Best practices for growing congregations

Group 236

by the Rev. Phil Hirsch

“Are there Lutheran congregations in our synod that are growing?

“And if so, what are they doing that we can learn from?”

Churches will not thrive on auto pilot. There is evidence to show that doing things by default and not by choice leads to decline. Learn more in the PowerPoint presentation, "Best Practices for Growing Congregations."

“Churches will not thrive on auto pilot. There is evidence to show that doing things by default and not by choice leads to decline.” Learn more in the PowerPoint presentation, Best Practices for Growing Congregations.

People often ask me these questions. This talk, “Best Practices for Growing Congregations” (link to ppt), is an answer.

First, YES — there are actually a fair number of congregations that are growing. FIFTEEN OUT OF 79 congregations and mission starts, that’s 19 percent, have grown more than five percent a year for three years in the Metro D.C. Synod.

What I’ve shared in this presentation and the Together in Mission talk on the same subject (see http://timmetrodc.org/ for archived video post of 1/25/14 TIM talk) comes from three sources: my personal observations of these congregations, Effective Staffing for Vital Congregations from Bill Easum and Bill Tenny-Brittian, and an 18-month systematic multi-method study into church growth by the Church of England (download “From Anecdote To Evidence – Findings from the Church Growth Research Programme” from www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk/report).

Take a look and tell me what you think.