range planning team pointed out to us last year. Still, we are seeing many new faces come through the door. In fact, new members are on the rise since 2005. Average attendance is around 180 – nearing the 80% capacity point where the sanctuary is considered full. This is a good feeling.

What does this all mean? That’s the subject of the next few months – and of our conversations with you. For sure we know we will travel on new and exciting paths as we move forward. As Paul and I were recently walking through Hitchcock Woods in Aiken, South Carolina, the many forks in the path we were on reminded me of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken. I believe our travels together as a congregation will lead us to new places along untraveled paths – and they will make a difference not only for us but for the greater community in which we make our home.

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

In faith,

Nancy