wfn.org | Church Growth Strategy Team Updates GAC

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30-September-1998 
98321 
 
    Church Growth Strategy Team Updates GAC 
 
    by Kristin Searfoss 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-"I want to ask each of you out there a simple question," 
Church Growth Strategy Team (CGST) member the Rev. David Bleivik told the 
General Assembly Council (GAC) here Sept. 26. "Do you and your churches 
have something to offer a hurting world? ... Are you doing it?" 
 
    Bleivik, of Anchorage, Alaska, presented part of the team's verbal 
report to the GAC. The CGST was created to promote new methods of church 
growth, rediscover evangelism as a way of life and challenge the whole 
denomination - through local congregations - to renew spiritual growth and 
to call new members to the church. The team told the GAC about its 
discoveries as it "listens to voices throughout the church." 
 
    CGST members have done a great deal of fact finding on the local church 
and middle governing body levels. Throughout the PC(USA), their GAC report 
details, they have conducted site visits to learn about particular 
ministries, developed a questionnaire and distributed it at various 
denominational events and meetings this summer, held a meeting on PresbyNet 
that has attracted more than 200 participants since it began in mid-August, 
attended workshops and conferences, held an open hearing at the 1998 
General Assembly and consulted specialists. 
 
    The team has found that churches that grow in number of members and in 
vitality 
 
   *   take risks 
   *   are people of prayer 
   *   are actively involved in reaching beyond themselves in hands-on 
       mission/outreach 
   *   provide Bible-based, relevant and well-prepared sermons 
   *   are not trying to be all things to all people 
   *   have strong programs and classes for children and youth and invite 
       active participation by them in worship 
   *   refuse to accept "the seven last words of the church," which are "We 
       have always done it this way." 
 
    Through surveys taken at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium and the 
General Assembly in Charlotte, the CGST said, it has learned that 
 
   *   racism is a concern of youth in the church 
   *   most current worship styles do not reflect the needs of youth 
   *   56 percent of the 140 Assembly respondents believe that most of 
       their church members are comfortable with their church as it is and 
       would not like to see changes in worship style, music or time of 
       worship service 
   *   49 percent believe that church growth is important to their 
       congregations because there are many people in their communities who 
       are not active in church. 
 
    In their update, team members and staff support told the GAC about some 
of the issues they are paying close attention to. 
 
    The Rev. Rosalie Potter, associate director for evangelism and church 
development in the National Ministries Division, spoke of the urgent need 
for PC(USA) congregations to reflect the growing multiculturalism of the 
United States. "For instance," she said, "Los Angeles County is 70 percent 
racial/ethnic. Our churches there are only 30 percent. So we've got a lot 
of work to do." 
 
    Immigrant groups that are from the Presbyterian worldwide family must 
be welcomed into what they consider the "mother church" rather than 
confronted with "roadblocks" that make communion with the PC(USA) 
difficult, Potter said. 
 
    "New church development is crucial for the expansion of the church," 
said the Rev. John Haberlin, associate for church growth and new church 
development in the National Ministries Division. "Some say it is THE hope 
for the growth of the denomination. That is true, in part, but not in the 
way we have been doing it." 
 
    He gave GAC members four conclusions based on his observations and 
analysis of data: 
 
    1) New church development must be changed radically. 
 
    2) Established growing churches must be encouraged. 
 
    3) Established nongrowing churches need an attainable vision for 
       growth. 
 
    4) Our people need new skills that enable them to bring the Gospel of 
       Jesus Christ to the unchurched rather than simply gather 
       Presbyterians. 
 
    Elizabeth Stephan of Auke Bay, Alaska, spoke of essential ideas team 
members gleaned from experts at a consultation in New York. "Mission, 
diversity and spiritual enrichment - we heard it in Syracuse and we're 
hearing it across the church." 
 
    "About 90 percent of the people outside the church actually want to be 
invited to church," said Bleivik, who was sharing Louisville Presbyterian 
Theological Seminary president John Mulder's opinions with the GAC. "The 
problem is, the church doesn't want to invite them." 
 
    The Church Growth Strategy Team will prepare its report of final 
recommendations this October for the February 1999 GAC meeting. 

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