As long as I have legs I will run with the squirrels…

1. As long as I have legs I will run with the squirrels…

2. Arlin Rothauge on church size/style Role of pastor What people expect How church engages in mission How church incorporates new people What kinds of people want to be part of church

3. Family-styleChurch AWA of up to 75 (median of 35) Single cell church (extended family) Governed by patriarchs/matriarchs (plus gate-keepers) Newcomers via marriage, adoption or birth Best are known for one vibrant ministry focus P M M P G

4. Family-styleChurch Clergy Roles: Minister seen as ‘family’ chaplain Provide pastoral care at transition points Worship Leader Work with influencers (matriarchs/ patriarchs & gate-keepers) P M M P G

5. Value Add Family Style Church • Spirit-filled conversation with culture • Motivational faith sharing • Small group based adult spiritual growth • Ministry gift discernment, discovery & empowerment P M M P G

6. AWA 76-140 (median 110) – 60-80 families Has a ‘village/tribe’ feel – functions like 1 fellowship Organised around person, role & support of full-time minister Best are known for 2-3 vibrant mission foci Pastoral-styleChurch P M P M

7. Clergy Roles Delegate authority, assign responsibility, recognise achievementsof others Expected to attend all meetings Meet spiritual needs of members – preaching, lead groups, pastoral care Lay leaders role to ‘help’ minister Pastoral-styleChurch P M P M

8. Pastoral-styleChurch Value Add Discerning church’s DNA – values, core beliefs, vision & mission Systems to embed DNA Members’ spiritual formation to support change Members’ personal mission feeds shared mission Minister able to work 'on' as much as 'in’ Coach and support existing and emerging leaders Link with wider community Pastoral-style Church F P M P M M

9. Churches with AWA 140-225 don’t fit into system that reinforces congregational culture • Tend to burn up lay leaders through over-use > burnout • Often need new staff, facilities & programs all at same time • Often conflict due to different expectations re style (programs or relationships) • Attendances can see-saw dramatically The Church in Transition F P M P F M F F

10. Clergy Roles • Often caught in cross-fire of conflicting expectations re pastoral vs program style • Beyond AWA 140 minister finds it hard to relate personally to everyone • High stress for clergy • Can often approach program size but fall back, resulting in frustration and burnout for clergy The Church in Transition P M F P F M

11. Value Add • Revision for growth • Employ personal assistant • Develop program plan • Employ 1 program staff • Change & prune minister’s job description to transformational leader • Think/act like large church • Review site plan & facilities plan The Church in Transition Part-time ?

12. AWA 225 to 1000 : Small = 225-400 Medium = 400-600 Large = 600+ Critical mass of people from different age, cultural & interest groups At least 3 cells(congregations) Leadership includes paid program staff Known for quality & variety of programs Program-Style Church

13. Clergy roles Lead consensus on mission direction Plan with staff & lay leaders Recruit, equip, oversight & support program staff Program staff recruit, equip & support ministry team leaders Ensure excellence in programs Ensure adherence to church’s core values Program-Style Church

14. Program-Style Church Value Add Clergy growing via mentoring relationships Relational discipleship at all levels Small groups & mission teams Coaching for all program staff & group/team leaders Missional context shaping mission teams Clarity re DNA (mission focus, values, beliefs & vision) Systems & processes to embed DNA Board focuses on big picture, clergy & program staff on ministry leadership Sharpening program excellence Seeker sensitivity in all areas

15. Useful Books on Small Churches

17. The Cavalry Won't Be Coming Strategies for local shared ministry by volunteer teams in small congregations Dave Mullan, Paihia, NZ ColCom Press, 2003 dave-mullan.blogspot.com

19. Intimacy Levels in Group Settings High Low Small Group (5-15) Instruction/Fellowship (50-80) Celebrative Worship (120+)

20. Creating Strengths and Health for Your Congregation

21. Small is Strong 4 Futures • Small, strong congregations • Middle-sized congregations • Large, regional congregations • Mega-congregations

22. Small is Strong 4 Futures (2 easier to maintain) • Small, strong congregations • Middle-sized congregations • Large, regional congregations • Mega-congregations

23. Possible Scenarios

24. Specific, concrete missional objectives Pastoral & lay visitation Corporate, dynamic worship Significant relational groupings Strong leadership resources Solid decision making Several programs and activities Open accessibility High visibility Adequate land and parking Adequate space and facilities Solid Financial resources 12 Characteristics of strong healthy congregations Kennon Calllahan, Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, 1983

25. Mission and Service Compassion and shepherding Community and belonging Self reliance & self sufficiency Worship and hope Leaders and team Just enough space and facilities Giving and Generosity 8 Characteristics of strong small congregations

26. 1. Mission and Service • Share one excellent mission • Gift to the whole community • Theology of service not survival • Mission begins with Decisive Events • 3-5 people in team • Mission is mutual – new helpers come from among people helped

27. 2. Compassion & Shepherding • Compassion-Driven • Share sacrament of compassion • in celebration, in tragic times • Live a theology of forgiveness • Legend for spirit of a loving heart

28. 3. Community & Belonging • Open and inclusive • Helps people discover family • Serves multiple neighbourhoods • Relational, vocational, sociological, geographical, genealogical • Lives healthy life as 1, 3 or more groupings

29. 4. Self-Reliance & Self-Sufficiency • Consistent spirit of self-reliance • Not dependent on denomination • Trust and hope • Encourages creativity & improvisation • Benefits from community resources • Has reasonable pastoral resources

30. 5. Worship and Hope Worship Services are: • Warm and welcoming • Stirring and inspiring (music) • Congregational and sacramental • touches hearts, stirs longings for whole healthy life, advances understanding of life, helps people discover hope for week to come • Simple rather than complex • Helpful and hopeful • whole service touches whole person with the whole Gospel

31. 6. Team, Leaders & Congregation • TEAM • Capacity to see the whole, not the parts • Diversity of gifts • Appreciation of gifts of pastoral leader

32. 6. Team, Leaders & Congregation LEADERS • Imagination & Creativity • Encouragement & coaching • Appreciation of steps of loving, listening, learning, leading

33. 6. Team, Leaders & Congregation CONGREGATION • Spirit of continuity • Appreciation of being informal • Ability to pass the power

34. 7. Space & Facilities • Adequate for mission • focus on building congregation, not building • Both sacred and shared • A blessing, not a burden A house does not make a home. People do.

35. 8. Giving & Generosity • Informal giving • Make available all 6 sources of giving • Alive with the strengths for giving • compassion-driven, marked by solid financial leadership, developed with positive reinforcement • With the grace of God, the spirit of giving is present with us

36. Sources of Giving • Spontaneous giving • Major Community Sunday giving • Special planned giving • Major project giving • Annual giving • Enduring giving

37. Living with Spirit of Promise • Promise of our life together • Promise of possibilities God gives us • Promise of resurrection and new life