Church size

February 9, 2007 · Filed Under theology

There’s an interesting discussion about the “ideal” church/congregation size going on over at the Cranach blog. I find it to be of great interest because I have some strong thoughts & ideas on the subject.

Put most succinctly, bigger is badder not better.

The trend towards mega-, giga-, and tera-churches is not a good thing. Proper Pastoral care is really not possible on that scale. The sheep may feel like they’re getting what they need, but it’s actually more like they’re getting what they want. Proper Pastoral care gives them what they truly need.

Another pernicious result of too-large congregations is that “ghetto-ization” and purposeful divisions are not only tolerated, but are specifically built in to the fabric of the “single” congregation. A standard reaction is that “small group ministry” can help fill the gaps and give folks what they want/need. In reality, this is nothing more than sanctioned conventicles, which tear down unity and erode proper Pastoral authority.

Theologically speaking, large congregations are difficult to justify & defend. They might make sense in certain pragmatic ways, but at core, fundamental, theological levels, I think that such pragmatism breaks down.

I think that the better model is one which was in force when the LCMS was experiencing its greatest growth (i.e., its first 100 years of existence, from 1847-1947), wherein once a congregation grew to about 300-500 baptized members, preparations began to form a daughter congregation, thus expanding the geographic area of influence, as well as the ability to reach out in local mission. And it allows both doctrine and practice to remain orthodox.

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Tags: church, confessional, cranach, lcms, lutheran, society, theology