By Rick Kambic, Chicago Tribune (IL) Almost a month after holding its last Sunday service, officials from Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church announced their intent to give $700,000 in donations to various organizations.
Pastor Nancy Dolan said most of the 68-member church was involved in building a list of over 30 local, national and international organizations, of which some are religious and some are not. A few of those groups sent representatives to a ceremony at the church on Sunday.
“While it was very sad for us to close the church, it was a really strong act of faith because we believe God’s work in the world isn’t confined to a particular church or a building or an institution,” Dolan said. “It happens when people who act in love and generosity go out and do good things for other people. This was a strong act of faith that our ministry would continue beyond us through other people.”
Mundelein High School’s board of education voted in April to buy the neighboring 15,864-square-foot church and 4.1 acres of property for $1.6 million and the transaction closed in May, but Dolan said the Kirk of the Lakes has been allowed to function since then.
“The plan was to go until August so we could allow time for people to find other church homes in the fall before the Christmas season,” Dolan said.
Many members have already found new churches from a variety of denominations, according to Dolan, while some are still visiting prospective churches and weighing their options.
The $700,000 in donations is what’s left over from the Mundelein High School money after the church paid its mortgage and other outstanding bills, Dolan said. Other items within the building were given to other churches and various photos have been given to the Lake County Historical Society, she said.
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“Speaking generally and on her own behalf, Dolan said it’s those younger generations that are not populating churches, and religious institutions of all kind are searching for the right model that can serve those people. ‘I don’t think Mundelein is any exception,’ (Pastor Nancy) Dolan said. ‘If you look at all the studies about religion in North America today, younger people still believe and have strong faith but are looking for something different in a church.’”
The “studies” show that although the percentage of the American population that claims to be Christian is falling, the actual number of people claiming to be Christian continues to grow—just not at the same pace as the overall population growth. These same “studies” show that non-denominational churches are growing the most, Evangelical denominational churches are statistically leveling off or experiencing modest growth, and liberal denominational churches are shrinking the most.
As Rev. Dolan rightly points out, “younger people still believe and have strong faith but are looking for something different in a church.” But the Presbyterian Church (USA), in its insistence on adhering to the idol of cultural relevance, whoring as it does after the Spirit of the Age, lacks the political will to make the changes necessary in its seminaries, pastorates, and denominational offices to become the type of church for which “younger people (of) strong faith…are looking”, and in making the changes to accommodate the Spirit of the Age are alienating those churches in its midst that most represent this type of church.
What is needed is the preaching of Christ and His shed blood, redemption through Christ for by Grace you have been saved by Grace, not of works. A denomination dedicated to taking the Gospel to every living creature Matt. 28:18-20, not a political entity with no message, establishing new churches.
There seems to be a disconnect between the statement that “it’s those younger generations that are not populating churches”, and what Andy Stanley has done in “Creating a church unchurched people love to attend” and doing so largely with younger generations. I am deeply disappointed for that church, and wonder if this outcome could have been avoided if the church had chosen to affiliate with another Presbyterian denomination, one that is vibrant and growing.