Membership Growth and Stability Through Data and Strategy
Our Grand Encampment stands at the threshold of long-term membership sustainability and growth. We've triumphed over mortality losses with new Knightings – during the 69th Triennium we had more Knightings than deaths! – yet, suspensions and demits remain our Achilles' heel. The arsenal for expansion and retention lies within our grasp—we must now wield it with precision. As your Grand Captain General, and beyond, I will spearhead a data-driven, realistic, actionable approach to membership. We'll arm every Commandery with the right insights into membership trends, recruitment strategies, and retention tactics, and we will meet the Commanderies where they are to support their efforts. Together, we'll forge a new era of Templar strength, turning raw data into a powerful catalyst for explosive, lasting growth.
Membership: More Than Just Numbers
What if we had 500,000 members? What if we only had 5,000???
Well... obviously I want us to have 500,000 members. But there is more to this...
Membership numbers and trends in membership are probably the most commonly discussed topics across all Masonic bodies. Relatedly, groaning and vocal worrying about declining membership numbers are likely the most persistent responses to concerns about membership across every Masonic body. Yet, despite the natural inclination to want to see things grow and to return to the "good ol' days" when "the sidelines were filled", why do we care so much about membership numbers?
Please don't get me wrong, I too am very focused on membership in our Order and the Masonic fraternity writ large. I want our Order to grow and as Grand Captain General I will work with our Grand Commanderies to identify the practices and efforts that will reverse our membership declines and build upon the momentum we currently have around Knightings and reinstatements to ensure long-term membership growth. However, I also have a different perspective on why we need to have membership growth.
As I see things for our Templar Order, the reason that we want/need a growing membership - the reason that we need more Sir Knights in our ranks - is because every Mason who becomes a Sir Knight is another champion that society needs.
As our membership grows, our work to cure childhood diseases of the eye through the Knights Templar Eye Foundation will grow. Membership growth leads to significant health benefits for all of society.
As our membership grows, the opportunity to expose more ministers to the holy land and allow them to walk in the footsteps of Jesus grows. Membership growth leads to significant increases in men and women of faith who will continue to bring Christ's message to the world.
As our membership grows, our ability to help secure the educational future of our youth also grows. The costs of education continue to rise, and the Knights Templar Education Foundation provides the resources for students to find successful futures through college education and the skilled trades.
In short, I see membership as the vehicle driving us to accomplish substantial positive impacts throughout society. Our membership make the world a better place! Every new and existing member has a role to play in making lives better across the globe. We must acknowledge, appreciate, and share this message with the world and invite those who would support our efforts to join our Order.
While it is wonderful to have a hundred Sir Knights in uniform in the Asylum for an Order of the Temple, it is more wonderful when that new Sir Knight becomes an evangelist to the world, bringing life to our good works.
