Presbyterians Aim for Growth Amid Dwindling Numbers
More than $1 million was granted to the development of new churches and the transformation of existing congregations within a dwindling Presbyterian denomination.
The Mission Development Resources Committee of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) awarded the grant money to 14 church projects across the nation, aiding presbyteries and synods for growth.
The middle governing bodies (presbyteries and synods) have seen declining support and are facing financial crisis as more congregations leave the denomination, discontent with PC(USA)'s theological views and recent actions, including a 2006 resolution that granted greater leeway to the ordination of homosexuals.
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Dialogue just began last month at a church-wide meeting on the future of the denomination's current governing structure. While without any immediate solution to the fallout of organizational support, Presbyterian leaders pointed out a need for "deep change," which would take time.
Meanwhile, endowments, individuals and congregational gifts are providing presbyteries and synods $1,013,500 for church growth. The funds are to be distributed over a five-year period, reported the Presbyterian News Service.
"Because all of the grants are matched with funds from the presbytery and synod, we're able to bring together the denomination's resources to support a congregation in ways that it couldn't do alone," said Tim McCallister, associate for mission program grants in the PC(USA)'s Evangelism and Church Growth program, according to the denomination's news service. "This type of work takes community. It's the church at its best."
The head of the PC(USA), the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, had expressed hope for renewed growth in the denomination despite the small exodus of churches.
"It's clear to me we're at a point of willingness to build together the PC(USA) of the future that God intends," said Kirkpatrick in an earlier statement.
In the future for the 2.4 million-member denomination is the growth of the multicultural church – a shift that more mainline groups are adopting. Many of the church projects, according to McCallister, reflect the PC(USA)'s mission to become a multicultural church.
Recognizing the growing immigrant population in its community, Knox Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minn., plans to hire a full-time pastor to focus on multicultural mission and to develop more opportunities for cross-cultural understanding between immigrant groups and others. Knox currently has an Indonesian language worship service and Bible study.
The Synod of the Pacific and the San Joaquin Presbytery plans to utilize their grant money to start up a multi-ethnic church community in the South Clovis/Sanger area where no such church exists, according to the news service.
The Mission Development Resources Committee awards two rounds of grants each year, the second of which will be announced in May.
