Updated Monday, April 07, 2008

Small churches heartbeat of Convention

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

While we recognize North Carolina Baptists have a convention of small churches, in fact the majority of churches in America are small. Big churches get all the attention for the very reason they are unusual.

The Barna Research Group says in the United States the average church attracts 89 adults on a typical weekend. Among churches affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, 55 percent have attendance of 100 or fewer on Sunday morning, according to their church profile reports.

Barna says only two percent of churches have more than 1,000 adults in a typical weekend. Among North Carolina Baptists 172 claim membership of 1,000 or more. That is 4.3 percent of 4,000 churches, although you must note Barna's number reflects attendance and mine reflects membership.

Years ago, for purposes of balancing representation on North Carolina Baptist boards with persons from various sized churches, the "over/under 400" category was introduced. Ironically, while the vast majority of North Carolina Baptist churches are "under 400" in membership, the majority of North Carolina Baptists are members of churches with more than 400 members.

In a culture where bigger is better and in a cultural theology that says growth is a mandatory sign of health, the small church and its leadership must often feel second-class. In March Les Puryear, pastor of Lewisville Baptist Church, organized a small church conference that attracted pastors from 13 states as far away as Oregon.

Puryear, whose church averages 195 in Sunday attendance, was encouraged both by the 110 registrants and that "all the major Southern Baptist Convention agencies said we want to help small churches."

"They've all been looking for ways to assist small churches, but didn't know how," Puryear said. "The question now is what do we do next?"

Puryear, who has written a book called, The Beauty of the Small Church, said he has been encouraged to sponsor an annual event. The Baptist State Convention, as well as LifeWay, GuideStone, the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board all were sponsors.

SBC President Frank Page "hit a home run" with his address, Puryear said. One of the things Page said was that attendance is declining at mega churches as people seek more intimate settings where it is easier to establish and nurture relationships. Studies show young people now are actually more inclined to attend small churches than very large churches. They do migrate toward larger churches as they have children, believing larger churches offer more opportunities in education and activity.

Younger adults are more likely to attend a small church in part because of the Baby Bust generation's disinterest in Boomer-led organizations and in the large churches that Baby Boomers prefer, according to Barna. Busters are more interested in being personally known and connected, which many believe is more difficult to accomplish in larger churches.

"Small" in the research of Barna is attendance of 150 or fewer, a number that includes probably two-thirds of North Carolina Baptist churches.

In fact, small churches have such a common and vital place in life that they are the stuff of songs and poetry. You sing of "the little brown church in the vale" not the "mega church at Fifth and Main." It is the white steeple in the midst of red and yellow maples in Vermont that graces seasonal calendars, not the big box surrounded by five acres of cars.

Jim Thomas, a pastor in Iowa, publishes a web site about small churches and lists a few distinctives. He says in small churches decisions are made based on relationships. "It is very important to know how people are connected to one another," he said. "A small decision made without that knowledge can have tremendous ramifications."

"History is huge" in a small church, he said. Often just a few families sacrificed to keep the church doors open. Honoring that heritage will gain the small church pastor an audience.

In many rural areas, growth represents loss, Thomas said. Growing communities mean loss of history and place. Main street businesses close when big box stores spring up on the edge of town. "If we get too large - we lose our sense of community and the family atmosphere goes away," Thomas pointed out.

He said while many pastors think health is measured by growth, rural people view healthy as "not sick." As long as the doors are open, then most people consider the church healthy.

Fine, long ministries are available in small churches. Given time and a commitment by the pastor not to use a small church as a stepping-stone, the pastor can feel a part of family and can establish relationships that move a small church forward.

Small churches are often in small communities where members can set two unrealistic expectations. First, they can hold the pastor to growth standards that are simply unrealistic, given their area population. Second, they can make life difficult for a pastor whose ministry attracts new members who are not a part of the church's dominant extended clan. Either of those scenarios is deadly.

Since small churches are often in small communities, they can be central to community life in a way large churches in sprawling cities cannot. Members in a small church can enjoy a sense of belonging not easily available in a large church. Members are also aware of each other's needs, and willing to help meet those needs because they are close and personal.

By the same token, it is harder for new people to find acceptance. Smaller churches typically are weekly "family reunions" that a non-family member will have a hard time breaking into.

Small size is no excuse for small ministry. I join Puryear in encouraging pastors of small churches to see they have a big place in kingdom work. And I remind those church members if they will open their circle, they can envelop an entire community.