Episode Summary
Pastor Mark Lee sharing on pastoring a church to change and grow in a culturally diverse community.Churches are declining in the United States. What can be done to replant and grow a declining church?Pastor Mark Lee has served at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church since 2019. He is leading his congregation in embracing and engaging the ethnically diverse community around them.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:Contributing factors to the decline of traditional American churchesMaking diversity a focal pointChallenges for churches in embracing diversityABOUT THE GUEST: Pastor Mark Lee has served at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church since 2019. He is a Graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Mark is married to Minah and they have three adult children– a daughter and two sons.RELATED LINKS:Central Steele Creek Presbyterian ChurchEmail Pastor Mark LeeTIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:01:53 - Pastor Mark Lee introduction03:55 - Doctoral dissertation is the background of this conversation04:24 - Disturbing trend in traditional American churches04:37 - Biggest trend: membership and attendance below 50%04:56 - Membership and attendance declining for the past 30 years06:07 - Churches can't afford full-time pastors06:43 - These trends are on a national level07:12 - Major contributing factors to these trends08:14 - Refusal to change08:23 - Change to attracting younger families08:42 - Move from a heavily liturgical worship service09:06 - to a more blended worship service09:22 - One of the main reasons is that churches are not willing to change09:35 - Change and adapt10:18 - Change needs to take place10:33 - Homogeneous Unit Principle: helping or hurting church growth?11:45 - Transformation of community demographics12:22 - but, the church did not change with the community changes12:35 - Need to embrace the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community13:09 - Making diversity a focal point13:41 - Tried and True no longer effective13:58 - Churches not just declining, but closing14:47 - Build it and they will come - church was the center of community fellowship15:10 - Families changing time commitments and priorities16:03 - Life is more difficult and faster18:07 - Commitment levels changed19:45 - Today's busy lifestyle20:27 - Challenges for churches in embracing diversity20:41 - Historical perceptions21:20 - Younger families21:52 - Slow process22:28 - Start new church vs Rebuild old church24:37 - Physical church appearance27:58 - Short-term and long-term implications of a church embracing diversity28:07 - Short-term30:16 - Long-term