How to Grow Your Congregation:
When Wanting to Grow is Not Enough

Every Nazarene church and district in the USA and Canada have set aggressive goals - Centennial Faith Projections - to increase attendance and membership by the conclusion of the Centennial Celebration year 2008-2009.

But as noted in a recent report on church growth by the Hartford Institute, "wanting to grow is not enough." The entire report is available at http://hirr.hartsem.edu/FACTSchurchgrowth.htm.

Among other things the study finds that congregations are more likely to grow if they -

. have contemporary and multiple services
. are located in suburbia or a downtown metropolitan area
. have a website
. are multi-racial
. have a clear mission
. involve children in worship
. have a strategy for growth

The study also finds that conflict is a barrier to growth.

"Congregations that have experienced major conflict are quite likely to have declined in attendance. The strongest correlate of growth is absence of serious conflict."

The Hartford findings are clear that conflict is not only a barrier to growth, it is the primary reason why people drop out. People are not attracted to, nor will they stay in, churches embroiled in conflict.

In a partnership for growth the UCME Department has developed the Nazarene Missional Church Survey and Action Plan to help turn around no-growth churches. District leaders are being trained to help every church take the congregational survey and develop growth plans. For more information call the UCME office at 1-800-306-9948.

Since, as the Hartford study demonstrates, the first step toward congregational growth is the will to grow, we're headed in the right direction in the year of the Centennial Celebration 2008-2009.

-Tom Nees