(A couple of days ago I wrote about several converging crises — energy, economy, and environment. Since then the price of gas has gone down! Proof that I was wrong. Not! As a nation we are so shell-shocked by the energy crisis that we think a 10-cent reduction in the price of gas is a big break, forgetting that less than a year ago we were paying under $3 a gallon. Anyway, back to our original program.)
I see churches adapting to these three interrelated crises — energy, economy, and environment — in several ways:
- Redefinition of “church.” Church will no longer be the place we go, church will be the people we share faith with. Churches will still meet together for worship at a central time and location, but that will become secondary to the ministry performed during the week. Church buildings will become the resource hub in community ministry, like the old Celtic Christian abbeys. Church impact will replace church attendance as the new metric.
- Restructuring of church operations. Due to the high cost of fuel and a struggling economy, churches will become smaller, more agile, and less expensive to operate than in the past. Churches will need to provide direct relief to individuals and families with meal programs, shelters, clothing, job training, and more. In the not-distant-future, we will live in a world where government is increasingly unable to fund and provide those services. Church buildings will become increasingly more expensive to maintain, and churches with unused weekday space will consider partnerships with businesses, other ministries, and helping agencies. Or churches will sell their conventional buildings and reestablish in storefronts that operate as retail businesses 6 days a week, and gathering places on Sunday (or Thursday or whenever). Churches will focus outwardly on their “parish” more than inwardly on their members. Church staff will become more community-focused rather than church-program focused, and become team leaders in new missional ventures.
- Repackaging of “sermons” and Christian education. With fewer people “attending” church, fewer will also attend Christian education classes. Churches will deliver Christian education content via mobile devices. Short video clips accessible from iPhones (and other smart devices) will be the primary content carriers for church and culture. Church “members” (if that quaint term actually survives) will still gather, but more for monthly celebrations, fellowship, and sharing than weekly meetings, worship, or learning. Of course, there may be several monthly celebrations geared to different lifestyles (tribes), schedules, and preferences. Again, the abbey concept of the church as hub with many smaller groups revolving around the resource center.
- Refocus from institution to inspiration. Okay, so I went for the easy alliteration there. Restated, less emphasis on the “church” and more on how the church enables its adherents to live their faith. Declining church attendance is not a crisis of faith, it’s a crisis of delivery. We can bemoan the fact that fewer people come to church, but ballgames are not suffering from declining attendance. People go to what they want to go to. Church ministry has to focus on engaging people in meaningful ways that enable their spiritual journeys. In a world in crisis, people are looking for something to believe in as institution after institution crumbles. If banks, businesses, and whole countries fail, where can we put our trust? Church should have the answer 24/7, delivered like everything else is delivered now — when people want it, at their convenience, and in a way that resonates with them.
None of the things I have suggested here are new. But, the thing that makes them more viable now is the convergence of all three crises at one time. But, let’s hope for the best and assume that gas goes back to no more than $2 per gallon, the planet cools off, energy is abundant, and the economy flourishes. All the possibilities I suggest above are still viable strategies that may be more in keeping with New Testament values than our 20th century consumerist approach. What do you think?
ChuckWarnock.com 
A lot of what you are describing is the way church should be.
I feel that this crisis of church attendance is felt in most faiths… less people going to temple…etc. Engagement and being relevant is so important to people. There are small communities where their local churches, synagogues…etc. really meet the communities need and people really show up and participate.
There are a million choices out there and unfortunately religion is competing with those choices.
These are significant things to think about, especially for church planting, which I am personally pursuing. I’ve been aware for a while and undertook studies on International Studies which focuses on a lot of these issues. Truly, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but it pays to be wise to do church in a way that it won’t be hindered by the economy, value of the dollar, whether there is oil in the car or not, etc. but rather have the opportunity afforded it to do greater works in such crises, yes? And that’s a huge thing I am praying about at the moment… thanks and blessings on your work.
Dee, thanks as always for your comments.
Green, true folks do have a choice and we need to do a better job of at least being among their options.
Matthew, having started one church I can empathize with you. If I were church planting today, I’d look for alternatives to the typical gather people, buy property, build a building routine. Let me know how you work thru this.
Thanks to all of you for your comments! -Chuck
Very interesting, Chuck. I think the things you describe seem to be happening. I wish they would come sooner. But I’m not sure that they are necessarily the result of the energy and economy crisis. I think, like DeeZone, that these are how it should be already, and I look forward to their advent! =D