In the Netherlands, the number of believers now a minority, shows research by the Social Cultural Planning Agency. This shrinkage is not passing our churches by. Some congregations are becoming so small that it is becoming difficult to keep everything running. It is a serious question whether it is possible to continue to exist. This is happening in several Groningen congregations such as Thesinge, Midwolda, Kantens and Delfzijl. In the regional municipality of Delfzijl, membership has fallen to now 125. The will to continue is strong. But how?
A process has started in Thesinge and Delfzijl to see how to proceed. Deputaten evangelisatie is involved in this. The Delfzijl congregation called the project: what we build on. The trajectory is supervised by Rudolf Setz, until recently diaconal consultant and pastor of the missionary congregation Assen Seeks. He tells how.
Flea market as an opportunity
'This is not a process of me or the church council. It is important that the whole congregation gets involved, which is why the church council has asked people from across the spectrum to join in a vision group of eight. This includes, for example, Steven, the only young person of 19, and Mr Koning, who is in his 80s. Really a nice mix of church members. I spoke to each one individually. To get to know them myself and to get a picture of the situation at the moment.
The aim of the process is to create a plan supported by the congregation, with a vision and strategic choices. There is always coordination with the church council and sometimes the congregation talks in groups after a service, while enjoying a cup of soup. We look at obstacles, but also specifically at opportunities in the district.
'People tell in those meetings what excites them and then great stories emerge. For example, the municipality organised a flea market, the proceeds of which went to charity. It was such a success that people in the neighbourhood asked when it would be organised again. Having our own church building in the middle of a neighbourhood was also suddenly not taken for granted, but a strength: you can do something with it!
Sadness and longing
'We are now moving to the next phase of the journey. We dream together: what is our desire, what is God's desire for this congregation and what could that look like in five years' time? That process is also quite exciting. Delfzijl has been a thriving congregation with a large youth club. There is grief for what is no longer there. It is important to pay attention to that, so that there can be space to move forward again in a different way.
'In a meeting after the service on Sunday, I asked people to write down their desire for the congregation in a prayer to God. There were about 30 people. The microphone went round and the majority of those present read their prayer aloud. That was such a beautiful and vulnerable moment. This is where heaven and earth touch!
'Ultimately, after this phase, we go from the dream to prioritise and make choices. What can we really do, what should we stop doing, what do we do in cooperation with others? You will discover together what are possibilities and also impossibilities.
Inspiration from Groningen
'Whether other municipalities can learn something from this? Actually, I would like every municipality to go through such a process of rethinking,' Rudolf concludes. 'It's a bit like a sabbatical year: taking a break to think about what you actually want.'
In north-east Groningen, the other small municipalities are on a similar trajectory. Congregations that do say it's 5 to 12, or even later. Thesinge, like Delfzijl, has a vision group and a trajectory led by church worker Jetse Woltjer. Kantens will probably join in too. In Midwolda, Bert Noteboom is exploring whether and who are willing to help build a new initiative, in addition to the existing congregation. The four municipalities in North-East Groningen are going through their own processes in parallel, but they are involved with each other to learn from and inspire each other.
