Is it good to have a stable congregation? Yes and no. I remember an elder from a neighbouring Church saying to me gravely, "I hear that [so-and-so] has left your Church." Yes, I said, but look at the big picture. The Church is fuller, younger, wealthier, and more diverse. Obviously, turnover may indicate that people are unhappy -- but mostly this is not the case. A lack of turnover may likewise have downsides, which are easily overlooked. It may indicate that a Church is focused more on social bonds than it is on Biblical priorities, or that it is not responding to social patterns round about -- or in fact that it is dying.
No comments:
Post a Comment