Be who you are

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Congregational Size

Sizing up a congregation

In the 80’s and 90’s much was made about a study that sought to identify different characteristics in congregations of different sizes. It’s a common sense kind of observation that a congregation of 1,800 baptized members is going to be different from one that has, say, 50 members.

From that time there emerged a kind of working vocabulary that allowed for conversations among church members and leaders. Over the years I have found it useful, not in a prescriptive sort of way but more as a reminder that size matters, that the needs of a small “family” sized church are quite different from the expectations of a larger “program” sized church.

  • cell or family sized church: x < 50
  • pastoral sized church: 50 > x < 150
  • program sized church: 150 > x < 350
  • corporate sized church: 350 > x

The numbers themselves are old numbers and, in any case, were rough estimates even then. A description of the basic schema can be found at: https://www.ministrytoday.org.uk/magazine/issues/44/361/

I have spent most of my ministry in congregations that were either family-sized or pastoral-sized but each of the congregations wanted to be the next larger size. At this point in my life, I look back at that dynamic and I am convinced that it is similar to spending one’s life trying to be someone you’re not. I think many people do it. And I think no one ends up being satisfied with the results.

A far better approach is to do one’s best at figuring out who you are and then doing your best to cultivate that person.

St. Paul's: be who you are

Now to the relevant part for right now and here at St. Paul’s in Monroe, NC. From the stories I’ve heard and what I’ve read, it seems to me that St. Paul’s at one time functioned as a program-sized church. Cultural and historical forces began reducing the congregation more and more into the characteristics of a pastoral-sized church. Down-sizing is hardly ever experienced as a comfortable thing, at least initially.

Then Covid-19 sprang on St. Paul’s. The timing coincided with the very real and challenging illness of your rector. Globally historical and cultural forces accelerated in their impact on individuals, families, communities and nations.

It takes my breath away just describing it.

The result of all of that, as I look out at St. Paul’s today, is that at least for the moment, the pandemic has pushed the congregation into family-sized numbers. That’s where we are. That’s what we have to work with. Numbers, however, are not the most important characteristic. The most important thing to pay attention to is the answer to the question, “What has God made us to be? At this time and this place?”

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