- lisa26365
- Oct 13, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 10
The Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey
II was sad but not shocked when I read that one in four congregations is expected to close in the next five to seven years. The majority of those will be Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian. For our presbytery, that could mean 20-25 closures if national trends hold. What struck me most when reading the analysis of this trend is the connection it made with the loss of "moderate" congregations.
Most of our congregations think of themselves as “purple churches”, places where people who vote red, people who vote blue, and people who don't vote at all can worship and serve side by side. However, in today’s polarized climate, that commitment can feel fragile and as a result, moderate congregations are often the ones most at risk because they resist the pull of taking a side and instead seek common ground in Christ.
But for many in the communities we serve, the issues that divide our politics are not abstract. They are matters of safety, dignity, and daily life. Calls to “just get along” can ring hollow when those in power create policies that cause real harm.
That’s why being a purple church must never mean being a neutral church. The call to unity does not cancel the call to justice. Jesus did not build community by avoiding conflict but by standing with those on the margins and inviting the powerful to see differently. Our churches can do the same.
So, what does faithfulness look like for us in this reality where we serve?
We practice courageous love. We seek to be communities where hard truths can be spoken in love, and where those who have been harmed find safety and healing.
We build bridges without erasing boundaries. Unity is not uniformity; it is the holy work of holding tension without losing compassion.
We measure vitality by impact, not size. A small congregation that feeds the hungry, shelters the displaced, and prays for its enemies is as vital as any megachurch.
We stand with the vulnerable. Our commitment to being purple must never come at the expense of justice or the protection of those at risk.
Some of our churches will not survive financially, and that is a hard truth. But if the church that remains is more humble, brave, connected, and compassionate, then we will have bucked the trend in the truest way possible.
The world doesn’t need a neutral church. It needs a faithful one, rooted in Christ, guided by the Spirit, and alive with the kind of hope that bridges divide while standing firmly for love and justice.
Steve Huston
Organizing Co-Leader
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We will have our Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey in person (only) on Saturday, November 15th at 9:30 am at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Click the links below to register for attendance.
