The newly installed senior pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church faces a number of serious challenges to his commitment to keep the 151-year-old church in South Bethlehem - challenges the Rev. Gerald Kulp says are not unlike those faced by mainstream and non-denominational churches throughout the country.

In the decades of the 1940s, '50s and '60s, churches were the center of social life for city dwellers. The expectation then was that the children and grandchildren of families would keep going to same church for generations. Most did not foresee the move of congregations into the suburbs, the decline in overall attendance and, worse, rejection of God and organized religion.

Currently, 73 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, down from 86 percent in 1990, and 76 percent in 2008. A 2013 survey conducted by the Public Religious Research Institute reported that 31 percent of Americans attend religious services at least once a week, and a Gallup poll has set the number at 40 percent. Even these low figures have been refuted by several researchers who say that even taking a broad definition of attendance as three out of every eight Sundays, the real percentage is closer to 23-to-25 percent.

Most disturbing to clergy, however, are the 2012 Pew Research Center findings that doubts about the existence of God have increased rapidly among younger respondents. In that study, 68 percent said they "never doubt God's existence," down 15 points from the 83 percent just five years before.

St. Peter's has experienced its own drop in membership and attendance. From a peak of 200 worshipers a week in 2008-2009, today there are 130-140 attending the three services out of a total membership of 615. That represents only a 27 percentage in attendance, according to Kulp. He said he wants to increase attendance by 35-40 percent, but he also needs to raise the membership number.

"The numbers tell a story," Rev. Kulp said, "but the real issue is to get people passionate about being followers of Jesus Christ. The challenge is how we share the gospel to people and make it relevant to the 360 hours in their week."He says that if the focus is on developing disciples of Christ, "the numbers will come."

One approach will be to develop a core of people who read scripture and talk about their faith.

He also supports a grassroots approach.

"Luther believed in the priesthood of all believers," Kulp said. "My work will be to empower the members so the results bubble up from the bottom."

St. Peter's has been able to withstand the financial challenges because its members in the past have been very generous, Rev. Kulp explained, but he also recognized that older members give more than younger churchgoers. The demographics of St. Peter's is divided in thirds among the people under age 35, those 35-60 and 65 and older. In the 35-60 age group is where he sees the church growing.

"Younger people don't trust what is happening," he explained. "If younger members buy into the ministry and how the money is being spent to advance the message of Jesus Christ, they will give."

Pastor Jerry, as his congregation calls him, said it is an exciting time to be a Lutheran Church, but he acknowledges that colleagues in other churches are struggling.

"St. Peter's needs to open its doors to other congregations to share resources," he said. "St. Peter's will stand behind no one, but will stand alongside anyone who wants to share Christ's proclamation."