MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Small Churches: The Disadvantages

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Wed, November 02, 2005
Viewed 75
(24) comments so far

First, in a smaller church you get to know everybody. Yes, I know I put that as a strength, but it is also one of a small church?s greatest liabilities. You can easily identify the trouble-makers, gossip-mongers, and those who are spiteful and bitter. Because they are known, they are often accepted without question. Furthermore, because everyone knows everyone every statement must be examined lest it cause offense or misunderstanding.

Second, in a smaller church a threat to leave or withdraw support creates a crisis. In large congregations, a family may ?take their ball and leave the game? without creating as much as a ripple. One unhappy individual choosing to leave a smaller church creates a crisis, especially when their friends know they?re unhappy. Those with money pose an even greater threat. A major contributor who becomes unhappy can create all kinds of problems.

Third, in a smaller church excellent leadership is often in short supply. More often than not, smaller churches are organized in a more traditional fashion with bylaws that require a specified number of leaders. Such specifications lead to ignoring biblical qualifications making availability the primary requirement. The traditional structures in most churches, including some megachurches, creates an adversarial system that leads to trouble. Fortunate are the congregations that have such systems and have successfully avoided conflict.

Fourth, in a smaller church the minister often becomes a chaplain rather than an innovative evangelist. Those smaller congregations surviving a few years with an innovative evangelist don?t stay small. The Ginghamsburg Church near Dayton is a prime example. When the Methodist Conference assigned Mike Slaughter to the Ginghamsburg pulpit, the congregation averaged about 90 in a small building located about 5 miles north of Dayton. The first year, according to Slaughter, the congregation grew to 70. Today, more than 20 years later, this congregation is one of the largest and most dynamic Methodist Churches in the country. Because of their inherent nature, most smaller congregations want a caregiver chaplain and, if the truth were known, do not expect nor do they want to grow.

Fifth, in a smaller church it is harder for new people to find acceptance. Smaller churches often see themselves as intensely friendly ? and they are ? with each other. A new family or individual often finds it difficult to break in. Only through persistence and effort can they make their way into the circle of acceptance.

Michael Hines has an interesting post on the advantages and disadvantages of small churches on his blog (The Discipler). Since I’m often accused (by a very small group of people) to be pro-mega-church and anti-small church; (which I’m not, by the way); I thought this would be a great discussion topic here. Today, we’ll look at what Michael says are some real disadvantages of small churches. Yesterday, we looked at some of the advantages... Michael writes…

Comments

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Brian La Croix on Wed, November 23, 2005

Wow - that’s sad, man.

It sounds like this group has adopted the opposite of the first line in the first chapter of “The Purpose Driven Life,” and has decreed, “It’s all about us.”

I’m convinced that many people in these churches will have blood on their hands, because they refused to offer the reconciliation of Christ at the cost of their comfort.

I hope you have found another ministry position, if that is your heart.

I, too, am not a chaplain-type. People are going to hell in our area, and I don’t have time to hold hands with the “already convinced.” They may not like it, but at least they’re going to heaven, which is not the case with those outside the walls!

Hospitals, nursing homes, and that kind of stuff - yes. But visiting every member just so I can say I’ve been in their homes is ridiculous, and no one can point to one shred of Scriptural evidence to support the idea that we should do that!

Okay - switching to decaf now…

Brian
tim on Wed, November 23, 2005

I am a 26 yr old pastor of a church that is much like those described. I drive the church bus, open and close the church, clean the church from time to time, change the church sign, you get the picture. I am also expected, with no help from the deacons, to maintain all visitation. That also means going to everyone’s home to say that you’ve been there. So how does one over come these obstacles? So far for me much prayer is the only way. Any suggestions are welcomed.

tim
Tim Sweatman on Wed, November 23, 2005

I am a pastor of a small church. I can certainly identify with most of the disadvantages listed as well as many of the comments. Probably the best way to approach this would be to go through the disadvantages one at a time.

1. In our church this has not really been either a disadvantage or an advantage. It is simply a reality.

2. This has certainly been true in our church. When I became pastor in 2003 the church averaged about 30-35 on Sunday mornings; now we run about 16-20. About 7 of them (3 families) left because they did not care for my style or personality. The rest of the decline is an example of how in a small church one person’s leaving can have a major impact. One lady has stopped attending our Sunday morning worship so she can attend a local megachurch. Her reason is that in that church the worship is stirring and vibrant. (Admittedly, I’ve been to funerals that had more life than most of our worship services.) However, she attends our church regularly on Sunday evening and still gives through our church. Her decision has caused our Sunday morning attendance to drop by 6 or 7 because she brought a group of children from her neighborhood, and they absolutely will not come with anyone else (our Children’s Director has offered to pick them up, but they refuse). This has basically brought our children’s ministry to a screeching halt.

3. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! One of our greatest problems is that our church lacks leaders. I’ve read that in many small churches there is a family or individual or group that runs things, but this is not true of our church. In fact, trying to get anyone to assume a leadership role is like pulling teeth. We have two individuals in our church who display any interest in leadership. They hold a number of church offices, but they have so many outside interests that they really do not lead much in the church. The result is that I have ended up having to micromanage most of our ministries, which has been inefficient because I am an administrator and not a manager.

4. I made it very clear before I accepted the position that if they were looking for someone who was a hands-on personal minister, who was nurturing, who would hold their hands, then I was not their man. Indeed, some of those who have left did so because I “don’t have a personality.” I am not very good at hospital visitation (a couple of times I went and couldn’t even find the person), and I don’t visit in members’ homes unless I have a specific reason to do so (or unless they have asked me to come over). Most of our members would prefer a more chaplain-type pastor, but at this point that is not what the church really needs, and they have come to accept that. When I came they needed someone who could help them to dig deep into Scripture, think in new ways, and rediscover what it means to be the church. In two and a half years I have laid a foundation where they now see that there can be a better future for the church, that even though the church is small they can do great things if they seek and do God’s will. Now we are at a transition—the foundation is laid, it is time to build on it. I am not the person to build on the foundation. What our church needs now is someone who is a strong personal evangelist, which I am not.

5. This does not describe our church at all. Since there is not a dominant family or group, it is relatively easy for newcomers to break into the inner circle. Indeed, our visitors often commend us on how warm and friendly we are toward them. My wife and I are part of the family, which from what I’ve read is especially unusual for pastors.

While there are a number of disadvantages to small churches, they play a vital role in our society’s spiritual life. With the right leadership, small churches can make a significant impact for the Kingdom. With the wrong leadership, they can push others away from Jesus.
Josh Johnson on Mon, November 28, 2005

I am a small church pastor by choice. I served on staff at large churches and have chosen the small. I am bi-vocational, serve two tiny congregations in tiny communities. Both churches grow a person at a time in a rural area with a declining population. While we will never win any “mega” awards—we are reaching and loving the least, last and lost for Jesus.
David Charlton on Fri, March 16, 2007

I just found this discussion, which is very interesting. You might want to check out some of the discussion related to an OpEd I wrote about some of the negative implications of megachurches. You can find it under the megachurch section of this site or find the post at my blog - davidcharlton.blogspot.com.
fpxptwhu on Fri, October 19, 2007

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Debbie on Wed, July 23, 2008

I agree with so much of what you all say. I just don’t understand people like this. You would think there would be someone in the family that would take a stand and say Iove you too much to see you go through life this way. But it’s an old saying i can take you to the water but I can’t make you drink it.

Some people can just fool you with there amens. And just as soon as it steps on their toes, oh my gosh!

I’m reminded of an ole saying about the sweet potatoes (when you look around in so many of our churches this day and time so many are just going just to say they went),i hear that the best of a sweet potato is under ground. Our God fearing christians are dead and gone, we can only pray that this group gets it before it’s everlasting too late.

I say to us all, let’s continue to pray for one another
riflescopes on Fri, October 31, 2008

Some statistics about small churches in the U.S.

The study, conducted by Duke University in North Carolina, despite the fact that the average number of Protestant ministers than the number of churches, many ministers do not want to work in these churches, especially in young.

While nearly every denomination, have participated in the study, one assembly of believers account for more than a servant, and in some cases - even two, of these officers more priests, teachers or church leaders, as members of the state of the local church - reports The department of religious studies at Duke pastoral leadership. This information is taken from the yearbook “Church USA and Canada.”

Those ministers who seek to serve the community, apparently for financial reasons, not wishing to work in small churches. As a result, many small rural and urban churches without pastors.

Results of the study appear more receptive to conservative Protestant groups, almost all of which have more than one minister to the community. Southern Baptists have two ministers at a church. As for the moderate and liberal denominations, they have less than one minister to the meeting parishioners.

“People are concerned about the shortage of officers, and the situation becomes worse when you drew their view of the Protestant” - shared Curtis Freeman, professor of theology and director of the Baptist Research Center at Duke Theology college.

Limited financial resources hinder the small congregation to attract and retain officers. “In small congregations less likelihood of salary and additional benefits that could support a full-time pastor,” - says Bob Ray, who works with officers in two professions, and with small churches in the Baptist Union of Texas. He said that some pastors are seeking to retire and receive insurance benefits, which can not afford the usual small church.
Ramya on Tue, July 07, 2009

Hey. Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let’s love turbulence and use it for change.

I am from Guatemala and learning to write in English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “Dangers of funding your business with credit card advances by aldar nagyone common reason that startup businesses fail is because they lack the capital to get them up and running until the business can support itself.You really only need one credit cards with a moderate limit to use for travel and emergencies.”

With best wishes :o, Laurinda.