Weekly Update – 16th June, 2010
I remember when I was a kid, my mum used to buy me clothes that were a size too big – so they would last longer and I would “grow into them!!” I hated it! Now, as a parent of teenagers who grow faster than you can bring clothes home from the shops, I understand the logic. Especially with shoes! I think I need frequent flyer points with shoe stores!
Growing into the next size is always awkward. There is that sense of things not fitting right. We know the old favourite jumper is too small and constricting, but the new option feels so loose and baggy that we become self conscious and timid.
As a church, we are beginning to grow into the “next size”. The tipping point for churches seems to be at around 150-200 people. Using our new church directory as a guide, we are a community of about 190 people. That’s pretty good in a town our size – but we are continuing to grow.
If God is bringing the growth, then we should accept it. In fact, to not grow would be a sin. But there is no doubt that it feels different to be a bigger church. There is a sociological principle that says we can “know” about 150 people. Once a group gets bigger than this, it can feel less welcoming or connected. That’s why most churches don’t grow bigger than 150-200 people.
The reality is that bigger churches look, feel and operate differently to smaller churches. This is most helpfully highlighted by Pastor Mark Driscoll in his book Confessions of a Reformission Rev. which the Leadership Team are currently studying together. Here is the appendix he has which shows some of those differences.
Distinctives of Larger Churches (by Mark Driscoll)
Larger churches have a different kind of pastor
- The preaching pastor has a long tenure, is funny, and preaches well.
- The preaching pastor mainly preaches and does not do much counselling.
- The preaching pastor is not as accessible as a pastor of a small church.
- The preaching pastor understands how to raise large sums of money.
- The preaching pastor works well with the media to increase church exposure.
- The preaching pastor learns from other pastors of large churches, not from conferences.
Larger churches are led differently
- Larger churches are able to make decisions with the involvement of fewer people.
- Larger churches are able to shape their direction with the involvement of fewer people.
- Larger churches have multiple leadership teams instead of one team.
- Larger churches hire specialists with narrow ministry areas, not generalists.
- Larger churches have multiple levels of organisational responsibility and multiple centres of organisational leadership and are not run by the primary leader.
- Larger churches hire more from within the church than do smaller churches.
- Larger churches hire slowly and fire quickly.
- Larger churches must plan much further ahead because they are more complicated.
Larger churches use their facilities differently
- Larger churches tend to have longer worship services than smaller congregations do.
- Larger churches are willing to open their doors as often as is needed to grow.
- Larger churches depend on small groups in homes, whereas smaller churches conduct most of their church meetings in the church building.
Larger churches have higher expectations
- Larger churches have higher expectations for their members’ active participation.
- Larger churches have a higher number of higher-quality ministries and expect a higher level of excellence than do comparable ministries in smaller churches.
- Larger churches expect to lose people who are not committed to their mission, while smaller churches work much harder at keeping people from leaving the church.
- Larger churches generally have a superior music ministry.
Larger churches rely more on their own resources
- Larger churches function independently or in loosely affiliated networks.
- Local leaders govern larger churches, while smaller churches rely more on regional or national leadership.
- Larger churches are more likely to plant churches or to have multiple sites.
- Larger churches innovate new ministries, and smaller churches copy successful models from other churches.
Larger churches are theologically conservative and culturally liberal
- Larger churches tend to be more conservative in theology and more liberal in practice, while smaller churches are often more liberal in theology (e.g., denial of eternal hell) and conservative in practice (e.g., liturgy, hymns, vestments).
- Larger churches tend to present clear, authoritative teaching from Scripture, while theological pluralism tends to thrive in smaller churches.
I’d love to hear your feedback on these statements by Driscoll. How do you think we are going? What size church is God asking us to be? What will it cost us to be that size (large or small)?
Members Meeting
Coming up on Sunday 27thJune we have a special day. In our worship gathering, Rev Mike Mills (State Executive Minister of Baptist Churches SA) will be sharing with us. Mike is a great preacher and a passionate supporter of Whyalla Baptist, so make sure you are here to be part of it.
The worship gathering will be followed by a church lunch (bring and share) and then a meeting for all people who are committed to WBC. At the meeting, Mike will share the results of my Pastoral Review, we will welcome some new people into membership and we will table the Goals and Budget for the next financial year. It will be a great day of looking forward to the things God has in store for us.
Keeping In Touch
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Blessings to You
Steve
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