You Might Have a Medium-Sized Church if...

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Vince Massi

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People like Twisted keep pointing out that you are no longer a small church.


Believe it or not, Folks, after the initial humor, I have some real stuff.
 
Okay, some real stuff.

The Barna Group does church studies and sells their information, but they often post stuff for free. A few years ago, they decided to determine the sizes of small, medium, and large churches.

They based their (unpopular) conclusions on church government. Incredibly, they concluded that the number of children is not a factor in determining the church designation.

A small church is usually run by a small group of people that may or may not include the pastor. Sometimes, one person runs the church. IF the leadership does a good job, the church will eventually reach 150 adults. About that time, there will be a change in government.

Now, most of us have a hard time believing that a church with 150 adults is a small church, but LEADERSHIP-wise, it will behave like one.
 
The Barna study concluded that small churches (less than 150 adults) were USUALLY the worst of the three sizes.

In a badly-run small church, a person or small group of people keep the church from growing, succeeding, or solving its own problems. They are often large donors, and the church cannot afford to stop them. So why do people stay?

Because a badly-run small church is held together by doctrine. The members believe that they have the true doctrines, and they cannot go anywhere else for fear of being corrupted. They are often unhappy with their church, are not succeeding in Christian service or personal growth, and do not know how to solve the problem.

To solve the problem, they need to leave, but they don't believe that.
 
Baptist City Holdout said:
Vince Massi said:
People like Twisted keep pointing out that you are no longer a small church.


Believe it or not, Folks, after the initial humor, I have some real stuff.
Click to expand...

I thought about starting this thread.... but waited too late!
Click to expand...

It's okay, Brother. Join in any time.
 
According to the Barna study, if a church ever reaches 150 adults, there is a "break-out."

People demand leadership roles. The congregation demands more voting power, committees are formed, etc. Now, if a small church was able to reach 150 adults, the leadership was probably competent and benevolent, and they often help set up the new system. Sometimes there has to be a revolt, and either the leadership gives in or the church declines.

But a medium-sized church is usually run democratically.
 
The Barna study concluded that as a medium-sized church grows, internal fighting grows with it. People struggle for power, and there is discord in the church.

IF the church can get a competent pastor, and IF he stays for years, he can often unite the church behind him. This will decrease internal strife, producing more growth, and then the strife will increase again. A more-competent pastor (perhaps the same man) can unite the church behind him, reducing strife and gaining more control.

In a successful medium-sized church, people are able to find areas to serve successfully.
 
If the church ever reaches 600 adults, there is another major change in government, but it comes gradually. The pastor rules the church.

Deacons, committees, etc., exist only to help the pastor rule. Obviously, there is room for abuse, but without this system, the church cannot advance due to the power struggles. If sin does appear, there are so many areas of service that many members simply move away from the sin.

But the Barna study also concluded that these large churches have a Godlier staff, more services, more fellowship, better Sunday School lessons, and better sermons.
 
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