Vital Ministry in Small-Membership Churches:
Small Church—Yes! Small Ministry—No Way!
Partners. Discipleship. These words remind us of the church’s vital task: to make disciples. This is done by entering into a sacred relationship with God and with one another in order for God’s mighty work to be done in and through us. The world needs vital churches that answer the call to make disciples. Small churches can be these types of churches!

Small churches may be described in terms of numbers: under 200 members or under 150 in worship. They come in different forms and contexts for ministry: a single-point station served by one pastor or congregations linked together in cooperative ministry: clusters, circuits, group ministries, larger parish, blended parish, or ecumenical shared ministry. These approaches can represent creative solutions to the opportunities and challenges that abound today.

Small churches are everywhere—in rural farming or mining communities, in cities that are centers for business and trade, in suburban neighborhoods, and even in the rapidly changing areas around metropolitan areas that were once an agricultural community. Actually, location may be one of the biggest advantages of small churches. They are located strategically where people live, work, and learn. Small congregations are at the crossroads, byways, and pathways that bring people together. Small churches serve various ethnic and economic groupings of people. In some communities, small churches have been present for decades (even centuries). These churches are (or can be) vital and alive!

Understanding the Unique Ministry of Small Churches. Small churches are not “failed” large churches, nor are they mini “mega-churches.” These churches are not locked into “numbers” but into a depth of caring that extends beyond membership into the community. Strong small churches build on their strengths.

Significant Ministry
In the small church, do you see gifted, caring people; a relational ministry style that can span a lifetime; a ministry of presence as other institutions leave the area; immediate, creative responses to need; a word of grace and hope in a world consumed with size and significance; a strong sense of belonging as limitations or assets? It’s the real difference made in the lives of others that distinguishes limitations from assets. Having the right vision and attitude is important.

Limitations or Assets? Look carefully at the ministry of our smaller congregations. Do you see limitations or deficits (small number of people, meager financial and human resources, or past-oriented focus) or assets and opportunities? Viewpoints need to be challenged if congregational leaders are always talking about the past, the limitations of the present, and of doing things the way they’ve always been done.

Attitude. Realize that the church is God’s. Here we grow in faith and seek to do God’s will. As we strive to be a family of faith, we must look around us and see who stands beyond the church: children, teenagers, new people in the community, the elderly. Go to them in the name of Christ. Don’t wait for them to come to you! Listen carefully to their hopes, needs, and interests, and you will make crucial connections.

Tradition. Small churches learn the most effective way to work together. Their pattern of life together may have been shaped by the customs of a specific time or place or by people who have served as leaders. Is your decision-making style providing meaningful or meaningless ministry?

Hospitality. What happens when people first walk into your church? Who greets them, helps them, speaks to them, introduces them to others? The impression persons get during their first visit will encourage them to return . . . or not. Were they welcomed and given helpful suggestions for participating in worship? People are hungry for a life with meaning, purpose, and hope. They long to meet a God who loves them and invites them to discover and use their gifts to make a difference in their community. The small church is uniquely geared to this relational ministry, as it operates less as a “business” and more as the family of God!

Primary Task
People are drawn to small churches for many reasons: strong sense of family, meaningful relationships, a place to belong, location, friendships, ministry style, proximity to home, a longing for any or all of these things. People involved in ministry in and through smaller congregations find purpose and meaning in opportunities to worship, study, and serve. The small church is an equal opportunity ministry service center.

The small church fulfilling its primary task:

  • Reaches out and receives people where they are and brings them into the family of God;
  • Relates people to God in meaningful ways;
  • Equips and nurtures people for ministry;
  • Sends them back to the communities where they live, work, learn, and serve so that, by the grace of God, they are transformed into communities of shalom and hope.
How is your church focused on the task of making disciples? How do you go about reaching and receiving others? Where are the settings that relate people to God? How well do you nurture people in the faith (e.g., are your ministries of Christian education memorable and life-changing)? And finally, are people transformed because of the church’s ministry?

Identifying Your Partners in Discipleship. Because small congregations value relationships, knowing with whom you serve is an aspect of vital ministry. Sharing ministry is one way to meet the needs of the people in your community. There are many partners in ministry:

  • Clergy who dedicate their lives to shaping the sacramental life of a congregation;
  • Laity who claim the variety of gifts, ideas, resources, and dedication for ministry;
  • District superintendents and bishops who care deeply about the church—enough to offer the best pastoral leadership and seek extraordinary resources for ministry;
  • Local agencies and service organizations committed to meeting the needs of people;
  • Other congregations and faith communities willing to come together to offer Christ;
  • Staff of the General Agencies of the church who are trained in ministry specialties.

Develop your ministry partners carefully and gracefully. Making connections that move you beyond maintenance and survival to mission depends on a congregation’s ability to seize the many opportunities to be faithful in its ministry.

Spiritual Leadership. It takes special people to lead small congregations. They must lead from their spiritual center and ask themselves and one another: “What is God’s intent for us in this place and time?” Small churches need pastors who are willing to stay and be in vital ministry; people who can shepherd a congregation relationally and share authority. The church also needs innovative laity who can lean into the future, trusting that God is beckoning them forward. Spiritual leadership, unlike management, can perhaps be summarized in three C’s:

  • Conversation: ability to talk—and listen—to discern God’s vision;
  • Connection: ability to join with others in the task of ministry;
  • Convene: ability to come together in God’s name and be present as a people living the means of grace with one another, worship, study Scripture, pray, fast, sing, confer, and share sacraments and works of vital piety.

