dwindling congregations c of e

If it is any consolation at all: all church congregations are dwindling in most parts of Europe.

There are many reasons for this, but basically I suppose it is due to the fact that both our parents' generation, ours, and our children's have tended not to take religious belief very seriously, and certainly not to go out and try to get people in to church!

You hear all the time "religion is a private matter" and when too many people abide by that saying, which they most assuredly cannot find in any religious text I have ever seen or heard of, then you cannot expect congregations or vocations to grow.

If any church is to survive and grow we need to take seriously Chirst's commandment to go forth and preach in His name.

different needs, some need a friendly community, some need moral guidance, some need church rituals, some need a place for calm and reassurance, some need a reasonable myth devoid of supernatural going on such as miracles

but the head honchos do seem to get things wrong,
which is off-putting, to say the least.
look up Jasvinder Sanghera, for a recent example. they dissolved the independent safeguarding group basically because it was trying to be too independent, and giving too much attention to victims/survivors of abuse.

some might find this interesting, www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4862724-im-a-vicar-ask-me-anything?page=8&reply=128217352

There was a trombone player busking somewhere near the weekly market. Sitting there drinking my coffee at the council run community cafe, I recognised the hymn “How great thou art” and was taken back to my childhood. Morning assembly at my combined Infant and Junior School back in the 40’s consisted of three hymns and a few announcements. 15 hymns a week for some years and I still remember the words to all of them. A young couple nr me started saying what a beautiful tune he was playing but they didn’t recognise it and that it must surely be a newcomer to the charts.
Enough said.

profess to be a Christian country
According to the 2021 census for England and Wales, for the first time fewer than 50% of the population professed to be Christian.
There were 6% of Muslim faith so I doubt we shall have Shariah Law just yet!

I have long wondered why this should be given the fact that we profess to be a Christian country, especially when sounding aghast at the number of Muslims in the country now. I constantly read posts on social media platforms from people who are worried that we’ll have Shariah law here soon, yet those same people wouldn’t dream of attending church regularly. It’s a puzzle to me.

Our village church has a regular congregation of around 25 -30 people, the other church in the Benefice has twice that but is in a town. Both churches broadcast their services live to those at home who, for all sorts of reasons, are unable to attend in person. Both churches are very involved in their communities with a weekly coffee morning, knit and natter groups and much, much more.

I had a lovely chat with some church volunteers whilst in Scotland a few weeks ago. Their lovely old church has has various alterations done, which makes it a versatile, well heated space, for many and varied community activities, including for religious activities. They had a grant towards the work.
Great idea and the way forward me thinks. So many empty underused buildings for much of the time. Helps with costs too.

Many beautiful ancient churches in rural villages have few services, few parishioners and the buildings are unsuitable for any activities, especially in winter. Some have become ‘Festival churches’ , open for Christmas, Easter, Harvest. They still cost money to maintain, even if they are not heated or have no electricity or water. A few have been taken over by heritage trusts, to preserve the buildings. It is sad that they are no longer needed, but should they just be pulled down or left to go to ruin? I hope not, but I don’t think the state can afford to take them on as monuments.

Here in Germany everything is strictly divided into Catholic and Protestant. Each town and usually each region is either one or the other. We live in a Catholic village in a Catholic area. There is a minority protestant community here, but the next village along doesn't even have a Protestant Burch.

Apparently on one recent Sunday, the protestant minister found she was preaching to an empty church! The Catholic church is usually slightly better attended. But it's mainly older ladies and nowadays it's not even full even at Christmas and Easter, unlike, say, five years ago.

However, more and more activities are now organised ecumenically and there is no animosity between the two congregations. Last weekend, for example, we celebrated an ecumenical outdoor service as part of the village fair, which was very well attended and has become a popular tradition.

Congregations are dwindling, not least because of child abuse scandals which have affected most parishes, and the churches will have to put in a lot of work and sell off a lot of property to keep their heads above water. They are such an integral part of society here that they can't possibly simply be scrapped altogether.

We're fortunate: our local (Roman) Catholic church is packed every Sunday with over seventy different nationalities. Frequently standing room only even with two different Masses. Lovely lively, friendly congregation...

I discount it because it is a neurological/psychological aberration.

If an increasingly redundant church does not have a go-ahead vicar willing to countenance secular uses then the bishop should ease him or her out.

Glossolalia is common practice in some evangelical churches and I have witnessed it and I find it interesting, similar to when I have seen people falling backwards in a trance like state at a healing service.
It would be interesting to know if neuroscientists have studied it but there are only a few out of date studies that I have found.

I suspect that it can be explained neurologically rather than evidence of personal divine contact, but of course, as with many things religious, believers are more influenced by personal experience.

Mumofmadboys I can't discount it, as its in the Bible, but I don't understand it at all.

Why do you discount it Luckygirl? It is a fairly common experience.

Speaking in tongues - head in hands here!

Speaking in tongues - the Bible states it should only be done, if there is someone present to interpret.
Where I live in NI churches are thriving, and they are very community minded.

Ladyleftfieldover

It doesn't have to be serious moral or criminal misbehaviour, it is possible to argue for "Irretrievable Pastoral Breakdown".

I am not suggesting any kind of witch hunt but letters to Archdeacons and Bishops are heeded.

In addition, most incumbents' posts these days are fixed term contracts, the idea of Freehold for Life has gone.

I forgot to add that the evangelical vicar gave a sermon recently on how he and his wife speak in tongues,he left an open invitation, that it was ok for us to do so also!.I found it really insulting to the remaining elderley long term anglo catholics who attended.The remaining few members wondered if it was a ploy to close the church? makes you think.I no longer attend the church,back to the quakers for me!

Interesting thought, on two fronts.
Where would they come from? How would you find them?
Social services? Charities?

Much needed, as so many people need support of one sort or another. But a lot of this is in fact being done by lay people, not vicars, volunteers. Almost all churches run some sort of groups to support others, one way or another.

Should highly trained clergy with their particular gifts and insights, be bogged down in admin? Few churches can afford an administrator, and if they can, there is still so much that only clergy can do.

We share that support role in our group Luckygirl. There are volunteers who manage support lines, some members are part of the hospital chaplaincy group, and some go into schools. We are also represented in the local interfaith forum. It is true that it helps if you have an enthusiastic leader, but it is possible to share the pastoral role. There is also active participation by members in many charity groups, and we have various offshoot social groups.

We need humanist/non-religious vicars to fulfil the support role that vicars used to do when they were surrounded by believers and not up to eyes in admin.

The role is still needed.

My local Methodist church has just had an influx of two families of Caribbean origin and several ex-Hong Kong

Only in the uk,though. There is no decline here or in many of the countries over our way. Very strong in Fiji, Vanuatu, Noumea and Samoa. Many Chinese people who have come to live here are devout and active members of Christian churches. Also, it seems, in some of the former communist countries and certainly in parts of Africa - Christians and Muslims .