Children & Numbers
Each year the United Church of Christ collects data from congregations across our denomination for the UCC Yearbook. Your staff prepares that information as carefully as possible. When Susan Huffman finalized her part this week, she wrote, “I admit that trying to figure out what numbers to submit for [Faith Formation] activities makes me feel a bit like I am back in a high school math class dealing with imaginary numbers. I think numbers should be solid and firm, able to be accurately figured out with the right equation. But here I am, making best guesses—and it does feel a bit mushy.” Some of that is because we did so much online or hybrid in 2022, and it’s hard to count worship attendees on Facebook. It’s also because nobody (neither children nor adults) attends every week, even when they consider themselves “actively participating” in church life.
Just after I read Susan’s report, I also read this by Rev. Dr. Anna Hall from Convergence (formerly the Center for Progressive Renewal):
We are…seeing in our congregational assessments and national survey data (Pew Research Center) that there have been changes in frequency of attendance as generations move through the church, and particularly in young families. 69% of parents of children under 18 attended only once or twice a month or less, and this was in 2014, before the pandemic.1
After reading this, I returned to Susan’s accounting, where she wrote, “I wondered how we should figure average attendance for the children. I decided to go with a broad view of average, rather than the every Sunday view. So, I tried to figure out how many of those kids plugged in each month or so. That included all programs—family events, Church School, Story Sharing, etc. I came up with about 20. But, if we look at ‘average’ as how many kids show up week-to-week, the number would be lower. 6-8 in Church School and 5-30 for family events/special programs. In spring, we were doing more online, with contact through packets given to kids at home and online Story Sharing. In fall, we had several big family events, so that increased the number of children included in the average.”
Why does this matter, especially when (I believe) numbers—typically membership, attendance, pledges—are not the best way to assess a congregation’s vitality?2 It matters because some of us have been lamenting “where is everyone?” We’re here! We may not be here all at the same time, and some of us may be attending everything remotely at this point, but we’re mostly here. It also matters because volunteers and staff are, indeed, connecting with all these folk, even if we don’t witness it happening. The volunteers who dropped off Faith Formation packets last spring shared hugs and stories. The larger events gathered folk who joyfully reconnected with one another. One-on-one care visits or calls continue.
Susan shared some stories with me, and here is one: M (grade 3) made only one valentine during Church School, while others made 3 or 4. M worked intently, making it very beautiful. She picked J’s envelope out of the stack of envelopes on the table and decorated the envelope thoroughly, too, including making a bow out of a pretty ribbon and sticking it on the back of the envelope. (I knew it was going to need extra postage, but I was willing to pay the extra 40 cents). J was thrilled to receive the valentine, which came at a time when she has been struggling with a series of health issues. J, in turn, wrote a lovely card to M. Now there is a connection between the elder and the child, although they have not yet met in person. They both know they belong to the same family of faith.
Even if we don’t see everyone regularly, our congregation remains vital with loving kindness, albeit in new ways. Finally, as we’ve encouraged before: if you miss someone, reach out to them! Maybe your call or text will be the nudge that cares for their soul this week.
In faith,
Sharon & Susan
1The full article can be found here.
2I’d argue care of souls, justice ministries, prayer, and joy are some faithful, but harder-to-measure, things to evaluate. But that conversation will need to wait for another time.
