Can Anglican/Liturgical Churches Grow?

T he immediate answer is “of course!” “Why not?” All churches are intended to grow. From all that I read in the New Testament about the Great Commission and the Early Church through the Book of Acts, a church that is fulfilling what the Lord asked them to do should grow and should grow exponentially. I have always been interested in what Luke reports in Acts: 

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. . . . So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-43; 46-47, NKJV). 

Perhaps the Church is growing globally and that is great, but statistics tend to indicate a different reality locally. I have been reading the latest issue of Outreach Magazine; the title on the cover is “America’s Fastest-Growing Churches.” They identify the hundred fastest growing churches in the United States per state. In first place is Texas with nineteen churches, in second place is California and North California with seven, followed by Virginia with six, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee with five each. Forty churches in the list are Nondenominational, twenty-five are Southern Baptist, sixteen are Independent Christian and nine are Assemblies of God. One of the articles in the Issue makes the statement that 50% of churchgoers attend one of the largest 10% of American congregations. That means that the other 50% is spread out among the other thousands of churches throughout the country. Last set of statistics I heard about churches in America is that most churches in America have an average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of less than 100 each week. 

The 2011 Parochial Report for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) indicates 708 member congregations with a projected ASA of 62,470, which equals approximately an ASA of eighty-eight per congregation. In a study I conducted of our own diocese, the Diocese of Western Anglicans (DWA), in 2011, the statistics indicated a total of eighteen established congregations (nine church plants) and an approximate ASA of 112 per week. Of course, both for ACNA as well as for DWA, some congregations’ ASA are above the average and some are below the average. The same can be said for the national averages, however, the statistics speak for themselves. 

My original question, and one I hope will get us all thinking and hopefully will cause a great number of responses to this blog (that is my intention), is: Can Anglican/Liturgical Churches Grow?

First of all liturgical churches and especially those in the Anglican tradition which are the product of the 16th Century Reformation in England and the new more modern Reformation within Anglicanism (ACNA) are Evangelical in their approach to Scriptures, in their preaching and teaching from the Children’s Sunday School to all adult programs and especially in the preaching of the Word during Sunday services. The Word of God is alive and effective in Anglican/liturgical churches as much as in any non-liturgical church and anyone seeking to know God better can find Him and be found by Him in our church. 

Secondly, Anglican/liturgical churches offer through the beauty of the liturgy an opportunity for a deep encounter with God. When liturgy is done well, it is a living thing that invites and draws you into the mysteries of holiness, piety and reverence before God. Something that is lacking most of the time in non-liturgical churches which seems simpler and more mechanical in their worship style. Perhaps this is attractive to some in a new fast paced, multitasking, rapid and instant-results culture and that is fine if that is what you are after in the worship of God. But biblical worship is none of this, it is intended to be intentional, purposeful, worshipful, reverent, careful and highly spiritual. The liturgy offers these things. Perhaps we clergy should take more time explaining and demonstrating the purpose and beauty of the Anglican liturgy. 

I believe we have much to offer the world and YES! Anglican/liturgical churches can grow but we must look honestly at the issue posed before us in this blog. What do you think?

Let’s Blog!

Fr. Jose+