Small Membership Church


Welcome! The small membership church page features various material of interest to small membership church leaders. Check often as we add more content. What makes your small church unique ? Please complete our survey online or print it and send it to Julia Kuhn Wallace, General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Click here to fill out the Small Church and Shared Ministry Network Profile Biographical Information Request.

»	Worship in Small Membership Churches by Robin Knowles Wallace and Terry R. Heck Just because your congregation is small doesn't limit your worship style. "Living in the tension of small numbers and large hopes, gives us energy for the work of transformative worship," Wallace and Heck write. "Worship can be passionate in any setting. Small-membership churches are in the right place for effective, transforming ministry!" Small congregations have unique gifts and particular strengths that can sustain a variety of worship styles. Yet many leaders shy away from some powerful participatory experiences because "we're too few" or more "informal." Any challenges or doubts you may have about expanding your weekly rituals can be met or at least lessened.
»	Rural Witness Team The purpose of the Rural Witness Team is to seek transformation of the people and ministries in rural congregations through prayer, conversation, and mutual action as we listen to, advocate for, and equip rural ministry.
»	Holy Places, Small Spaces: A Hopeful Future for the Small Membership Church By Bill Kemp Instead of declaring small-membership churches stuck between death and trying to be something they aren't, Kemp encourages pastors and members of small churches to understand they, too, can engage in vital, realistic ministry.
»	Additional Resources That Complement the Small Membership Church Guideline 1. Ideas for Using This Guideline 2. Biblical "Greats" for Small Church Leaders 3. Examples of Pastoral Leaders 4. The Christ-Centered Church 5. Options and Opportunities for Sharing Ministry 6. Questions for a Discussion on Mission and Ministry 7. Passion for People 8. Checking Your Church's Attitude 9. Ideas for Stewardship in Small Churches 10. Tips for Making NOW(rm) Work in Your Church 11. Assessing Your Nurture Ministries 12. More Outreach Ideas 13. More Witness Ideas 14. More Pointers on Lay Leadership Selection 15. Encouragement for Leaders in the Small Church 16. Organizing for Ministry



»	2008 School of Congregational Development
		Grand Rapids, MI and Orlando, FL -- July 31, 2008 - August 5, 2008
»	Burning Bush 1 Focus: Identity/Purpose
		Nashville, TN -- October 9-12, 2008
»	Spirituality & Transition: Hearing and Telling our Stories: A Gathering for Retreat Leaders and Spiritual Directors
		The Wesley Center, Woodworth, LA -- October 27-30, 2008