The Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Rev. Jeff Paschal

As recent headlines have noted, our country is becoming less religious and less Christian. Many congregations and denominations are shrinking and aging. Why is that? And is there anything that can be done about it?

Our numerical losses can be tied to lower birth rates, disaffection with denominations over controversial social issues, failure of our churches to attract new members and lack of new church planting.

But experts say the greatest reason is that we often fail to retain our own people. Confirmed youth drift away and, too frequently, adult members slip into inactivity.

Is there an easy solution? No. And it's doubtful that any amount of denominational restructuring or church organizational gimmickry will help in the long term. But I wonder if God is up to something that cuts across denominational and theological lines. Maybe God is already in the process of renewing churches, and we're invited to take part in what God is doing.

Could it be that God is renewing churches by refocusing them on ancient spiritual practices, also known as spiritual disciplines? God is helping us become more clear about why the church exists, and then refocusing the life of the church on spiritual practices.

First, churches are re-examining what it means to be a Christian and what it means to be part of the church. Though many people in our day have come to think being Christian means believing in God and Jesus merely as an intellectual exercise, God is renewing churches as they come to see the church as "the body of Christ" doing God's ministry in the world. And being Christian is more than simply holding particular beliefs; it's about trying to live out faith (imperfectly, of course) in spiritual practices.

Second, leaders in churches being renewed are committing to a balanced set of spiritual practices. For example, a particular congregation's leadership group might commit itself to daily prayer, reading of Scripture, practicing forgiveness, generous stewardship, working for social justice, etc. Churches that are being renewed are not only committing to spiritual practices, but they're making personal commitments to spiritual practices that are manageable but also challenging.

For example, instead of praying sporadically, they may commit to try to pray five or 10 minutes a day. Instead of reading Scripture from time to time, they are committing to try to read the entire Bible in a year. Rather than showing up for worship occasionally, they commit themselves to weekly participation.

What about children and youth? I believe God is renewing churches as they become more intentional about spiritual practices for children and youth, too. Sunday school classes, confirmation classes and youth-group activities are deliberately structured not only to be fun but also to develop and nurture lifelong Christian practices. And since children and youth learn more from our example than from our words, parents lead their children by engaging in spiritual practices with their children on a consistent basis.

What lies ahead? Maybe denominations or regional governing church bodies will develop spiritual practice goals. These goals could provide clarity about the church and its mission, as well as support for local church leaders who are engaged in the exciting and demanding work of spiritual transformation.

In spite of gloomy statistics, I don't worry about the future of the church. God will take care of the church.

I believe churches that take on consistent and balanced spiritual practices will not only survive but thrive in the 21st century and beyond. After all, like any love relationship, our relationship with God is shaped by what we practice.

And God, the Divine Lover, is inviting us to spend focused time together in that relationship so we might be renewed and find joy and life. The gracious invitation is offered. Will we accept?

Paschal is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster