of a chicken, the pigeon was hunted extensively and was known as a good meal. Some blamed the bird's extinction on over hunting, others blamed environmental changes, but many believe the passenger pigeon died out because of its own nature. The birds loved to be with one another. They roosted in the same trees often until a tree would collapse from the weight of so many birds. They pooled together in families and rarely welcomed new pigeons into their group, thus the genetic pool became weak and the birthrates dropped. The main trick hunter's used to kill them was to capture a live pigeon and tie one of its feet to a stool. Other pigeons would flock around the bird and hunters would simply walk out and club the birds to death. Thus, the term "stool pigeon" was born. Why do I bring this information to your attention? Writer Thomas G. Bandy believes that the passenger pigeon is analogous of many of today's churches. In his book, Moving Off The Map, he claims some churches have become bound by similar problems that led passenger pigeons down the road to extinction. He states that many churches say they are friendly, but the real truth is they aren't welcoming at all. Such churches want people who think and believe as they believe. Not about God, but about all the other non-essentials from dress codes to rituals. If they conform, then that person can become a part of the group. Church members are certainly friendly to one another. In fact, Bandy says that same friendliness, where everyone knows everyone's name, often keeps churches from adding multiple services or spinning off a new church planted because no one wants to leave the roost. Like the pigeons, the church values unity, harmony, and friendliness to a fault. Bandy further says that these good things become problematic when church leaders, both clergy and laity, begin to believe the "rest of the world" just don't love God. They claim themselves to be a "righteous remnant" and actually start looking forward to the church having "a noble death." Such a church begins to look at itself as "survivalist" with few or no options. In most of these situations, clergy worry so much about the next paycheck they may not risk pushing the congregation forward to leave a "rotten roost" and may fear reprisal from church leaders who themselves for various reasons are "tethered" to remain in a collapsing church. Leaders may not want to lose some members by moving either spiritually or physically. Thus, a church continues down its path to extinction because some are scared of change, horrified by a loss of control, frightened of conflict, attached to a building(s), or frozen in time with memories from days gone by.
So, what can churches do if they find themselves in "pigeon" mode? Bandy asserts that change must be systemic. It cannot be small in nature, it must be somewhat radical. In other words, if you want to build an airplane, you cannot build a car, you must build the airplane. Secondly, change must be concentrated. Nothing matters except the Gospel! People either experience the transforming power of God or they don't. Two things... it's that simple.
Yet, it is anything but simple. I see churches dwindling in number and some even closing. There are books written about the problem of evangelism and how to grow, but it still seems to be a secret. Church leaders that are brave enough to push churches forward face extreme conflict and clergy face dismissal.
But there is good news. God is calling people to task. God is raising up leaders and looking for His Church to move forward. The Message never changes but the methods of delivery must. Maybe the lesson from the passenger pigeon is that certain churches will simply die out and others will live on and flourish. The question is… is my church simply a roost for passenger pigeons or is it reaching people for the Gospel? It is a question each church and church member must ponder.
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