
Our group discussed Congregations of the Future. While none of us has a crystal ball and can predict the future with certainty, it is clear that congregations of the future will look different than those of the present. We identified some of the challenges that our congregations are currently facing. Declining membership, governance and church leadership, adapting to change, building upkeep, internal communication, and complying with state and federal statutes are among the most significant. While we don’t necessarily know what the future will bring, we believe that we need to be flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances, particularly as they relate to the identified challenges; we need clarity of purpose; we need to focus on community; and we need to be willing to listen, especially to those who are not already involved with our churches.
Thomas A. Hall