How’s Your Eyesight? Are you using both eyes (ii’s) to see the ministry potential around you? The first “i” is intimacy. In the small church, we call people by name. We offer fellowship, small groups, and other settings to get to know one another and share hopes for the future. Through our churches’ ministries, we strive to connect people to a living God who transforms ordinary lives into extraordinary disciples!

Involvement is the second “i.” The small church depends on discovering and encouraging people’s spiritual gifts and passions for ministry. Involvement starts with the individual’s gifts (not the institution’s need). Where in your church and community can persons live their discipleship?

At their very best, small churches call you by name—and into meaningful ministry. Use your two “ii’s” and respect your human resources!

Balancing and Supporting Ministry. The small church can’t (and shouldn’t) try to do everything; but it can balance ministry around four areas and do everything to the best of its ability. Seek quality, not quantity! Such a ministry includes:

  • Nurture Ministries that shape the spirituality of people (e.g., worship, Christian education, small-group discussions);
  • Outreach Ministries that reach beyond a congregation into the community by meeting the needs of individuals, families, and groups in a compassionate way that advocates for the dignity of others;
  • Witness Ministries that proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to people within and beyond the congregation.
  • Resource Ministries (Pastor-Parish, Trustees, Finance, Nominations) provide leadership, financial support, and facilities for ministry. (See Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation in “Resources.”)

Concerns Amidst the Celebration. Being vital in ministry means using your assets wisely and looking honestly at the barriers to ministry. Sometimes a lack of clear vision and identity frustrates leaders. There may be a sense of operating on “auto-pilot.” Examine your small-group settings (Sunday school classes, Bible and prayer groups) to be sure there is a place for all people and their needs. Consider starting one new study or service group this year. Assess how safe and adequate your facilities are for ministry; make needed improvements.

Is Fear a Factor? You may be thinking: sounds good, but not here. Fear may be inhibiting your small church: fear of losing control, of losing or alienating people, of losing the traditions or faith built in the past. Fear can kill. Long before a church closes, it closes its heart to the will of a living God. Vision dies; when this happens, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:18, the people perish. It has been said that the real question is not if God’s church has a mission, but if God’s mission has a church. A vital task for small churches is to lean carefully into the grace of God and live in the vision of God’s hope for the special place in which you are located!

Meet the Challenge! Build on your strengths. Focus on the vital task of making disciples and transforming the communities around you into centers for Christ-centered caring and commitment. Make a difference!

Small-Membership Congregations and
The General Board of Discipleship: Partners in Discipleship
The General Board of Discipleship, as it continues to listen to the concerns of small churches, has been developing resources specifically for small congregations. General Board staff are available to answer questions and to provide consultation and training related to the small church. Staff can recommend specific resources geared to these congregations, or they can help them adapt resources to their unique contexts.

  • Julia Kuhn Wallace is Director, Small-Membership Church and Shared Ministries, General Board of Discipleship. She is available for seminars, workshops, consultations, and leader development: PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003; tollfree: 877-899-2780, ext. 7086; jwallace@gbod.org.
  • Training seminars and workshops are offered by General Board of Discipleship staff.

Resources for the Small Church

Curriculum
A series of church school resources has been developed for use in the small church. New Invitation curriculum includes study materials for the One Room Sunday School and Whole People of God. Available from Cokesbury, (800) 672-1789. Information about the materials is available from Curric-U-Phone, (800) 251-8591. (Scholarship assistance is available to small churches trying the material for the first time.)

A sampling of resources that support ministries with adults, youth, and children:

Adults

  • FaithQuest is a 17-week study of Luke, Acts, and Ephesians with a selected study of the work of John Wesley for congregational leaders.
  • Alive Now magazine (The Upper Room, 800-925-6847), encourages individuals and small groups to engage in prayer, reflection, and faith-sharing.
  • Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life (800-925-6847), a bimonthly magazine published by The Upper Room, offers indepth articles that explore how God’s life and human lives are woven together in the world.
  • The Walk to Emmaus is a weekend spiritual formation experience that encourages the formation of small accountability groups that support people in a lifestyle of prayer, study, and action. For information, call 877-899-2780, ext. 7222.

Youth

  • Devo’Zine, a bimonthly publication, helps youth 12-18 grow in faith and receive Christian support for daily challenges. (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7270.
  • Chrysalis, a youth version of the Walk to Emmaus, supports youth in their spiritual journeys. For information, contact the Chrysalis office by e-mailing Edna Vahghan: evaughan@upperroom.org.

Children

  • Safe Sanctuaries is a resource for congregations interested in providing healthy environments for children’s ministry. Discipleship Resources, (800) 685-4370 or www.discipleshipresources.org, or Cokesbury, (800) 672-1789.
  • Pockets (800-925-6847), a devotional magazine for children 6-12.

Julia Kuhn Wallace is Director, Small-Membership Church and Shared Ministries, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, TN.

Updated June 2004
 

[ Return to Partnership in Discipleship Index ]
[ Small-Membership Church Web Pages ]