The church that I presently attend is dying. The average age of the members in the church is around 60. There are a few young couples but the majority of the members are retired.

Since retired people are not really interested in the same things as young couples and since the retired folks are in the majority, they squash anything that might interest young couples. Eventually, the young couples leave either because they have had a confrontation with an oldster or because their spiritual needs are not being met.

As I see it, the two biggest problems in this church are the style of worship and the lack of leadership. Since the style of worship is traditional, it relies on the organ or the piano for singing. But, we now only have one organist and she is semi-retired. This means that when she is not there, we have to bring in someone from outside of the church.

Of the three substitute organists, two are over 50 and one of them has to walk with a cane. The third organist, while in her 30s, can only play in the evening as she plays for another church in the morning. It is only a matter of time before the church runs out of organists.

Every now and then, we get a guest worship leader who uses a guitar. I personally like it and find it to be very uplifting and spirit filled. But, of course, the oldsters are horrified. For them, it isn’t a worship service if the organ isn’t used. Personally, I think that it would be easier to find a guitar player than an organist. But, I guess it’s not my problem.

The lack of leadership is probably an even great problem. After all, if the church had good leadership, it could move the worship style away from the organ. Anyway, most of the old generation of church leaders are now retired and refuse to serve any more. There are a few that haven’t retired yet but they will retire in the next couple of years.

Most of the leaders from my generation and the generation after me have left the church for greener pastures and I can’t blame them. The oldsters have managed to kill any attempt at life in the church. In short, there are barely enough people to serve in church office.

Money is a concern at the present time but it will soon become a real issue. While the operating costs of the church are pretty much the same, the amount of money given to the church varies from week to week. Part of this is due to the fluctuation of the income of the givers.

If business is good or the farm did well, the money given to the church increases. But, if business is bad or the crops are poor, the money given to the church decreases. And if people leave for other churches, that money is lost.

Eventually, the pastor will leave and the church will be vacant. Since fewer and fewer men are entering the ministry, getting another pastor may be difficult. Guest ministers are fine for awhile but if the church is vacant for any length of time, people will start leaving. And, it is hard to attract new members to a church that doesn’t have a minister.

As financial problems increase, it may become impossible to hire a full time minister. The church may only be able to afford a part time minister. Usually, a part time minister is someone who has retired but still wants to pastor a church. Retired ministers are, well, retired. They will do some preaching and visits to the members but they are usually there just to sustain and not lead.

In its final death throws, one or several members of the congregation will attempt to seize control of the church. Conflicts will arise as tension increases. People will cut off financial support in an effort to fight back. Church assets will start to disappear as members decide to reclaim part of their contributions. Some member will just give up and leave while others will vow that they won’t be driven off.

In the end, the bills won’t get paid and the utilities will be shut off. Special locks will be installed on the doors and no one will get in without court authorization. The grass will no longer get mowed, graffiti will appear on the walls and windows will get broken by vandals. Eventually, the building will be sold. Perhaps it will be to a young and growing church but it could be sold to someone who is only interested in the commercial value of the property.

ECC 1:9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.