Too Many Churches

[Gregory Matthews]

The following article suggests that we often have too many Adventist congregations.

https://atoday.org/too-many-churches-too-few-people-why-adventists-must-face-the-merger-question/

In response to the article, I have posted the following:

"In my travels as a military chaplain I have gone from a congregational pastor in Virginia to living on the Wesst Coast. Every Conference where I have lived has struggled with this issue. Several years back, I told a newly elected Conference President that he would not be allowed to support the congregations in the manner that God wanted done. Today, I believe that I was accurate. Congregations can be so small that they are not able to spiritually care for new members. Merger may be one answer. But, it is not the only one. In many places a small congregation could thrive under the mentorship of a larger congregation, who would supply members and mentorship by the larger congregations pastoral staff. I am acquainted with an ethnic congregation that wanted to merge with another congregation, both located in a small city. The Conference did not allow it and both congregations are too small to effectively function. In another case, a pastor wanted to establish a new SDA Congregation. The first attempt was inl a new area. That did not go as well as desired. so, a move was made to another area that has several SDA Congregations who now are losing members to the new church plant. Often, we need a change in approach"

[Stan]

These are lazy people; rather than working on consulating Churches, they need to work on filling the pews.

[Kevin H]

This might make sense in places where there are many churches, but in much of the country you have very spotty Adventist churches for large areas of land with 40, 80, 100 miles or so between the churches. How are they to consuladate?

[Stan]

The need to fill the pews, where they are.

 

[Stan]

The truth seems that so many in conference leadership do not know how to fill the pews, local elders do not know how, and that list goes on

[Joe Knapp]

In the Philippines, which is the size of lower Michigan and Ohio, we have over 2,000 churches and about 1.6 million Adventists.  80-90% of our churches are memberships of 40-80.  More of them are 40. Now there are giant churches that skew the statistics, Like Mountain View College with 5,000 and Illigan city church with 3,000.  But most are 40-50 members. Most walk to church. 

The church is growing here. Rarely is there a church that has an attendance problem.  Even then, it is normally a temporary problem. 

Stan is right. It is a leadership problem. 

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

The Adventist Church in North America is among the most diverse. As of 2025, the membership is roughly 33% White, 30% Black, 23% Hispanic, and 7% Asian. This diversity is a strength. It does not mean churches cannot merge. It means they must learn how to merge well.

Two in one building is common in Michigan. English and Asian share a building. 

Hispanic often want their own decoration / Architecture. 

It does not look like Black Unions / Conferences will ever merge with White churches. 

Quote

Give up what is no longer helping. Stop pretending that staying small and separate is noble. It is not. It is wasteful. And it is a poor witness.

I am glad he is not in charge. 

As Kevin has pointed out, merging is not an option in rural churches.