Devolving or Evolving?

(Magic Optical Illusion by Robert Gonsalves)

Is it devolution or evolution? There are many sectors of life which are undergoing massive change. Retail, manufacturing, entertainment, economies, technology, everything is changing. Because I have only limited knowledge about the changes being face by humankind, I limit my reflections, today, to the church in the United States, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in Pennsylvania, in western PA. I do think what is happening here gives a glimpse of what is happening across the Church in the United States.

What are some of the observable realities?

1. Church membership is declining.
2. Worship attendance patterns have changed.
3.  Fewer congregations can afford a full-time pastor.
4.  More is spent on facility upkeep than mission.
5. The number of congregations being served by non-seminary trained pastoral staff is increasing.
6. The governing structure is being restructured again and again.
7. Mid-level (presbytery and synod) administrative staff positions are disappearing.
8. Financial support of the more inclusive structures is decreasing.

These are but a few of the changes occurring in the contemporary church.

This past week the Bishop of the Pittsburgh Roman Catholic Diocese announced the imminent closing of 15 congregations, and by 2018 many more could be merged or closed (http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/10371846-74/parishes-diocese-pittsburgh). Historically, the Roman Catholic and the Presbyterian presences in the Greater Pittsburgh Area have been very strong. The Presbyterian presence has splintered into three primary divisions. Add that to the aging and declining membership, and the PC(U.S.A.) is a mere shadow of its former self.

I have been saying, for many years, "full-time, uninterrupted, congregational service as a pastor from ordination to retirement is a thing of the past." I have urged that those being considered for ordination must be able to demonstrate a second set of salable skills by which to earn a living. This article from the Presbyterian Outlook in March, 2013 lifts up a picture of the issues for ministers and congregations (http://pres-outlook.org/2013/03/full-time-called-pastor-as-an-endangered-species/).

One possibility for the future is to under-gird the pastors who are serving full-time in congregations, and to have them serve as “teachers” for some of the Ruling Elders commissioned to particular pastoral service (CREs) who are serving very part-time in surrounding congregations. I can see the time coming when many presbyteries will have more CREs than Teaching Elders (seminary trained, and ordained ministers). The full-time pastors need to be supported in their role as Teaching Elders. They need to be released from day to day management of the congregation leaving that to the Ruling Elders. They need to be released from the day to day pastoral care of their congregations leaving that to the deacons in the congregation. They need to be released from multiple responsibilities in the more inclusive councils of the church. They need to be provided with a coach to help them chart a path to greater life and vocational fulfillment. Full-time teaching elders could then have some time to dedicate to under-girding the CREs serving nearby congregations.

There is much wringing of hands and despairing conversation about the state of our congregations, and the decline in the number of fulltime pastoral positions. In very few presbyteries, or across the denomination, are we developing comprehensive strategies which might lead us into a different and new future. Even though things are not the way they were 43 years ago when I was ordained, I have to believe the church in this part of the Church is evolving, not devolving. I believe there is a new role developing for teaching elders (ministers). The parish and presbytery will become the seat of development of schooled leaders, particularly for the congregations with fewer than 200 members. We will still need seminaries, though fewer of them, to provide the in depth preparation of teaching elders who then will serve as those who serve a congregation and providing greater training for Ruling Elders commissioned to particular pastoral service.

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