Leadership
Ministry Team Agenda
February 22, 2005
5:30pm GSLC
Library
Characteristics of Large Congregations Ð Discussion
Review of:
- Large
Congregational Learnings to be Tested: Ideas, Experiences, and Reflections
about Large Congregations.
Rendle G. The Alban Institute Center for Learning (year not
available).
- Senior
Pastor or CEO? The Challenges of Balance in Large Church Leadership. McCollum A. Congregations; Winter 2005., p.
27-31.
- Congregation
Size: What the Research Tells Us:
McCollum A. Congregations;
Winter 2005., p.13-17
- The
Stresses of Size. One
MinisterÕs Journey to the Land of the Large Church and Back. Zurheide J. Congregations; Winter 2005.,
p.32-35.
Characteristics of a Large Church
- Average
Worship Attendance: 350-1,999
people
- Senior
Pastor Focus: visioning, preaching, staffing issues, development, working
with the governing board. A
more detailed list includes: leadership, visionary capacity, ability to
inspire others, staff supervision and mentoring, enabling and empowering
others, delegation, fiscal management, administration.
- Senior
Pastor Gives Up: Must channel
energiesÉ.delegate member care, close contact with committeeÕs, other
thingsÉ.. The senior pastor
who takes on too much can be detrimental to all. ÒWhat will you say ÔnoÕ to?Ó
Challenges of a Large Church
- Financial:
Must rely on variety of sources for funding, including endowments.
- Long-Term
Planning: Must plan 3-4 years out
- Large
Management Structure: the more programs a church offers, the larger the
management structure must become.
- Management
Function: the most challenging part of the transition from a small church
to a large one.
- Accountability:
Unless effective systems of accountability are in place for staff and
leadership, chaos will result.
Questions
Refer to the article entitled ÒCongregation Size: What the
Research Tells UsÓ: A Contrast of Characteristics, pg 16-17.
The Leadership Ministry Team needs to consider the following
question:
- Is the
large congregation structure the Òbest fitÓ for GSLC.
GSLC Congregation needs to consider:
- Does
GSLC want to be a large church?