Skip to content

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Grounded in Faith, Formed in Community

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
Menu

From Declining Worship Attendance to Transformative Community

Posted on February 19, 2015March 9, 2021 by ptsblog
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

New research on the Fresh Expressions movement in the Church of England was released this month, suggesting that new forms of church will not solve the problem of declining church attendance. In a small-scale study, the Rev. Dr. John Walker compared five fresh expressions – creative, highly-contextual ministries like pub churches or child-friendly “messy” churches – with five traditional parishes, observing that both the traditional and innovative churches seemed equally successful at “attracting the non-churched.” Translation: changing your worship style isn’t the way to bring unchurched people sitting in your pews.

On one level, this isn’t news. In Fresh Expressions’ language, we need a “mixed economy” of traditional and innovative ministries to faithfully proclaim the Gospel to diverse peoples. Though Walker’s observations could sound antagonistic toward pioneers of new forms of ministry, Walker writes in support of the mixed economy, arguing that the Church needs both traditional and new models of mission. Again, new worship styles aren’t the solution to declining church attendance.

But the reaction to this news reveals the anxiety latent in our shrinking churches. In a world where the Church is experiencing declining worship attendance and waning public influence, the Church fretfully waits for news of any way we can draw. The anxiety is captured well by Canon Kerry Thorpe, a leader of a fresh expression who was studied by Walker, who opened a review of Walker’s book by saying “Well, do they pass or don’t they?” People want to know: will new worshiping communities save our denominations?

Thorpe summarizes Walker’s findings, saying the answer is both “Yes, and no.” But Thorpe helpfully notes a constructive finding in Walker’s work, the finding that new Christians in these communities shared a common journey which Walker called the “Transformative Cycle.”

In the Transformative Cycle, these women and men had experienced significant life-events which, when processed in relationship with a Christian community, led them to come to a new self-understanding that included a deepened Christian identity. For example, a recent divorcee is invited to a small group where she experiences loving community. That community, in turn, responds to her questions about faith and journeys alongside her. Over time, the love of the community and the Gospel communicated to her through them leads the woman to make a new commitment to follow Christ. An earlier version of Walker’s study noted that the Transformative Cycle happened most often in congregations with a strong “culture of care” and an ability to communicate the tradition of the Church through that care (p. 117). Translation: Relationships with committed Christians lead to personal transformation.

Walker’s work on the Transformative Cycle is much more detailed and nuanced, but churches where the Transformative Cycle takes place share a culture of hospitality and deep relationships. This should inform the questions we’re asking about our churches, whether they were planted one year ago or one hundred years ago.

First, we should begin with relationships. With whom has God already put us in relationship? Are we hospitable to our neighbors? Do we habitually invite new people deeper into our circles? Then we ought to ask ourselves about what gospel is communicated through those relationships. Do we speak naturally about what God has done and is doing in our lives? Do we preach ourselves, or do we speak and act as loving servants of Christ the Lord (2 Cor 4:5)? Regardless of the outward form or worship style of our churches, are we a people who communicate Gospel in community?

Starting with these questions reframes the earlier question about Fresh Expressions: “Well, do they lead to transformed lives or don’t they?” Many do, and we should pray for the grace to become part of transformative Christian communities ourselves. May the Holy Spirit lead us forward in faithful mission, to the glory of the One who underwent the transformative cycle of death and resurrection for us and our salvation.

The Rev. Christopher Brown (MDiv, 2008) is the coordinator of the Church Planting Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and is co-pastor of The Upper Room Presbyterian Church.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter

1 thought on “From Declining Worship Attendance to Transformative Community”

  1. Pingback: Why I Plant New Churches

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Founded in 1794, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological school of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering master's and doctor of ministry degrees as well as certificate programs. Participating in God's ongoing mission in the world, Pittsburgh Seminary is a community of Christ joining in the Spirit's work of forming and equipping people for ministries familiar and yet to unfold and communities present and yet to be gathered.

Recent Posts

  • Opening A New Chapter—A Second-Career Student’s Story
  • The Fred McFeely Rogers Awardee for Creative Ministry (2025)
  • Pastor Burnout
  • The Promise of Pentecost
  • Praying for the Global Church

Categories

  • Book Recommendations
  • Church Planting
  • Counseling
  • Inside the PTS Curriculum
  • Ministry
  • People of PTS
  • Protestant Spirituality
  • Seminary and Programs
  • Sermon Writing Tips
  • Social Work
  • Theological Reflection
  • Uncategorized
  • Who Is My Neighbor?

Archives

Tags

Bible study Black History Month Call to ministry Christian spirituality church planting church planting for new communities church planting in pennsylvania Communion elements community Community worship doctor of ministry education faith and politics fasting Festivals and holy days Fred Rogers Good Samaritan Lent master of divinity mdiv alumni mdiv program mdiv program and social work MDiv program Pittsburgh ministry Ministry conferences and events Mission reflections mission trip pastoral care pastoral counseling Pastoral vocation PCUSA Seminary community seminary experience Seminary experiences sermon writing tips Social justice Spiritual journeys theological education theology and social work Urban ministry Volunteering Women in ministry world mission World Mission Initiative Youth ministry

Top Posts and Pages

  • Opening A New Chapter—A Second-Career Student's Story
    Opening A New Chapter—A Second-Career Student's Story
  • Why does God hate me?
    Why does God hate me?
  • Pastoral Care and Counseling to Help Families Heal
    Pastoral Care and Counseling to Help Families Heal
  • Inside the PTS Curriculum: God-Talk and Public Leadership
    Inside the PTS Curriculum: God-Talk and Public Leadership
  • Praying with People Grieving Loss from Suicide
    Praying with People Grieving Loss from Suicide
  • Is Jesus Coming Back Last Week?
    Is Jesus Coming Back Last Week?
  • Intercultural Learning Trip: Israel/Palestine
    Intercultural Learning Trip: Israel/Palestine
  • Inside the PTS Curriculum: Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism in the US
    Inside the PTS Curriculum: Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism in the US

Subscribe to Blog via E-mail

Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.

© 2025 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme