6670 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, AL, 36116       (334) 277-4213

Pastor’s Message

 

March 2008

To all the Saints at Messiah:

 

Recently “The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life” published the results of a study they conducted in 2007. It is entitled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey.” It is an interesting study and has something to say to us as Lutheran Christians.

First, some statistics: 78.4% of all Americans are Christian

· 23.9% are Catholic

· 51.3% are Protestant

· 26.3% are Evangelical Protestant

· 18.1% are Mainline Protestant churches (the ELCA is in this category)

· 2.0% are members of the ELCA

Second, some other vital facts: 1. the ELCA has a 60% retention rate among its youth - this is the highest of all churches

· 2. 65% of our members are between the ages of 30 & 65

· 3. 54% of our members make in excess of $50,000/year

· 4. 54% of our members have attended college

· 5. 70% of our members have no children

· 6. 96% of our members are white

What are we to make of this information? Well we tend to be a very well educated group of white people with high earning potential. We are so committed to our careers that we don’t have many children. What children we do have tend to remain in the Lutheran church. Finally, we are a minute part of the Christian scene here in the United States.

 

What consequences does this information have for us? We are not going to grow from the two sources that the Lutheran church historically has: children and immigrants. We don’t have that many children and the immigrants that come into this country tend to be Catholic. We will remain a predominately white church because (in my view) we tend to be less than sensitive to the needs of people of color. And, we have the ambition and financial resources to do what is necessary to grow. What does all this mean for us? As I have often said, we are awash in a sea of Baptists; perhaps I should change that to Evangelicals.

 

The predominate religious culture around us tends to be of the non-liturgical, non-sacramental tradition. So, we are unlikely to have new members just wander into our churches and stay. We look, smell, and sound different from what most people hear and see on the radio and TV. We have an identity problem, not many people know who we are. What are we to do about all this? Well, we could continue to do things the way we’ve always done them and continue to decline as a church. Or, we can recognize that we have a difficult road ahead of us and put the time and money needed into the effort to overcome these challenges.

 

Here at Messiah there are two things that are in my view absolutely critical to our future. First, successfully execute the capital funds campaign approved at the congregational meeting last week and pay off our existing mortgage. Second, add the multipurpose addition that was discussed at the congregational meeting. In the meantime, every member of this church should commit themselves to three things:

1. regular prayer and worship to discern God’s will in our life.

2. make a point of inviting at least one person every month to visit Messiah.

3. be faithful in our financial support of Messiah and its ministries.

 

We have been given marching orders by our Lord. Jesus was explicit when he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all  people, baptizing them . . .” because, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

We may be small folks, but we have all that we need to be successful in our calling here in Montgomery. Messiah is at a critical juncture in her life. Jesus is beckoning to us to follow him. May we be faithful and follow him even when it is uncomfortable.

 

Shalom,

  Pr. Randy

Sunday Worship Schedule

· 8:00 am & 10:45 am

· 9:15 am Sunday School

 

Wednesday Worship

· 6:15pm Service