Understanding Why Churches Are Declining
Church decline requires more than just membership recruitment strategies. Historically Black churches must consider their unique history, culture, leadership, and responsibility to the community. In his 2024 article, "Have We Lost the 'Soul' of the Black Church: Returning to Our Roots," Rev. Dr. Charles E. Goodman Jr. argues that the Black Church has historically been committed to collective responsibility, community, and social transformation. His argument is that we must look beyond the walls of the church and go back to our responsibility to our communities.
Every community has its own set of issues. Some CME congregations are facing aging membership, population shifts, and financial pressures. Others face consistent leadership change, unresolved conflict, little or no outreach, and difficulty engaging the younger generation. Before we can begin to prescribe a plan for renewal, we must listen and learn.
In my book, "Outreach is the Architecture of Evangelism", I emphasize that an architect never starts to renovate a building without first looking at the foundation, assessing the structural weaknesses, and identifying what remains sound. The same is true for our churches. We need to be asking the right questions: what ministries are we actually doing? What do we actually need in the community? Why are people leaving? Why are people not joining our churches? What kind of support would actually help our church to grow? You do not have to tear everything down. Sometimes we just need to restore, rebuild, and strengthen what is already there.
Relationships Must Become Central to Church Growth
Rev. Dr. Goodman's work also reminds us that the Black Church's witness has involved shared spiritual purpose and concern for community life. Therefore, revitalization begins with relationships. Evangelism cannot end with an invitation to Sunday worship service; it must include welcoming visitors, reconnecting with inactive members, nurturing new believers, and engaging families.
A visitor should never leave wondering if anyone noticed them. A young adult should be able to ask real questions without being criticized, dismissed, or told, "we do not do that here." A long-term member should not be forgotten simply because of illness, age, or because they can no longer get to church. Our churches need to be places of compassion, belonging, and connection that is rooted in the love of Jesus Christ. Church growth is about making disciples and rebuilding trust; it should not be about just adding new names to the membership list.
Revitalization Requires Every Builder: God's Blueprint for the Church
In my book, Outreach is the Architecture of Evangelism, I use the metaphor of architectural design and construction to illustrate the vision, planning, collaboration, and commitment required to build effective outreach. A construction site relies on people with different roles all working from the same blueprint. I believe congregational revitalization takes the same. It requires the involvement of pastors, evangelism directors, ministry leaders, lay people, and connectional leadership. No pastor can rebuild a congregation on his or her own. God is the Master Architect, Scripture is the blueprint, and every believer has a role to play.
We are not just mending what has been lost. We are strengthening what remains and equipping our congregations to reach the next generation. The mission has been given to the Church, and now every believer must be prepared to help build it.
Introducing C-ME RISE! A Vision for Congregational Revitalization
I propose that the General Department of Evangelism and Missions consider a connectional initiative: C-ME RISE! Restoring Hope and Igniting Faith. Strengthening Churches. Engaging Communities. This proposed effort would complement our C-ME Grow training series and Connectional Evangelism Directors Network. Rather than burdening struggling congregations with another elaborate program, it would continue to offer encouragement, mentoring, practical tools, and shared resources. Inspired by the architectural framework of Outreach Is the Architecture of Evangelism, its work would be guided by six evangelism principles:
1. Prayer — Prayer is the foundation of revitalization. Gather for prayer, pastoral encouragement, and reflection on God’s continuing purpose.
2. People — Reach inactive members, welcome young people, strengthen family ministries, and ensure everyone feels seen and valued.
3. Preparation — Provide accessible training, discipleship, personal evangelism, digital communication, and outreach, even for churches with small budgets.
4. Presence — Reconnect with the Community. Understand local needs and respond through food ministries, school partnerships, senior support, mentoring, or other meaningful service.
5. Proclamation — Share the Gospel Intentionally. Connect acts of service with testimony, invitation, the proclamation of Jesus Christ, and ongoing discipleship.
6. Partnership — Strengthen Congregations Together. Encourage stronger churches to mentor struggling congregations, share resources, and collaborate on outreach. No major building project succeeds through isolated labor.
Every principle has a purpose, every congregation has a role, and every believer has an opportunity to contribute. We are builders together in God's Kingdom!
We Must Measure More Than Attendance
A church's health should not be measured solely by Sunday attendance. You also must look at restored relationships, returning visitors, baptisms, new disciples, ministry opportunities, community engagement, and the church's financial health. Spiritual revival and numerical growth do not always go hand in hand. A church can be going through a revival and rebuilding relationships long before there is any noticeable increase in the numbers. Such transformation deserves to be recognized.
We must also distinguish between fewer worshippers and financial instability. Some small churches can run effective ministries. Other churches may struggle to meet the property cost, the pastor's salary, the cost of doing outreach, and basic obligations. They would benefit from stewardship education, financial planning, and some form of ministry partnership. Where structural change is required, the appropriate leadership must honor the history and legacy of each church.
As a building sometimes needs renovation or reinforcement to serve future generations, our congregations must be willing to examine what needs to change. The Church's mission must remain greater than preserving any individual building.
The Work Is Not Finished: It Is Time to Rise!
As we look toward the future of the CME Church, we must remember that revitalization is not simply about preserving what once was. We cannot move forward while focusing on the past. Instead, we must prepare our congregations for what God is calling us to become today. In construction, every building project requires a vision, a blueprint, committed workers, and a strong foundation. Likewise, the work of congregational revitalization requires prayer, people, preparation, presence, proclamation, and partnership.
We cannot rebuild our churches in isolation. Pastors, ministry leaders, evangelism directors, lay members, and connectional leadership must work together with a shared purpose and commitment to reaching souls for Christ, making disciples, and transforming lives.
To every CME congregation facing declining membership, aging congregations, or uncertain circumstances, I offer this encouragement: Remember, your church may be small in attendance, but your mission is still great. Your membership may have declined, but God's calling upon your congregation will never expire!
The foundation of our faith remains Jesus Christ. The blueprint is before us, the mission is clear, and the work requires all of us. We are not just trying to fill empty pews. We are rebuilding relationships, restoring hope, strengthening congregations, and renewing our commitment to the Great Commission. The work is not over. The mission is not finished. There is still hope for the CME Church! C-ME RISE!
References
Goodman, Charles E., Jr. “Have We Lost the ‘Soul’ of the Black Church: Returning to Our Roots.” Theology Today 81, no. 1 (2024): 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405736231226096.
Hollingshed, Kenneth L. Outreach Is the Architecture of Evangelism: A Spiritual Blueprint for Building Churches That Reach, Teach, and Transform. WestBow Press, 2026.
