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The Columbia Partnership Finalizes Agreement with TransformingTheChurch.org
Click HERE to read the news release, and then look around the web site..
Click HERE to "Like" TransformingTheChurch.org on Facebook.
TCP's Transformation Learning Community will use TransformingTheChurch.org as their digital base of operations.
Attendance Down at Your Church? Get the Facts!
A Travel Free Learning Article
By George Bullard, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership
Voice: 803.622.0923, E-mail: GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org
During the past few weeks I have talked with several churches who are concerned about a minor decline in their attendance over the past five years. They want answers as to why attendance is down, and what they can do about it.
Many of their ideas are speculation without any facts to support them. They may be right, or they may be wrong. There is no way to know without consistent, reliable information. I suggest to these congregations they get the facts by seeking answers to several questions.
Briefly, here are some of the questions. Later I will add more details to this dialogue:
First, have you changed the way you count, or who does the counting? You may not be counting everyone you once counted. If you have multiple worship services you may have counted some people twice, and now you only count them once. Perhaps your attendance was never as high as your thought. Perhaps you are missing some people you once counted.
Second, has the average person decreased the number of Sundays each year they are present for worship and weekly discipleship programming? What method do you use to count people by name so you know the frequency or pattern of their attendance? You should count everyone in worship by name four Sundays in a row in the fall and the spring to establish your pattern.
Third, where is attendance down? Is it a certain age group? Is it a certain service? Is it a certain class or department in the discipleship or Christian education program? What changes in schedule, leadership, curriculum, or other dynamics may have contributed to this?
Continue reading "Attendance Down at Your Church? Get the Facts!" »
Since It Is Not 1955, We Have to Do Church Different
A Travel Free Learning Article
By George Bullard, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership
Voice: 803.622.0923, E-mail: GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org
One of my favorite expressions by a key mentor in my life, Lyle Schaller, relates to what time it is. During the 1990s Lyle often said, as an example, “Next year is 1995. The trouble is that too many congregations are operating like next year is 1955.”
The world has changed dramatically during the past 58 years from 1955 to 2013. Congregational ministry has morphed to a new dimension during the past six decades. Unfortunately, too many congregations are still functioning out of a 1950s framework with only a few mandatory updates they could not avoid.
A tremendous number of factors are different now than they were in the 1950s. Here’s one. What size congregation does it take to engage in first quality programs, ministries, and activities for all major life age/stage groups from birth to death?
Continue reading "Since It Is Not 1955, We Have to Do Church Different" »
Get to Know The Columbia Partnership
What do you know about The Columbia Partnership? Here is a PowerPoint presentation in two formats that will give you a basic introduction and information on how to connect with TCP. Check out their web site at www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org.
Download TCP PowerPoint Overview [Microsoft 2010]
