I wrote a pair of stories this summer for Christianity Today that demonstrates a seismic shift in the church world. It's a trend that threatens to swamp leaders who pine for the "good old days" but holds hope for those who seize opportunity.

The first item concerned cutbacks at the Presbyterian Church USA, which was forced to downsize its headquarters staff by 74 people and cut 55 missionaries, although it hopes to retain 15 mission positions not eliminated through attrition.

The fourth round of cuts since 1993, the move marks the reality of a more troubling trend for denominations everywhere.

According to now-retired Executive Director John Detterick, over the past decade the money Presbyterians have given to their churches (adjusted for inflation) has increased five percent while the amount flowing to headquarters has decreased by 12 percent.

Renewal groups critical of the leadership's liberal leanings were quick to point to the reductions as evidence of members' discontent with the denomination's direction.

"There's a feeling denominational offices are not producing a product Presbyterians value or trust," said Jim Berkley, director of Presbyterian Action for Faith and Freedom.

However, if that were the only factor, how does one explain the same thing happening in the Southern Baptist Convention, which has taken a decidedly conservative turn since 1979?

Many observers credit new SBC President Frank Page's election to his church's generous support of the Cooperative Program, a unified giving plan that primarily supports mission agencies and seminaries.

However, the news isn't good for that fund, either. The last time average church donations were above 10 percent was in 1989, with last year's per-church figure sinking to 6.6 percent.

Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and one architect of the conservative takeover, told me that a major factor is more members are traveling overseas to do mission trips. In the past, about all they could do was give to foreign missions and pray, he said.

Generational differences can partially explain the change. The "builder" generation that came out of World War II supported institutions. Not so the "boomers" and "busters" who followed.

However, the increasing numbers of lay members involved in missions also demonstrates that going into the world to make disciples (Matt. 28:19) is more of a grassroots reality than it was in the 1950s.

Pastors and church leaders must choose whether to grieve over the past or look forward to the future where God is still alive and active.