By David Yount
Scripps Howard News Service
As we enter the New Year it's worth noting how the nation's churches are incorporating changes to make them more relevant to their members. A Duke University survey back in 1998 established benchmarks for congregational life spanning all denominations. A new survey reveals some surprising changes.
But above all, it confirms continuity. For example, despite the increasing number of megachurches in America, the typical local congregation has a median membership of just 75 worshippers. Looking at it another way, the median churchgoer belongs to a congregation of 400 members, neither more nor less than a decade ago.
Despite the widespread publicity given to church disputes by the news media during the past decade, only one in four congregations experienced a dispute that prompted some members to leave. Only one in 50 congregations suffered any conflict over homosexuality.
However, the nation's churches did experience changes in technology, informality of worship, and demographics.
For example, local churches have caught up with the secular society in their use of computers and technology. In 1998, fewer than one in five U.S. congregations hosted Web sites; today, close to half of the churches offer Web pages to their members and local community. A friend of mine who ministers to a large Washington, D.C. Baptist congregation has a frequently updated interactive Web site whose volunteer editor works from India.
Overall, the number of churches that rely on e-mail to keep in touch with members has increased from 22 percent to 60 percent. Moreover, one-third of churchgoing Americans are now served by audiovisual projection equipment during the principal worship service.
Also, the trend in worship during the past decade has been toward informality. An increasing number of worship services for African-Americans incorporate drums, jumping, shouting, dancing and testifying. Among Protestant denominations as a whole, there is less reliance on choirs and a fixed order of worship.
Pollsters opine that the increasing informality in worship reflects a long-term trend "away from religious styles that appeal to the intellect in favor of religious styles that appeal to the emotions ... about what religion can do for you or how it can make you feel."
The average age of senior clergy is now 53, compared with 49 in 1998. Only 39 percent of congregations are served by clergy 50 years of age or younger. An increasing number of men and women are embracing ministry as a second career rather than entering the seminary directly after college.
There are more minority pastors. Today, 27 percent of senior clergy are black or Hispanic, up from 22 percent just a decade ago. Some 13 percent of Catholic parishes are now led by a black or Hispanic priest, compared with only 1 percent in 1998.
Change indicates progress. U.S. churches increasingly attract blacks, Hispanics, and Asians as members. Today, only 14 percent of American churchgoers still worship in all-white congregations.
David Yount is author of "Growing in Faith: A Guide for the Reluctant Christian." He answers readers at P.O. Box 2758, Woodbridge, VA 22195 and dyount@erols.com.
