Summit considers blessings, challenges of smaller congregations

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Roy S. Askins

A group of Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) national and district leaders gathered June 25–26 in St. Louis for a “Smaller Congregation Summit” to discuss issues facing the Synod’s smaller congregations.

The statistics are sobering. LCMS congregations with an average weekly attendance fewer than 50 account for 45% of the Synod’s churches. It’s hardly unique to the LCMS. Recent studies suggest that weekly or nearly weekly church attendance in the U.S. has declined from 42% to 30% among Americans.

The Rev. Dan Galchutt, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM), said these realities are well-known across the Synod. In his portion of the 2023 LCMS Annual Report, he wrote that LCMS district and Synod staff had “identified [the] need to address the challenges and opportunities of smaller congregations.”

In addition, 2023 Resolution 1–02A, adopted by the Synod in convention, calls for aiding small congregations and multi-congregation pastors and parishes. The June 25–26 summit is one outcome of these ongoing efforts.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, ONM managing director for Church Planting, Renewal and Support, opened the summit and set the tone with a quote from Martin Luther. Luther wrote that although the church “is a tiny little flock of the most wretched, forlorn, and hopeless men,” the church does not look for external evidence of success, but to the Word of God and the Sacraments. “If the church is still not in evidence, you should remember that our blessings are hidden and that their magnitude cannot be perceived in this life” (LW 6:149).

“The goal of this summit is to identify issues, not to seek out solutions,” Wood noted. “The issues we identify will be addressed later by smaller congregations, their pastors and their lay leaders, people who understand the dynamics of smaller congregations.”

Summit attendees began by acknowledging common challenges of smaller congregations. For example, lack of financial assets can make calling a pastor and providing for him and his family difficult. They noted how some attitudes within a congregation can hamper opportunities to join with or support other congregations.

In addition, it is all too easy for smaller congregations to feel alone and isolated. On the other hand, summit attendees noted that smaller congregations also have their own strengths, such as high levels of success at passing the faith on to the next generation.

The Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb, LCMS Central Illinois District executive for evangelism and missions, said that smaller congregations often “get a shot in the arm” when they participate in conferences that allow them to meet others like themselves. In so doing, they learn that they are not alone.

After initial discussions, attendees split up into eight working groups to begin identifying areas of challenge and opportunity for smaller congregations. These groups then reported back to the full group with a number of topics for ongoing discussion; resource preparation; and study by LCMS entities, congregations, pastors and laypeople.

Next steps will include forming smaller congregation working groups. The groups will consider challenges, organize and develop resources, and communicate these tools to the rest of the Synod.

Posted Aug. 26, 2024