Brighton First's Report to the High Five Program

On Saturday February 28, Rev. Mark Spaw, the district superintendent of the Ann Arbor District, recognized area United Methodist churches that had achievements in the areas of membership growth and church membership. The recognition was based on quarterly reports that Rev. Spaw asks of churches. The reports include quarterly totals for membership, average church attendance and financial giving, as well as notes on ways that church's are growing spiritually.

Over the last eight years, Brighton First has offered a "mixed bag" with these quarterly reports. On the one hand our membership numbers, after being adjusted for errors, have been increasing. In addition, we see an annual growth in the financial generosity of our congregation members. We continue to decline in weekly church attendance. In 2008 and 2009 our weekly attendance averaged over 400. Our weekly attendance average in 2015 was 349.

Interestingly, while weekly attendance has declined, the number of people who attend church during the year has not. What we've found is that "regular" worship attendance, for many people, is not weekly but every few weeks. There are many congregation members who attend every 4 to 5 weeks.

District Superintendent, Rev. Mark Spaw, recognizes
area churches that have grown in attendance and membership.

Part of Brighton First's commitment to Vital Church Initiative is to seek ways to increase commitment to weekly worship and fellowship. We commit to this not to get better "numbers", but so that knowledge and love of God grows in our community.