How do churches successfully assimilate new members into their fellowship? Oswald and Leas have researched 16 churches in Atlanta and Philadelphia, among them Lutheran, United Methodist, Unitarian, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian congregations.
The researchers discovered that influences most significantly affecting church growth are outside the direct control of the congregation. These include the church's regional location in the country, trends in particular denominations, and neighborhood demographics.
Those factors within the church's control that make it attractive to potential members include: (1) a positive congregational image evidenced by their corporate energy, belief in inclusion, and sense of mission; (2) congregational harmony; (3) pastoral ability to generate enthusiasm; (4) congregational involvement in social action or services; and (5) small group programs.
The research survey revealed that more than 60 percent of the respondents mentioned the pastor as the most important factor in attracting them to a church. The next most mentioned items had to do with worship; they were the quality of the preaching and the liturgy. These also relate to the style, presence, and person of the pastor.
When new members were asked, "What almost kept you from joining the congregation?" most responses centered on three factors: (1) feeling the pastor ignored them, (2) poor sermons, and (3) hard-to-follow services.
Interestingly, these 16 successful churches had almost no formal assimilation program. The churches attracted people because of the congregations' warmth, friendliness, and genuine concern, not because of some special technique to capture new members.
The book discusses the stages of experience individuals and families go through as they become interested in joining a church. What happens to per sons during their initial visit is crucial to whether or not they will return. At that tentative point they feel no commitment to the members and church programs. The authors note that "the assimilation process functions smoothest when the stranger is recognized as needing to be helped into the congregation."
The book includes a helpful New Member Assimilation Rating Scale in the appendix. Every minister who wants to keep new members from going out the back door of the church needs to read this book.
In 1990 Oswald produced a workshop video as a companion to The Inviting Church. Taped in VHS format and priced at $29.95, it runs about four hours. Along with the book this can be used very well by a church study group or evangelism committee. It is also available from the Alban Institute.
