The lemmings: cliff notes on the state of mid-size congregations and related species in the Virginia Annual Conference from a church growth perspective

W David Erickson

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The lemmings: cliff notes on the state of mid-size congregations and related species in the Virginia Annual Conference from a church growth perspective

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

W David Erickson. The Lemmings: Cliff Notes On the State of Mid-size Congregations and Related Species In the Virginia Annual Conference From a Church Growth Perspective. Wesley Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/7cb26972-ee5f-4f4d-b323-b941e339ba29.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

W. D. Erickson. The lemmings: cliff notes on the state of mid-size congregations and related species in the Virginia Annual Conference from a church growth perspective. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/7cb26972-ee5f-4f4d-b323-b941e339ba29

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

W David Erickson. The Lemmings: Cliff Notes On the State of Mid-Size Congregations and Related Species In the Virginia Annual Conference From a Church Growth Perspective. Wesley Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/7cb26972-ee5f-4f4d-b323-b941e339ba29.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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W David Erickson

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Abstract

The author explores the 'state of the 190 middle sized congregations' and 197 larger congregations of the 1,225 congregations in the Virginia Annual Conference, the largest of United Methodism from a church growth perspective. The 'quantitative research method' was used. The middle size church (125-249 in worship), a vital part of our ecosystem, is found to be a declining, 'endangered species.' They are afflicted with stagnation and decline, short pastorates, high death rates, low reception of members by profession of faith, financial stress and conflicted identity and goals. Ten of our 18 districts are widespread and rural. These have 5 or fewer larger churches for anchoring, meetings, mentoring. Yet conference-wide, among churches with over 125 in worship, the number of middle-size churches (125-249) dropped from 179 (62%) in 1980 to 141 (47%) congregations in 1999. An alarming 83.7% of middle size churches were declining or had less than the 'poor' rate of growth (as per Wagner) of 25% growth per decade. Long term pastorates for all size churches was found to be the exception. 85% of 'pastors in charge' or 'senior pastors' will move before a 7th year. Length of pastorates and effectiveness in receiving unchurched persons were both found to steadily decline with each smaller size type of church. The author coined the acronym of LEMMINGS for 'long established Mid-sized Ministries in No Growth Situations.' With data from 1980 to 2000, this study is a 'snapshot' of the church as it begins the 21st century. A bibliography of current literature in the field of church growth is provided.

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