Size is No Excuse

When I served as pastor in smaller congregations, I sometimes heard our size being used as an excuse for not initiating new ministries. We were "too small," we didn't have enough people or money and who wanted to come to a small church anyway.

Later, I had the opportunity to serve as pastor in larger congregations, and guess what -- we had the same excuses: not enough money, not enough people willing to serve, and who wants to come to our church anyway.

Size is no excuse. I am convinced that every congregation is the right size to do God's will, to be in ministry to their community, and to initiate new and creative ministries in Jesus' name.

A recent survey of 2,000 congegations and 300,000 worshipers showed that small congregations received higher scores in 9 of the 10 categories than larger churches. Among the strengths where small congregations scored the highest were congregational participation, sense of belonging, sharing faith and empowering leadership. Small (under 100) and medium size congregations (100-350) received higher scores than larger congregations in areas such as growing spiritually and caring for children and youth. Ironically, and this will surprise many in our smaller congregations, the strength of large congregations was in welcoming new people.

Lyle Schaller (read his book Small Congregation, Big Potential: Ministry in the Small Membership Church, available from the Resource Center) points out that the "natural" size for a congregation in American Protestantism is between 18 and 40. He spends an entire chapter talking about the dynamics of smaller groups for learning and caring. (We want small-size classrooms as an ideal in our schools.) He suggests 15-18 is the maximum size for caring for one another, sharing resources, individual participation, and for mutual support.

Size is no excuse in continuing the work of Jesus. Let us find ways to identify both our congegational strengths and community needs and go to work for Jesus.

Herman