The latest statistics for the United Methodist Church in the United States show that  average worship attendance declined from 2006 to 2007 by 73,323.  If our worship attendance were to continue to decline at this rate, there would be no one left in our churches in 44 years.

A few more stats:  From 2001 to 2007 worship attendance declined by 8.5%, membership by 4.4%, professions of faith by 18% and UMW membership by 17%.   At the current rate of decline for United Methodist Women there will be no women left in the UMW in 14 years!   But a more disturbing sign of future trends is that the number of confirmands declined by 21% over that same period of time.  One bright spot for 2007 was that church school  attendance rose by 4,000 in 2007, after declining by a total of 256,000 between 2001 and 2006.

I mention these stats to shake those of you who are UM’s up just a bit.  But I do not intend to announce that the sky is falling.

I am convinced that the theological and spiritual DNA of the United Methodist Church is perhaps the most compelling, robust and vital within Christianity.  Our approach to the gospel -  emphasizing both grace and holiness, evangelism and social justice, the intellect and the heart, and which holds together both liberal and conservative impulses – is perfectly aligned to reach a new generation of young adults.

I see how our theology connects with this generation every  week at Church of the Resurrection.  Last Sunday 383 adults, youth and children joined our church.  This is more new members than we’ve ever had join in a single joining class.  An increasing number of our new members each month are young adults.  Worship attendance has been up dramatically so far this year.  Our messages and methodologies  have attempted to model  what Methodism might look like in a large church in the 21st century and I think they demonstrate that a Wesleyan approach to the gospel connects with emerging generations.

Three of the most critical strategies to creating a “future with hope” and reversing the declines have been accurately identified by the General Conference of the UMC.   The first is raising up outstanding, principled leaders.  The second is closely tied to the first – raising up young leaders who can reach their generation.  And the third is starting new churches (faith communities).  New faith communities reach new people.  There was a fifty year period of time when Methodists started an average of one new church per day and during that period we were growing rapidly.  I have been unable to find the total new church starts each year in the UMC today, but I’m guessing it is between two and three per month.

I have great hope for the United Methodist Church.  I believe our approach to the gospel is critically needed in our country today.  When presented well it resonates with today’s young adults.  But we must invest in outstanding young leaders and help them launch new faith communities. And we who are leaders of existing churches, both laity and clergy, must be willing to continually improve the quality of our ministry, preaching and worship in order to help young adults to hear our Wesleyan approach to the gospel.