Are We Really an Aging Church
By Megan Rohrer
In the past 12 years I’ve preached at countless Lutheran,
Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational and Swedenborgian
congregations nearly every Sunday. But, I could count on two hands the
number of congregations who had worshipers younger than me.
During this same period, I baptized six adults and two children. Only
the children were baptized in congregations. The adults, who were
almost all younger than I was, asked me to baptize them in bars,
restaurants and gardens. Each of these baptisms was accompanied by a
story about how the individuals had become estranged from congregational
worship.
With each baptism, I thought about all the people who have declared
that the Lutheran church is dying and aging. Is it true, or are we
pushing people away and letting people believe the lie that they are
unable to be loved by God. And if people gain church membership through
their baptism, then why are so few members choosing to attend worship?
When I was called as the pastor of
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Francisco’s Sunset District this past February...
- Read more at the ELCA's
Living Lutheran.
