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****************************************************** webminister@webminister.com October 1999 - #2
IN THIS ISSUE:
****************************************************** "Where there is no vision the people perish." (Prov 29:18) Mac Lynn's "churches of Christ – Congregations by size" (used by permission) http://webminister.com/cmic0181/cmice13a.htm . After studying small churches for more than twenty years Lyle Schaller in "Growing Plans" concludes concerning small churches what was "the potential for growth: 1) rarely; 2) reluctantly; and 3) only after accepting significant changes." (p. 16) Small churches are the Rock of Gibralter, but they are growing smaller in attenders and the membership is growing older. On the front cover of Carl S. Dudley's "Making the Small Church Effective," he paints a vivid picture of the character of a small church. "In a big world, the small church has remained INTIMATE. In a fast world, the small church has been STEADY. In an expensive world, the small church has remained PLAIN. In a complex world, the small church has remained SIMPLE. In a rational world, the small church has kept FEELING. In a mobile world, the small church has been an ANCHOR. In an anonymous world, the small church CALLS US BY NAME."
****************************************************** The glue that holds the small church together is "LOVE." The minister receives fewer comments on his sermons, but more caring for him and his family. If he focuses only on his ministerial skills, he will feel he has accomplished little. The church remembers the little mistakes he made, but that just becomes part of the many stories of their love for "their" church and that human side of the minister as one of "us folks." When the congregation starts telling the minister, visitors, and new members the stories of the church, it is a sign that they have been adopted into the "extended family" called "their" church. Church organization if very informal, but everybody knows what they have to do. Most small churches have a "matriarch" or "patriarch" or two that oversees the church. One "Tentmaker Minister" said: "I can hold a church meeting with one or two people just over a cup of coffee. If they are not for it, it will not get done anyway. I would just be wasting my time to try." Besides the matriarchs and patriarch, other people can be called the "Gatekeepers." They are seen as busybodies who want to know everything, but take no initiative for church leadership. The Gatekeepers greet all visitors and find out as much as they can to see if the visitor(s) and church match. The Gatekeepers can close the door on visitors from becoming welcome or members. A small church CAN ONLY CHANGE IF the matriarchs, patriarchs, and gatekeepers will allow it to happen. As one old timer told a young minister, "I was here before you came and I will be here after you go." (Dudley, "Making the Small Church Effective," chap 3.) (McIntosh, "One Size Doesn't Fit All," chap 4, "Who Sets the Direction?")
****************************************************** Professional staff is "essential to train, equip, and oversee church volunteers for ministry." Mathison states: "One mistake of many churches is that paid staff does ministry, rather than train volunteer members to preform the ministry service." A volunteer should not be given a number of tasks, as they will only do one or two well. Leadership can help the volunteer staff define the duties, responsibilities, and system of accountability to see that the tasks get done. This includes establishing written procedures with measurable results. Gary McIntosh in "One Size Doesn't Fit All" states: "The root problem is in the priorities of the church. . . . churches should place their priorities in the order of staff, programs, and facilities are usually the growing ones" instead of facilities, programs, and staff for plateaued and declining churches (pp 94 - 95). Facilities are essential to give staff and volunteers a place to be in a ministry. Many offices are built for the minister or ministers, a secretarial staff, a work room, but what about extra offices for volunteers with telephones and computers. Some churches have a teacher's lounge/library/supply room for teacher preparation near the church office. Property and facilities should not determine the scope of a ministry any more than a shoe should determine the size of the foot.
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