Trends in Black Churches
Is anyone else tired of being policed by people? I am. One of the ways I stay away from it is trendsetting. There are certain things happening in our world that are small, yet consistent. Those small markers are spots to a much larger trend. As a pastor, I love trendspotting, especially in my context as a Black Pastor. This, for me, is not necessarily prophetic, it’s intuitive. I love it. Now, I know everyone is not gifted in spotting trends, or, even cares to. So, join me in having a little fun.
The Sons of Issachar saw the, “Signs of the Times.” (1 Chron 12:32)
Ezekiel looked for those who would, ‘Stand in the gap.” (Ezekiel 22:30)
Jesus said we would do, ‘Greater works” (John 14:12)
Therefore, I took time to mark out a few trends I have noticed and think we must be mindful of over the course of the next 5-10 3-5 years. As I have spoken to colleagues, pastors, leaders, and professors these are constant, I am placing some flesh on them. I read alot of blogs that pertain directly to trends and such but they always cover White churches, no matter the denominational traditions. When they cover Black/Brown churches it constantly as it relates to race or how we are a part of larger white churches. Allow me to dream a little for Black Churches.
They may not all come true, but, most will. I’m excited about the future of the church. Ready?
1 - Women in Core/Vital Leadership -
By 2030 nearly 60% of the worlds wealth will be owned by women…and that is a low projection. Women must be in leadership positions. If you want to see your church expand, start positioning people in leadership based on merit not sexual organs. I guarantee you will see the entire dynamic of your church change with women making decisions. Brothers, we must destroy a male hold on pulpits, boards, and decision making. Its ridiculous that 80% of our attendance is women with 80% of our leadership male. Stop. The present and future is female. Periodt.
2 - Black and **other races** churches will grow. Multi Racial churches driven by white preachers will not -
The past 20 months we have seen that there is a need for black and brown people to have their own space without White influence. Too often “multi-cultural” churches are black/brown people assimilating to white churches and white culture. i.e. CCM/White hymnity. To a point where, as one collegue said, “members of my church as me to sing CCM believing the spirit moves more in white music than our own. When, really, Its because CCM represents privilege, authority, and power.” I sense that over the next few years we will see black and brown people leave white preacher led churches for black/brown led churches. The false sense of “unity” and “anti-racism” without an effective reading of scripture has exposed communities and cultures that want Colorful bodies for promotion, not engagement. This means, for black churches, we must be open to new people attending, asking questions, and being “restored” after attending a church we as leaders disagreed with them attending. .
3 - Increase in conversions
While we are not seeing droves of people come to altars and out the back door, we are seeing a depth and care for scripture that has never been seen before. Churches will expand as the pace of Christ, not the pace of our marketing.
4 - Giving will be down 20-30%
Many churches have already expressed feeling this with multiple pastors and leaders I know either being fired or having their salaries cut without any reprieve. With the loss of jobs, minimum wage increase with hour decrease, along with the cost of living, charitable giving is often the first to go out of the window.
5 - Pastors Leaving churches completely.
Time with their children, spouse, and in their community without board intervention or hope in being paid the following week has led to a mass exodus of great leaders from good/great churches. This is a scary trend. We are losing phenomenal leadership from the Christian community not because of moral failure, but survival.
6 - Less people going into ministry long term
This is a longer range projection. I truly believe the pulpit prepares you for politics. Less people will jump into the weight of ministry because of the financial instability and theological normativity. We will see less people in ministry staying for 20-30 year pastorates and see 5-10 year pastorates as a step into an area/profession more intentional to their skillset.
7 - Digital ministry is another “church”
There will be a group of people who will never return to church in person. Period. We must enrich and stabilize online ministry. Namely, adding an entire online worship experience and staffing to make it excellent. Using an iPhone with house audio is no longer sufficient. Begin to consider your online livestream as another church, with another pastor, and another facility.
8-VR/AR/AI web
Virtual reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) Artificial Intelligence (AI) are all infused in how we shop, live, watch television, and experience the internet. As church leans into the future, relevancy will be assimilating into these already established areas. Consider this, if Porn can have virtual reality experiences, if Pokemon and NBC can enhance experiences at home with AR, and; if websites and socal media control our news through artificial intelligence, it is imperative that the church as a whole understands and makes use of what is becoming “normal.” Churches have begun experimenting with AR and 3-D worship experiences. The culture of “risk-taking’ must be a cultural value not COVID-19 throwaway. AI ran websites are not a “thought” they are a reality. Either get hit by it, or lead through it.
9 - Boomer and Millennials will drive churches
Millennials and Boomers are the largest generations. Boomers are getting closer to retirement meaning their availability will increase. Millennials are proceeding to earn some of those empty seats at work. That means Millennial earning potential will increase and volunteering will decrease along with Boomer giving not increasing but volunteering will. It is imperative that cross generational ministry and collaboration with correct consistent language happens. The dynamics of our churches are about to shift drastically. Casting out one generation will destroy our churches. Not to mention—Generation-Z and Generation Alpha are going to run our Teen, tech, and Young Adult Ministries with two years of no cultural engagement and church being an “option” to click on.
What about Gen-X? We forgot about them like we forgot about Dre.
10 - Need for spaces to teach secular theories with scripture (sexuality/CRT etc)
Theologically engaging secular thinking is important. Contextualizing scripture is important. It is imperative that both happen in churches. Without it not only will we lose leaders and thinkers. A full picture of Jesus means having difficult conversations about how we have shown and will show Jesus.
So what?
If these are trends, what can we do? Here are four suggestions:
1 - Look for Giving from Community Businesses
Local community organizations and businesses have charitable and social innovation grants and monies available. Take a look at your budget, talk to the members in your church who can write grants and who have great relationships and take advantage of that situation. You will be surprised how much money is out there. Ask.
2- Be mindful of what you ingest
When we consider the increase of Prosperity preachers in the 80’s and 90’s it spilled over into many of our churches because of a lack of access to commentaries, seminaries etc. Money speaks. The churches with the best cameras and most members are driving the theology of our people. It is so easy to succumb to what is popular. There will be an increase in popular preachers and an increase in heresy. Be mindful of your Time in prayer and preparation to not fall into the trap of popularizing the gospel. Lift Jesus up, and He will draw.
3 – Diversify your Skillset for Co-vocational and bi-vocational ministry
Pastors and Staff will need secular work to offset the lack of giving. Research (Barna) has shown throughout the pandemic only 3% of churches experienced growth. This is also a challenge to seminaries and Divinity schools to encourage students to have multiple layers of education whether that is Law/Social Work/Business. This trend is scary as churches will expect pastors to give full-time work to churches paying part-time.
4 - Collaborative ministry without Denominational guidelines
If this era has taught us anything, it’s that Denominations are more constricting than they are liberating. On Matters of race, healthcare, opening/closing, preaching etc, Denominations have been outgrown for years. Cross denominational ministry and work is important. We are not monolithic people, we cannot make our churches monolithic.
Pandemics only accelerate life. In this case, it accelerated so many areas of the local church and revealed a number of our weaknesses. By no means is the local church dead. Nor is the future going to kill it. We much seize an opportunity to be critical about ourselves, our contexts and our motivation. Lets go!