Census 2011

This year's census results indicated that the number of members of the ECCB was reduced to 52 000. This is more than half the decline compared to the last census. This is a second reported decline which has been recorded in the past 20 years. Similar, if not slightly larger "losses" were recorded in the other more traditional churches. What does it mean for us?

The results can be evaluated as a reluctance to associate with the church as an institution (in fact any institution). When one considers the institution of political parties, which make a lot of decisions in this society but have a negligible number of members, the distrust of institutions is demonstrated there as well.

It is possible that we are an unattractive community (at least for the most part). Among ourselves we have an understanding, but our community is not interesting for others. Are we boring? Do we have little credibility? Don’t we know how to communicate the essentials clearly so as to reach out and subsequently interest and transform a person? What is cracked in the church, what is it rotten, dead, must all this die so that the gospel can be more clearly heard?

The society in which we live and operate, is increasingly fragmented, growing disinterested in doing something together, not only distrust towards institutions but disrespect among people is growing. A high percentage of those who voluntarily decide to live without other people says something about this, that life with others is perceived as a burden and restriction. The number of marriage breakups also says something about the changes in the world in which we live. The number of those who ​​did not indicate any nationality makes clear that it is no longer a significant human value that anyone would communicate. All of this signals a sense of rootlessness, an unanchored person, a kind of vacuum, where the values of interest in the other disappears.

The census also states, however, that a Czech person is not able to endure spiritual emptiness. That ¾ million respondents filled in the box - I believe, but also indicated that they did not need an institution, this finding indicates the wide range of different spiritualities. The fact that half of the respondents did not fill in the box on religious affiliation, may say that they do not care, but also it may indicate: this situation is personal, it's my inner thing. This again increases the importance and necessity of our credibility, authenticity and clarity.

The Community of the Church in the future will increasingly form active people who should not allow believers to enter into a ghetto to cut themselves off from society. On the contrary, it will be important to communicate with sympathizers, with people searching, with accommodating groups in society. However, this will mean greater involvement of preachers, presbyters, and active church members in evangelism, preaching, catechesis and pastoral work.

The results of the census in the area belonging to the churches are certainly greatly relative. These results may provoke us to look for healthy ways to present ourselves to the contemporary person as well as to our society. And also to acquire skills, with a plea to the Holy Spirit, to tell our contemporaries, about what God has given us when he sent his Word and His Son Jesus Christ into our world.

Being a Christian in today's society, which is characterized by spiritual uncertainty, means enduring being different in thought and action. Therefore, we rejoice that you have expressed this alternative in today's world and that you are proud to belong to Christ…

The Synodal Council of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
December 2011