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The Multiplex Church
Title: Gone for Good? Church Leaving and Returning in the 21st Century Authors: Leslie J Francis and Philip Richter Publisher: Epworth Price: £19.99 ISBN: 9780716206330
This report of research on people leaving the church is a sequel to the 1998 Gone But Not Forgotten by the same authors. This new research is particularly valuable because while most churches are focusing on mission, and how people might be encouraged to enter the churches by the front door, it looks at why people are meanwhile leaving by the back.
Using surveys and in depth interviews the writers identify 15 categories of reasons why people leave church. Among them are matters of belief and scepticism, life changes, not belonging, problems with worship, and change of leadership. Francis and Richter also examine whether some reasons for leaving were more significant for men than for women, at what age people left the church, and from which denomination they left. Finally, the researchers looked at whether church leavers offering some reasons were more likely to be potential church returnees than those citing others. The early chapters report the analysis comprehensively and are great for those who like detail.
Interesting as the analysis is, it is the pastoral implications ending each chapter and the final conclusions which offer some inspiration to those of us who are trying to discover what church life needs to be in order to stop the major haemorrhaging of people. Francis and Richter offer the stimulating model of the “multiplex church” based on multiplex cinemas. They argue that the different churches need to be open to one another’s strengths, allowing people to leave one church in order that, rather than leaving the church altogether, they find their way into a different expression of church. Those who do not like change in one church may find their way to a more traditional church. Those whose lifestyle seems incompatible with the teaching of one church may find their way to another where their lifestyle choice is welcomed. The book concludes: “within the multiplex church, church shifting may begin to replace church leaving.” This seems to offer another model of ecumenism for today.
This is a book for all who are truly concerned about how the church, broadly understood, is not only to prevent people leaving but also to bring more and more people to deeper faith.
Rowena Francis is moderator of the URC Northern synod
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