Clergy Act Advances
Plus, generational shift in churches, church property and the housing crisis, and more.
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Signs and Wonders” is a column that shares thoughts on news items that either do not rise to the level of a news story for MinistryWatch or are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” My goal is to be punchy, opinionated, and not to worry much about being slightly off brand. If that is not for you, no hard feelings. But if it is…read on. 
Clergy Act Advances. The Clergy Act (H.R. 227) would give pastors a chance to re-enroll in Social Security if they mistakenly opted out irrevocably earlier in their careers. This bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Reps. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). It is endorsed by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. According to ECFA President and CEO Michael Martin, “Having heard numerous stories of ministers who feel trapped by a decision they did not fully understand as they began their pastoral work, I know this bill will be a breath of fresh air for many faith leaders.” According to a statement from the ECFA, “Many clergy choose early in their ministries to apply for a generally irreversible exemption from the Social Security system. The Clergy Act would allow a temporary two-year window for pastors to revoke their exemption and re-enter the Social Security system beginning in 2029.” Pastors opting back in would still need to pay into Social Security for the equivalent of 10 years (40 quarters) before being eligible to receive benefits.
Teens and Screens. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the second largest district in the nation. It passed a resolution last week to limit screen times in all classrooms, according to reporting from The Hill. This is a huge development that I hope other districts will follow. The school board issued a statement saying the move sets the district “as a national leader in setting thoughtful, research-based limits on student screen use and classroom technology tools.” The resolution passed 6-0 and will set screen time limits per grade level, eliminate technology for those in first grade and under, and prohibit student-led use of YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Churches to Experience Generational Transition. My go-to data guy, Ryan Burge, remains skeptical that we are experiencing revival in the U.S. He says the growth in church attendance is likely temporary, and he warns that the death of the Baby Boom generation over the next 10 to 20 years will put serious stress on both the American culture and on the American church. The oldest Boomers are now in their 80s, and more recent generations are simply not large enough or active enough in church to replace them. You can read his latest analysis here.
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Church Addresses California Housing Crisis. A church in San Diego is taking a dramatic step to help ease the housing crisis. “Hard-working people are leaving Southern California in droves because they can’t afford to raise a family here,” said Randy Haragan, owner of Haragan Properties. Haragan is finishing the development of land he bought from Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church (PRPC) into a community of townhomes named Villa La Paz. He hopes the project will become a template for smaller San Diego churches and their neighborhoods.
Haragan and church leaders believe the redevelopment of church property solves a lot of problems. It provides cash and income for land-rich but cash-poor congregations, it provides badly needed affordable housing, and it provides local jobs and entrepreneurial energy to a neighborhood. The church’s pastor, Grant Van Leuven, said, “My eldest daughter and her husband are moving to Michigan because they can’t afford housing to raise a large family in San Diego. We hope Randy’s program helps folks stay in our communities and churches.”
New Lifeway Leader. Lifeway Christian Resources trustees unanimously elected Dr. Ryan Blackwell as the organization’s 11th president and CEO during a special-called meeting April 22 in Nashville. Blackwell, 42, has blue-chip credentials. According to a statement announcing the appointment, “He comes to Lifeway from his role as executive pastor and teaching pastor at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas, where he has served since 2020. During his tenure, Blackwell provided leadership development, strategic planning and organizational alignment as the church grew from 7,000 to more than 11,000 in weekly attendance and expanded to a fourth campus. Prior to joining the staff at Cross Church, he served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of San Francisco for nearly a decade, leading the revitalization of this historic congregation from 2010-2019.” I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I predict that we have just witnessed the emergence of a new national leader in the SBC.
Readers in Knoxville, Nashville, Dallas, Denver. It was great to visit with readers and donors in Los Angeles and Jacksonville recently. I will be speaking at the annual convention of the Evangelical Press Association in Nashville in May. I will also be in Dallas and Knoxville in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I will be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected].
