A struggling Minnesota church is asking its older parishioners to leave in hopes of making it more attractive to young families.
Grove United Methodist Church in the St. Paul suburb of Cottage Grove is closing in June, with plans to relaunch in November. The present members, most of them over 60 years old, will be invited to worship elsewhere. The church is asking that they stay away for two years, then consult the pastor about reapplying.
One of those affected, William Gackstetter said, “I pray for this church, getting through this age-discrimination thing.” He made the comment on a recent Sunday as the gray-haired heads around him nodded in agreement.
But church officials said the congregation needs a reset and the best way is to appeal to younger people.
The Grove United Methodist Church is the product of a 2008 merger with a larger church.
The Cottage Grove church has struggled with membership and finances. Seven years ago, Methodist officials said they could no longer pay for its minister, so the church switched to lay ministry, with weekly sermons by members. The church’s attendance and finances have stabilized recently, with an average weekly attendance of 25.
But Cottage Grove is growing quickly and the church should be growing with it, said the Rev. Dan Wetterstrom, head of the two-location Grove church.
“It’s a new thing with a new mission for a new target and a new culture,” he said.
The older members will not be physically barred from attending, but the expectation is that they won’t.