In actuality, however, there was only about one half of that number of members and guests attending on a regular basis. Over the next two years the church experienced a further decline in membership attendance. As of December 31, , the voted membership stood at Two key identifiable factors were responsible for the reduced membership. First, a necessary membership audit was undertaken. Second, there were additional losses due to damaging congregational conflict.
A history of disunity, an offensive culture of irreverence, seven pastors in twenty-three years, and a general lack of regard for the purpose of the church did little to make most people want to stay.
It was time to transition this church. A congregational conflict resolution training program consisting of the creation and presentation of a series of seminars and sermons was conducted over the course of four months.
After each presentation, a focus group was utilized to discuss the material presented, gather feedback, and serve as an evaluation mechanism to measure the impact upon the thinking of the congregation. Five seminars and sermons on congregational conflict resolution were presented. Topics dealt with the dangers of judging, conflict resolution at work and at home, and the dynamics of congregational conflict.
Seminar participants were provided with handouts. Only church members and Sabbath School members, eighteen years of age and older, were invited to be part of the focus groups.
