Will Changing Structure Revitalize The United Methodist Church? Many are lamenting the decline in membership among United Methodists. Some think changing the structure will produce revival. I'm inclined to believe it is more a re-arrangement of the deck chairs on the titanic than a genuine renewal. Truth be told even if we eliminated the entire national bureaucracy in our denomination it would only save two or three dollars per church member. To most small and medium size churches this makes little difference and honestly, does saving money really produce revival. Let's take a look at how religious movements rise and grow for an answer.
Nineteenth Century German Sociologist Max Weber extensively described how religious movements rise and grow. They arise out of the charismatic ideals of a visionary leader. Over time, however, one person's vision can't sustain the growth of the movement. Through a process he calls the routinization of charisma the original vision becomes encapsulated in an organization that supports even further growth.
Why then does decline come? Over time, as the organization becomes larger it begins to forget about its original purpose and simply works to perpetuate itself in a process Weber calls bureaucratization. Ironically the model Sociology professors often use to describe this process is the Catholic church that has developed an extensive organization over time. The United Methodist Church is in that stage of bureaucracy. We have a committee and an organization for everything. Each has their own agenda and promotes their own programs; however, the original overarching vision that gave our church meaning and purpose as been nearly forgotten.
Some knowing this process think simply getting rid of bureaucracy will solve the problem; however, church history teaches us something very different. Throughout the history of the church revitalizing spiritual movements have occurred to remind us of that original vision and structures modified in light of that renewal. Without spiritual renewal any reorganization will at best only slow our decline.
In the Middle-ages when the church lost it's vision, new monastic groups would emerge from within the church to remind us of our purpose. Over time however, Popes decided there were enough monastic groups and forbid new ones. Guess what happened then? Within a century there was the Protestant Reformation. The rise of Protestantism gave birth to new energy in the entire Christian Church. New Protestant expressions of faith adapted to a new age and within the Roman Church, what was known as the Counter-Reformation gave birth to new vitality which expressed itself in a new monastic order -- the Jesuits among others. This process of a Charismatic Vision, transforming into a bureaucracy that at times needs spiritual renewal continued as the Church moved to the United States.
Without an established Church, a number of denominations grew up in our nation. Each with their own visions and organizations. At times they lost sight of the vision and what tended to remind them of their purpose were spiritual revivals. Indeed one can trace much of the history of American Christianity through a series of revivals and awakenings that not only gave birth to new Denominations but called established churches to rediscover their purpose and once again become vital and growing.
The key was that spiritual revival preceded the bureaucratic reform. Indeed much of the structure we have now was the product of a revival that occurred in the post- World War II era. During that time Church Attendance in the United States reached a record level. That system served us well in its time and yes new structures may be needed -- but only if they come out of a revival that helps us once again see clearly the vision of why God has called the Methodist people together.
If we truly want our church to become a vital spiritual force again, our first step must not be playing with organizational structure but recapturing the Charismatic vision of leaders like John Wesley, Phillip William Otterbien, Francis Asbury, and Jacob Albright. When we re-connect with that original vision "to spread scriptural holiness throughout the land" effective organization change will naturally flow.
As I read our denominations leaders talking about making disciples for the transformation of the world, I realize they too have lost sight Methodism's vision. It seems to be more about increasing contributions and contributors to keep an aging bureaucracy going another generation. I hear little talk of spiritual revival or scriptural holiness. The vision I believe God is calling us to is the subject of a blog yet to be. But I do indeed believe that without a genuine spiritual revival ( that re-presents our ancient vision for a new age) our church will die regardless of any organizational change.
Check back in a few days for my thoughts on what that vision should be and some simple tools we already have in our tool box (thanks to Bishop Reubin Job) to share our vision for "spreading scriptural holiness". When we once again have a passion for our purpose, then the necessary changes will naturally flow Forcing them will only lead to death.
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