The chairman of deacons of a once-large church in another state sought my input on his new plan. The church used to run 900+ and was now doing good to have 250 in Sunday Morning Worship. His plan was very formal and freed up the pastor for vision-casting just as they had always done. Things had changed in this church, but would the chairman’s plan still be relevant in a much-smaller church?
Changes in church size require specific adjustments for church leaders.
Timothy Keller wrote a paper titled, “Leadership and Church Size Dynamics: How Strategy Changes Growth.” Keller got my attention when he said that churches of the same size had more in common than denominational distinctives. Keller said, “There is a ‘size culture’ that profoundly affects how decisions are made, how relationships flow, how effectiveness is evaluated, and what ministers, staff, and lay leaders do.” And he added, “A large church is not simply a bigger version of a small church.” His point was that churches have to attract and keep different types of people who take on or are given roles, largely because of their church size.
In reading Keller’s ideas, in short, it was obvious to me that the deacon chairman seeking my counsel was using an outdated church size paradigm. He still acted like just because the worship center could seat 1,200 people that the church but was running 250, it was still a big church. His plan literally separated his pastor from the very people he needed to touch in order to have closer relationships.
Church leaders need to be aware of their changing church dynamics and foster the right outcomes for their churches. Understanding church growth changes a church’s character, how it grows, and barriers to overcome for growth as the Lord leads.
Keller gave some very specific recommendations. Here are just a few that might speak to what’s going on in your church.
Let’s start from new church plant up to 40. Think intimacy. Communication is by word of mouth or even texts. The pastor tends to be bivocational and work from a shepherd role. It grows through relationships.
Next would be a typical church size in the Cincinnati Area. Keller ranged it from 40 to 200 people. It grows through relationships, too, but they change dramatically. The pastor tends to be more of a leader like an elder than a shepherd. It grows through group experiences because events tend to be stronger than programs. Typically, churches over 100 in attendance seek a permanent meeting place they can own.
The final one I’ll focus on for CABA churches is a large church 400 to 800 in attendance. This church would typically have three or more staff as the pastor could be fulltime. The pastor is more of a strategist and overseer. The church can often grow through being multi-cultural, providing services for families, and even providing curriculum for discipleship.
So, when planning take into account the reality for your actual size of church.
--Mark Snowden serves as director for the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association, which has several church consultants.
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