Downsizing our way to success. . .

So another Roman Catholic diocese is in bankruptcy and shuttering churches.  The proposal announced in mid-April is called “Seek the City to Come” — it is a multiyear initiative attempting to address dropping attendance, declining revenues and debilitated buildings.  It could cut the number of parishes in the Archdiocese from 61 to 21.  Makes you wonder what it means to be an archdiocese, doesn't it.  Apparently not numbers of parishes or people.  It should be noted that in the same diocese is an FSSP parish there --  in a troubled neighborhood doing the Latin Mass with standing room only. Hmmmmm.

Before Lutherans snicker at the state of affairs in Rome, let us remember with humility that we are suffering from the same thing except that ours is not an organized systems of closers or mergers but a disorganized one resulting from the congregational governance of buildings and property.  It is our problem as well and not simply Baltimore's or Rome's.  

Let me say what it is not.  It is not a money problem.  Sure, buildings cost money and consume a large portion of the annual parish budget nearly everywhere.  It is not a problem, however, that would disappear if in every bank account of every Roman or Lutheran parish you added a couple of zeros to the left of the decimal point.  In fact, you can throw all the money you want at this problem and it will not go away.  It is not a cash flow or an income issue.

What it is about is people.  Those buildings were built because there once were people to fill the pews and all the school space.  The first problem is people -- where are they?  It is not a matter of overall membership declines, although that is also true, but of an absence of people in the pews weekly.  If all the names we counted on the books showed up every Sunday, the LCMS would not be looking at closing down congregations or dealing with empty facilities.  I am sure that the same is true for Rome.  We are reaping a history of disassociation of attendance from belief and belief from doctrine.  Add to that the work of culture, sex abuse, an unfriendly media, and moral transformation and you can see exactly why we are in the position we are in today.  Under it all is a failure of catechesis.  The phenomenon of a self-proclaimed Roman Catholic who does not even know nor agree with what his own church teaches shows that Biden is not alone in the problem of catechesis and confession.  Of course, Lutherans are not immune either.

It is also a problem of people -- specifically pastors and other church workers.  Before we go blaming our youth for their failure to consider and pursue church work vocations, let us admit that it has been a very long time since pastor/priest or other church worker had the esteem, respect, and affection of the church or the culture.  Going My Way has come and gone and the friendly treatment of the ministers has been replaced by ridicule, scandal, and outright hostility.  Strangely enough, the faithful in the pews have not been as vocal as they might to counter this trend -- at least within the confines of parish and family!  The sad but real truth is that few believe anymore that the pastoral office is a noble, virtuous, and essential vocation.  We seem inclined to find short-cuts to pastoral training and a willingness to substitute the laity for clergy anywhere and everywhere we can.  We could try raising up pastors and church workers and paying for their training.  Our parishes and our church schools are dying for people to serve them.  Literally, dying.

It is again a problem with people.  We have long ago lost our confidence in the Mass or Divine Service and had multiple affairs with other forms of spirituality which we deem just as good as what you do together in the Lord's House on the Lord's Day -- including online versions!  We have long ago lost confidence in the means of grace to do what Christ has said He will and replaced the Word and Sacraments with a plethora of programs that keep people busy but have little really to do with teaching or learning the faith.  We keep the rest of the building full while the nave and chancel are empty and think we are doing what our Lord called us to do.  We have long ago forsaken the idea that the Mass or Divine Service is its own culture and mixed up what you hear on the radio with the sacred music unique to the Church and turned formal liturgy into a homey experience replete with jokes, laughter, and irreverence.  And then we wonder why people don't take the Church or God seriously anymore!

We will not downsize our way into success.  The path before us has not changed.  Reverence is its own relevance.  Faithfulness is its own success.  Catechesis is its own reality.  The truth is that 40-50 people in worship every week and tithing are more than enough to support clergy and building.  The truth is that people always were and are the best witnesses to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors -- we do not need to invent new programs.  It does not matter whether you are Roman or Lutheran, the path ahead is not to become more socially invested or culturally connected but to be more Christian, holding up by word and example the highest reverence and importance for our life of worship around the Word and Table of the Lord and honoring those who deliver Christ's gifts to us.