The Church is dying … really?
By Kelly Woods (née Skilton)
“The Church is Dying” is a phrase that occupies numerous gatherings, meetings, and congregations. Dwindling bank accounts, collapsing buildings, programs no longer gaining traction … it seems like things are falling apart. Though if we were to take a closer look at what is happening among communities, we can see a more nuanced reality: the Church is not dying at all. At least I do not believe it is, and looking at the season of Pentecost helps remind me of this.
Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts, signifies the birth of the Christian church. It represents a radical departure from conventional notions of religious community, where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people began a new spiritual paradigm; one that transcended cultural barriers and societal norms.
How does this help us see what we are currently experiencing? Well, perhaps what we’re experiencing now is not the death of church but is just a departure from the conventional notions of religious community. Traditional expressions of church may be experiencing decline or adaptation, but this does not signify the demise of faith. Instead, what we are observing is a profound shift in how individuals engage with their spirituality and connect with their faith communities.
Much like Pentecost heralded a new way of being as a community of believers, contemporary expressions of church are reflecting the diverse and multifaceted nature of modern society. Whether we are worshipping in traditional congregations, fresh expressions, online communities, or spiritual retreats, individuals are exploring and embracing new avenues for spiritual nourishment and communal belonging. This is the essence of Pentecost story: A community emboldened by the presence of the Holy Spirit to venture beyond the conventional notions of religious community.
The Pentecost story invites us to embrace these changes as an inherent aspect of spiritual growth and renewal—we are called to adapt and innovate in response to the evolving needs and realities of the world around us.
Also, the Pentecost story can help us to remember that the church is not defined solely by its physical structures or institutional frameworks. Rather, we are to be defined by the transformative power of the Spirit at work within its members. To be people that foster communities of shared belonging, characterised by authenticity, inclusivity, and compassion. We cannot forget that the church is not bound by the constraints of time or tradition, but it transcends these notions as it continues to be a living, breathing organism capable of adapting and flourishing in any context.
Communities of faith are forming in places around dinner tables, computer screens, campfires, boardgames, easels … people are embracing their spirituality, journeying alongside others, and responding to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They may not be walking into a service on Sunday morning; however, the Church is very much alive.
What we are observing is a profound shift in how individuals engage with their spirituality and connect with their faith communities, and this shouldn’t be a surprise if we are to adapt and innovate in response to the evolving needs and realities of the world around us. The question that remains, is whether we are going to acknowledge these gatherings as true markers of Christian community … because the church is not dying at all, we’re just meeting elsewhere.