Brian Dodd writes a great article on the "dying church."

“If you don’t like change, you‘re going to like irrelevance even less.”  Those are the words of General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.

There are few things as sad as watching a once great church grow old, become irrelevant, and slowly die.  What is worse is that they either don’t know they’re dying or they simply don’t care as long as those remaining are happy.  Sadly, I have witnessed this more times than I wish to count.  In addition, I have attended this type of church before.

Here is what I have noticed about many of these churches - at a pivotal point, a decision was made to continue doing ministry the way they always have rather than alter their approach to reach a changing community or the next generation.  After months of committee meetings and off-line conversations, the church finally utters the The 10 Last Words Of Dying Churches – “We’ve never done it that way before.  We’re not changing.”