An Urban Congregation in Transition – Part 2

Oct 25, 2020

Fellowship Time

Editor’s Note: An article in August focused on how St. Johns Lutheran Church, a 155-year-old inner-city congregation that once worshiped over 500 people each Sunday, made the transition from all-Anglo to a half Anglo, half New American (primarily Nepali) congregation. Attendance now averages 60 people per Sunday and the decline of membership seems to have stopped. Here, Rev. Michael Tanney highlights some of the Lessons Learned from this transition.  

One, the process is slow and cannot be hurried. Some of our Anglo members are from families who have been members for generations. For those who trace their membership in St. Johns almost to the very beginning, a change of this magnitude feels like a takeover. For some, resistance or departure may seem like the best option. To replace misgivings like these with trust takes time, prayer, incremental interaction, and a lot of patience.   

Two, this kind of change cannot be accomplished alone! Organizations such as Christian Friends of New Americans, Concordia Seminary, Open Sky Charter School, the Lutheran Foundation, and more have all helped make this work. We have partnered with all of them and have been blessed by these partnerships.

Three, the Lord has had His hand in this in ways that we didn’t always see or understand. For example, the conversion of St. Johns Lutheran School to an Open Sky Charter School seemed like a reasonable next step in keeping these classrooms filled with students. Little did we suspect it would serve as a means whereby 30 Nepali people would eventually become members of this congregation.

While the continuing COVID epidemic has imposed limitations on ministry with its social distancing guidelines, it has also presented new ministry opportunities. Many New American families were adversely affected by the virus as work hours were reduced or members were laid off. With the assistance of CFNA, St. Johns was able to provide financial assistance to more than 20 of these families, some of them have had no previous connection with this congregation.

Home Bible Study

For all of us, this has been a discovery process with a steep learning curve. Slowly, we have come to accept change as a reality, along with a determination to show love and respect for those He brings to our doors. To be sure, we request your prayers as we continue this journey.

By Rev. Michael Tanney
St. Johns Lutheran Church