FACES AND PLACES: Can our churches save themselves? (09/29/96)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Can our churches save themselves?

Ukrainian community life in the United States began in 1884 when the first Ukrainian parish was established in Shenandoah, Pa., by the Rev. Ivan Wolansky.

If it hadn't been for that parish and the hundreds of parishes that followed, there would be no Ukrainian American community today. For decades our churches served our community by meeting the needs of all of its parishioners, the elderly, the middle-aged and the young.

There were church battles, to be sure. Changes ranging from confessionals and rosary recitations to revisions of the church calendar were resisted vehemently. Members of the same family didn't speak to each other for years because of differing views regarding some church ritual or tradition.

The Church survived it all. Its European roots and character were preserved. But today the Church is serving only a small segment of the larger community, the elderly. People like me. Others, practically everyone under the age of 40 it seems, have turned their backs on our Church. The Ukrainian immigrant Church is stagnating. We saved our church traditions and rituals. But can we save our Church community?

The Ukrainian Church is not alone. Other denominations have experienced losses as well. Between 1965 and 1989 Lutherans lost 8 percent of their members. Methodists went down by 19 percent. Episcopalians were down by 29 percent. Presbyterians decreased by 32 percent.

During the same period, however, more conservative Churches increased their flocks. Catholic membership increased 23 percent between 1965 and 1989, despite growing complaints about Pope John Paul's "rigidity" among liberal Catholics. Southern Baptists saw their membership increase by 38 percent. Seventh Day Adventists went up by 92 percent, Mormons by 133 percent and the Church of God by 183 percent.

The most phenomenal growth today is occurring among non-denominational "new Churches." They are winning millions of converts with a seeker-friendly approach that combines spirituality with sound management techniques. "The Next Church, as the independent and entrepreneurial congregations that are adopting these new forms might collectively be called, is drawing lots of people, including many Americans with patchy or blank histories of church-going," writes Charles Trueheart in The Atlantic Monthly. Most are Protestant and many have congregations in the thousands.

What is it that makes these mega-Churches so attractive to both the baby-boomers and the baby busters (for the post-boom baby bust, born after 1964)? Most have found the answer to three questions: "What is our business? Who is our customer? What does the customer consider of value?" In the words of one pastor, "We give them what they want; and we give them what they didn't know they wanted - a life change."

How can anyone find spiritual renewal in a huge auditorium-like church? Through small group activities that offer opportunities to serve God in a variety of ministries. In one such church there are seminars on effective single parenting, 12-step recovery programs for alcohol and drug abuse, classes for premarital couples, a men's retreat, grief support ministries, programs for teens, as well as seminars for parents of teens. It is in these smaller groups and seminars that people achieve connectedness and experience a sense of community. In the words of the pastor, "we're the big church with the little church inside."

The Roman Catholic Church has a variety of lay programs such as TECH (Teens Encountering Christ), Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, Retrovaile (for couples with serious marital problems), as well as programs for singles and the divorced, separated and widowed. Parish ministries include Bible study coordinator, baptism host couple, cathecist/teacher, family retreat team, volunteer coordinator, religious education board member, and Eucharistic minister to the sick and elderly.

An important element within parishes that are thriving, writes Mr. Trueheart, is identifying the " 'gifts' of people in order to fit them to various ministries and give them a chance to change the lives of others."

Another feature of successful Churches is their willingness to evangelize. They are "intentional" in their approach to others. One pastor sermonized on the topic "Enclaves and Community," citing the scripture passage: "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not stand against it." He explained that the devil wants to build walls around God's Church so that the world cannot see the love, friendship and unity which resides within.

Another pastor declared: "We exist to reach up - which is worship (expressing love to God); to reach out - which is evangelism (or sharing Christ with others); and to reach in - which is discipleship (becoming fully devoted followers of Christ)."

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the United States is a nation founded by believers and sustained by believers. According to a 1994 U.S. News & World Report poll, 93 percent of the American people believe in God or a universal spirit. The same poll showed that 76 percent of the respondents believed God was a heavenly father who could be reached by prayer; 62 percent answered that religion was an increasing influence in their lives. And an amazing 77 percent answered "yes" to the question: "Has God ever led or guided you in making any kind of decision in your life?"

Do Ukrainian Americans need Church? Absolutely. According to the September 9 issue of U.S. News & World Report, the two most reliable predictors of teenage drug avoidance are optimism and regular church attendance. Other good news: the divorce rate for regular church-goers is 18 percent; frequent church-goers are about 50 percent less likely to report psychological problems and 71 percent less likely to be alcoholics.

The Ukrainian Church has always been an integral part of the Ukrainian community. It has survived for over 100 years because of lay involvement and because it addressed both the spiritual and secular needs of its parishioners. For years our churches were the center of Ukrainian cultural life, sponsoring reading rooms, Saturday schools, prize-winning choirs, dance groups, bands, concerts, picnics, balls and banquets. Our churches literally saved our community from extinction.

Today the question is: Can our churches save themselves? On September 27, 28 and 30, in Warren, Mich., the Chicago Eparchy will hold its second eparchial conference. That and related questions will be discussed. The theme is "We Are Parish." Lesia and I will be there. Will you?