I am a passive member of some railway societies—the sort of organisations that restore and operate heritage railway vehicles, archive historical documents and photographs related to railways, publish magazines and hold meetings. Like so many other groups, these associations currently face difficulties. Some trends are recognisable across many voluntary associations, whether that is sports clubs, choirs, breeders’ societies, or environmental groups. Similar trends also affect churches, which in New Zealand are organised similar to those voluntary associations.
- increased compliance: the reporting, safety, privacy, and other requirements get more complex every year. This in turn leads to greater…
- professionalization: there’s a need to employ people that are trained, allowing them to dedicate time to certain tasks. Volunteers continue to undertake some tasks, but they do so alongside paid staff and often under the supervision of those employees. In part, the need to pay individuals is due to a…
- lack of volunteers: it’s difficult to find and retain volunteers who will put in the hours required to keep the organisation going. We are more a society of consumers than people who belong. That is felt even more, because among the volunteers, there are…
- few young people: whether it is because of demographic changes, because families have so many commitments, because youth are not interested in voluntary associations or their causes, or because they do not feel welcome, most voluntary organisations are crying out for the next generation to pass their causes onto. This is made worse by a tendency for…
- splintering: due to dissatisfaction with organisational politics and inertia, as well as due to energetic new leaders with exciting visions or projects, voluntary associations tend to separate. All of these factors contribute to…
- financial difficulties: with increasing costs and decreasing member contributions, voluntary organisations are reliant on public donations and grants, which in turn require increased compliance and professionalization…and so the cycle continues.
As you can see some of the issues confronting churches are due to wider social changes that impact many organisations. The problem is not only secularisation, but a different way of life. Many people are interested in “spirituality”, but more so on their own terms, rather than as part of institutions that have doubtful track records. I’m confident that the Church will continue, though maybe the traditional form may not be quite as prominent for some time.