Church size changes
Here are some questions to ask to make these shifts with intention.
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Some of the coaching conversations I have with pastors and churches are about the issues associated with changing church size categories. Numerical growth and decline significantly impact the culture of congregations, often in unanticipated ways. (See more about the dynamics of different church sizes here.)
It is important to take stock of what is actually happening in these situations, not just what has gone on in the past. Doing so can help us use resources more faithfully toward God’s dream for our church. It can also slow us down enough to consider how much change our congregation can tolerate and how much growth would be in service to our collective purpose and direction. (I am not a proponent of getting more people in the doors simply due to panic over survival or a desire to preserve legacy.)
Here are some questions to discuss with leaders when a significant shift in church size is a possibility or even a present reality:
