1. Congregational Life Cycle
BIRTH
DEATH
Congregational Life Cycle

2. Every Living Thing and System has a Natural Life Cycle.

3. The Cycle Begins at Birth
Potential
BIRTH
Purpose and Vision (assumed or stated) — DNA
Constant Care/Protection

4. Birth Is Followed by a Period of Growth
Energy and Excitement
Unexpected
Progress

5. Growth Is Followed by Stability
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
Fulfillment
Accomplishment
Predictability
Nostalgia

6. Growth Half of Life Cycle Is a Time of:
BIRTH
GROWTH
POSITIVE
STABILITY
Vitality
Health
Strength

7. . . . And They Lived Happily Ever After!
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
Only in Fairy Tales!

8. One of Two Things Follows Stability
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
REDEFINITION
DECLINE
Redefinition of the Ministry
Leads to a new growth cycle
Decline

9. Ministry Can Be Re-defined by Answering These Questions
Where do we want to see this ministry in three to five years?
What is new that was not anticipated?
What has been accomplished?
What was the original vision of the ministry?

10. If . . . A Ministry is not Redefined . . .
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
DECLINE
If . . .
A Ministry is not Redefined . . .
Or Stability Proceeds Uninterrupted . . .
DECLINE WILL UNQUESTIONABLY FOLLOW.

11. Once a ministry is in decline there is still the possibility of new life. — But the cost of new life is greater.

12. Reversing Decline Requires Redevelopment
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
REDEFINITION
REDEVELOPMENT
Not just new information
But also new and different purpose and direction

13. Redevelopment New information alone will not reverse decline
A new, different purpose and direction can reverse decline
New information alone will not reverse decline
New purpose will be experienced by the congregation as significant change, and by some as loss

14. Intervening in decline is difficult
Intervening in decline is difficult. — It requires skilled and differentiated leadership.

15. Differentiated Leaders
Do not change course in response to the discomfort provoked by change
Don’t require affirmation from the congregation

16. Without Redefinition or Redevelopment, Unchecked Decline Will Only Lead to More Serious Decline
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
DECLINE
REDEFINITION
REDEVELOPMENT

17. To Reverse Serious Decline Requires Rebirth
STABILITY
REDEFINITION
REDEVELOPMENT
REBIRTH
DEATH
DECLINE
GROWTH

18. To rebirth a seriously DECLINING ministry requires radical change.

19. Rebirth will involve a different purpose or ministry.
— It is not just doing the old thing differently, it is doing a new thing. And, perhaps in a different place or with different people.

20. Without rebirth, decline will lead to death.

21. Some facts about decline.

22. As the depth of decline increases, more interruption and letting go is required.

23. Characteristics of Decline
Anxiety
Fear
Denial
Paranoia
Conflict

24. It is the nature of congregational decline to deny the decline as long as possible, to underestimate the decline, and then to under respond.
Embalm with penicillin
Treat congregational pneumonia with aspirin
Ignore the congregational cold
Declining congregations —

25. There is no gain for underestimating decline.
— There is no penalty for overestimating decline.

26. Resurrection does not follow denial — Resurrection (new life) follows death (truth telling)
What needs to be let go of?
The questions are:
The questions are:
What needs to die?

27. BIRTH
DEATH
Life Cycle Learnings

28. Life Cycle Learnings When Growing: Encourage the Growth
Maximize the Growth
Resource the Growth

29. Life Cycle Learnings When Stable: Redefine/Revision the Ministry
Identify the “New Information”
Use Demographic Data — Both About the Congregation Itself and the Congregational Context

30. Life Cycle Learnings
When Declining:
Intervene —
Early
Accurately

31. Life Cycle Learnings
When Dead:
Bury
Remember
Entrust
Let Go

32. The Congregational Life Cycle
BIRTH
GROWTH
STABILITY
REDEFINITION
REDEVELOPMENT
REBIRTH
DEATH
DECLINE

33. For more information contact us at the
For more information contact us at the
Office of Congregational Development
The Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone:
For copies of this presentation look on our website or contact Episcopal Parish Services at

34. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study

35. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
Following a 9 year period of slow decline, Rector left mid-2007 amid some conflict
Interim began work Feb 2008
Interim work included helping congregation to discern mission and focus – Redefinition

36. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
Current Rector began work in April 2010
Building on work of the Interim, helped congregation define and articulate Mission and Core Values and develop ministries based on these – Redevelopment
Congregational growth resulted!

37. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study

38. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
Growth was gradual but steady for 4.5 years
2015 & 2016 saw Stability in ASA – Indicating need for Redefinition
2017 ASA shows Decline

39. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study

40. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
2018 Redefinition/Redevelopment has begun
Open Baptism slated for Pentecost
Major investment in both preparation and follow-up
Risking failure/looking foolish for the sake of the Gospel

41. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
My Learnings from this experience so far:
Ministry in our region is tenuous – stability periods are short before turning to decline
Honest assessment of ministry health is vital – pretending everything is OK is not helpful

42. Ascension, Bradford – A Case Study
Assigning blame for why the decline began is not necessary or helpful
Redefinition and/or Redevelopment will look different in different congregations
All of us will be called to Risk Big at some point in our ministry – why not here and now?