When your lay leadership structure is too big for your church

Many churches are facing this reality right now.

Photo of progressively narrower circles is by Joel Fulgencio on Unsplash.

Effective lay leadership in congregations is essential. Without it, either little gets done or the pastor takes on too much and becomes crispy-fried, leaves, with the church flailing in the sudden absence of someone to do all the things.    

Many congregations are currently in a lay leadership quandary. Church attendance has significantly declined, leaving fewer members to fill all the roles. This has meant that slots remain open or are populated with reluctant people. Leaders also end up staying in their positions for much longer than intended, leaving them fatigued and the congregation without a needed infusion of fresh perspectives.  

In other words, leadership structures built for larger congregations have become too cumbersome for a smaller membership to sustain. When that happens, much of the church’s energy goes into recruiting leaders rather than accomplishing ministry. 

It’s time for an overhaul.  

This might sound daunting, and there is no quick fix. But with some discussion and discernment, your church can have a nimbler leadership setup that allows everyone to focus on faithfulness to God’s dream for your congregation and the world. 

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