Reimagine the Church’s Future

Rev. Bobby Musengwa

Transitional General Presbyter

A congregation I once served felt they needed an expert’s help to move them from the feeling of being stuck in the rut. We invited a known, local, trusted church growth consultant to work with us. The formal and informal leadership of the congregation, roughly thirty people, met regularly with the consultant for six months. We took time to pray, study scriptures, discern, reflect, and hold some really important and tough conversations. The process helped to build trust, revitalize morale, and gave birth to a new mission and vision for the congregation.

Many congregations, particularly smaller, struggling congregations, are in need of help to assist them in getting them unstuck. Most remember the glory days when church attendance used to be booming. Those years are gone, and we are faced with the stark reality of low church attendance, diminishing financial resources, no children in church, absent young adults and families, etc. 

I have found that congregations have many great ideas locally, sometimes from within the congregations themselves, if only people would listen to one another.

Recently, I have been thinking deeply and praying about this process, and possible solutions to this dilemma. 

After reading an article which prompted deep thoughts on this topic, I thought about my prior congregational experience working with the consultant. I had had a positive experience, and the results had worked for us then. 

However, that consultant has passed away. So, I consulted a modern, new tool, Claude. Claude is a Large Language Model by Anthropic. These generative AI tools are just that, tools. They need to be handled with care. Thoughtful human input is required for them to produce useful information. In coding, which I used to teach for many years, we would say, “Garbage in, garbage out.” 

An outline of the idea on “Reimagine the Church’s Future’” caught my attention. I hope to explore it some more, and see if some of the ideas are feasible in the real world. 

Some ideas may be valid, and some may still need to be tested. It’s worth the look. Here is the outline I have received:

“Reimagine the Church’s Future” is a crucial strategy for aging congregations facing today’s realities. It means stepping back, honestly assessing the situation, and seeking bold ways to move forward. Here’s an expanded outline of the key elements:

1. Discernment & Courage: Honest Assessment and Decision-Making

a. Honest Conversations

• Why? Too often, churches avoid difficult topics like shrinking attendance, finances, or whether the current model still serves God and the community.

• How? Gather leaders and members in safe, structured settings—such as retreats, listening sessions, or small group discussions—to ask:

  • What is our true mission?

  • Is our current structure helping or hindering us?

  • What do we fear losing, and what are we willing to risk for the sake of mission?

  • What is God inviting us to become in this season?

b. Facing Hard Truths about Sustainability

• Attendance & Finances: Analyze trends honestly. Are we able to support our building, programs, and staff in five years? Ten?

• Energy & Engagement: Is there sufficient volunteer energy and passion to sustain ministries?

• Mission Impact: Are we producing fruit beyond our congregation’s walls? How are lives being changed?

c. Creative Partnerships

When going it alone is no longer viable—or new possibilities emerge—discerning leaders look outward:

• Partner with Neighboring Congregations: Share pastors, programs, or worship services.

• Ecumenical Initiatives: Work with churches of other Christian traditions or even other faiths in community service projects or special events.

• Community Partnerships: Invite nonprofits, arts groups, or neighborhood organizations to use space, join in mission, and bring new life to facilities.

d. Shared Ministry & Mergers

• Shared Staff or Programs: Two or more congregations can share pastors, musicians, youth directors, or outreach ministries.

• Mergers: In some cases, blending congregations forms one stronger, healthier church. This is often a faithful—not a failed—response, especially if it’s mission-driven instead of just survival-driven.

• Repurposing Property: Rethink how your building is used. Some churches sell portions for senior housing, community centers, or affordable housing, keeping ministry going in smaller or shared worship spaces.

2. Asset Mapping: Naming and Leveraging What You Have

a. What Is Asset Mapping?

Asset mapping is a process of identifying and taking stock of your congregation’s tangible and intangible resources. This is not just about money or property, but ALL the “assets” God has provided.

b. Types of Assets to Consider

• Spiritual: Traditions of deep prayer, music, unique worship styles, stories of faithfulness.

• Relational: Strong bonds among members, connections with local leaders or organizations, history of effective care.

• Financial: Endowments, investments, fundraising abilities, or simply a mortgage-free building.

• Physical: A church building, land, kitchen, rooms that could be repurposed or shared.

• Human: Skills and vocations of members (teachers, cooks, builders, counselors, etc.), leadership potential, creativity.

• Historical: A respected legacy in the community, a track record of meaningful outreach, archives or artifacts drawing interest.

c. Using Asset Mapping

• Workshops or Retreats: Bring people together to brainstorm all the assets your congregation possesses—often many go unrecognized!

• Shifting Focus: Rather than lamenting what’s lost (members, energy), celebrate and leverage what remains for new ministry.

• Strategic Decisions: Use this list to launch new ministries, repurpose spaces, form partnerships, or serve needs in the wider community.

Conclusion: Hopeful, Prayerful Adaptation

To "Reimagine the Church’s Future," aging congregations must:

• Embrace reality, not denial, about current trends.

• Pray and discern together, supporting frank discussion, Resurrection hope, and willingness to experiment, risk, or let go.

• Boldly use ALL gifts entrusted by God—spiritual, relational, material—for new purposes.

• Reject the idea of mere “survival” and instead seek faithful, vital ways to serve God and neighbor—sometimes in smaller, shared, or entirely new forms.

Which of these ideas caught your attention? Which are feasible for your congregational context? What other ideas do you have which could help us all with congregational vitality here at Mission Presbytery? 

Prayerfully engaging in authentic conversations, listening and respecting one another, and being open-minded to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the here and now, may just be the ingredients we need to help us get unstuck and get lit like the day of Pentecost. Only God knows for sure. Please reach out and let us know how we can be of help to you.

Blessings,

Rev. Bobby Musengwa

presbyter@missionpby.org.