"Kids' needs are rarely "convenient." What they require in order to succeed rarely comes cheaply. To raise them well will require daily sacrifice of many kinds, which has the wonderful spiritual effect of helping mold us into the character of Jesus Christ himself. God invites us to grow beyond ourselves and to stop acting as though our dreams begin and end with us. Once we have children, we cannot act and dream as though we had remained childless."
- Gary Thomas
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Dear Pastor,
I'm not jealous of you or your church. Yes, I am one of the many little churches in your shadow, but that doesn't bother me. There are many good reasons that your church has grown to the size that it is. I'm glad that you are reaching people. I'm glad that so many people are worshiping there and that people are coming to know Jesus because of your ministry. There are many things you do right and that you do well, and I know there's a lot I could learn from you.
But there's one thing you may not know. You may not even be aware. Your people are coming to me for pastoral care. No, they are not leaving your church. They still attend your church; they are still members at your church; they still give their time, talents, money and loyalty to your church. (Some have even left my church for yours previously because of your superior ministries and programs.)
But they come to me when they need a pastor. When they need a wedding, they call me, or more often they just drop by and ask in person.
When they need a funeral, they call me.
When they need a special service like a baby dedication, or a baptism, or even a quinceañera, they call me.
When their marriage is in crisis, when their children rebel, when they are depressed or just don't know where else to turn, they come see me.
There are two major reasons for this. (I know because I ask, "Why not go to your own pastor and your own church?")
1- Because I am available. They can just drop in and see me. And if I happen to not be available that particular day, they'll be able to see me within a day or two. I know that you may be available too, but at the very least, you are perceived as being unavailable. In most cases, they assume you are too busy and come see me first. Other times, they don't know you, so seeing me is no different than seeing you, since neither one of us knows them personally. Again, the difference, is that I'm available. I also know that you have many pastors on staff that could be available to them. But for whatever reason, your people don't go to them. (I think because the average layperson doesn't see them as "real pastors", though you and I know this is a misconception.) They come to me.
2- Your sanctuary is too big or too modern. They love your church. They attend your church every week and love the services and they love your preaching and they love the music and they love all the programs your church has to offer. But when they need a place for a funeral or a wedding, or a quinceañera, the 100 or less people they are going to have attend would be dwarfed in your sanctuary. They need a small church atmosphere for their service. And yes, rightly or wrongly, they want it to feel like a "church" for those services that are important milestones in their lives.
Pastor, will you please let me offer some suggestions:
1- Be available. I know you are busy. I also know that if you spent all your time doing counseling, weddings and funerals, you wouldn't be able to do all that God has called you to do. Therefore, you need to publish the times you are available. Let people know when they can see you. Say it from the pulpit. Make them feel like you care about them as individuals and then follow through, as much as you are able. (And if you aren't available for such things at all, it's not because your church is too big, it's because you're too big for your church. Grandpa would have said, "You're too big for your britches.")
2- Have a good pastoral staff. Make sure there is a pastor, an actual ordained minister, assigned to every member of the church. (One per every 100 members ought to do it.) That pastor should know who his people are, and they should know who he is. He should contact them regularly, so that when the crisis time comes and they need him, there is already a relationship. This pastor should be available for weddings, funerals, hospital visits and pastoral counseling. In short, he should actually do for them what an actual pastor does.
3- Build a chapel. You have a large building. Probably you have multiple buildings on a campus. On your next building project, include a small chapel that seats 150-200 people. Make it look like a chapel. Let people book it like crazy. Make its use available to your people.
Now, here's where I have to make sure I'm not being too fleshly in my letter to you: I'm tired of pastoring your people for you. Don't get me wrong. I love your people. I love pastoring them. And the pastor in me loves the opportunity. But you are not doing your job and I think its hurting your people. They need to be able to count on you and your church, or what are you doing? If you really have a pastor's heart, and I believe you do, I thought that you would want to know that a lot of your sheep are having to go elsewhere to have their needs met. One of my mentors in ministry, a very wise pastor who did nothing but pastor small, hurting churches that needed him for 40 years, said this, "If you are not there when they need you, they don't need you."
I want you to know that I try the best that I can. I try to redirect them back to you. Sometimes I'll even downright refuse to help them, because I'm not their pastor. But most of the time, I do that wedding or that funeral. Most of the time I do the crisis counseling when someone's spouse cheats, or when someone is in the hospital. I do it because even if they aren't my sheep, they are Jesus' sheep and they asked. I do it because I hope that you would do the same for my sheep if I were somehow unable.
But it's a widespread problem. I have someone come to me for help from your church at least once a month, and I have someone come to me from one of the other megachurches other than yours once a week. I know you are busy, but so am I. You would help me be more effective as a pastor to the sheep God has called me to, if you would be more effective as a pastor to the sheep God has called you to.
I'd send you this note personally via snailmail or email, but I'm pretty sure it would never make it past one of your staff members to your desk. I'll try anyway...
Here's my final request, from one pastor to another. Please pastor the people God has given you. And if you can't or won't, please send some of your sheep to my church. I'd love to have them.
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/5891.
Comments on "A "Head's Up" For Mega-Church Pastors From A Small Church Pastor":
2. Shrode
- 03/16/2010 7:15 pm CDT
Jared, I love you too. Really.
In fact, the things you have said on your blog gave me some of the courage to say what I said here.
That, and frustration. ;-)
After I posted this, I was thinking that I should have said on there that they should start reading your blog.
3. Gary Walter
- 03/16/2010 9:03 pm CDT
As one small church pastor to another, I have to say this. I think you're missing the point - I also think you're missing some really big trends.
First, small church pastors have been enabling their congregations for years. For too long, pastorates have been filled by really nice people who don't necessarily have the desire, or the ability, to say no. They are always available - and they hurt their congregations by filling the void. Instead, pastors need to be teaching their people how to be the church. The congregation needs to be ministering to one another, and the community around them.
Second, we, as a culture, are moving deeper and deeper into niche specialties. Some call this consumerism, some call it "cafeteria-style" religion, and still others call it selfishness - or laziness. Either way, whether we like it or not, we have moved into new era. It's all about specialization and accessibility.
Hence, for preaching, they go to the guy who is really good at his craft. (My favorite preacher is 3000 miles away, I've read all his books, am fed by his podcasts & vidcasts every week, but I've never met him. Yet, amazingly, I feel as if I know him). People go to another person for counseling (I, and my insurance company pay a professional); and still, others have someone else who they go to for spiritual direction, mentoring, and coaching (I have a friend who lives four states away, he and I provide that for one another); still others have people that provide accountability, transparency, and so on. The point is, the day is past when one pastor can be all things to all people. In fact, many find their best fellowship in a small group - or, as Barna calls it, a micro-movement.
Finally, and I'm sure you know this, but these are God's people - not the mega-church pastor's people. We need to feed them wherever they are. Whether they seek us out, or we seek them out - which is really what we should be doing anyway. Like Jesus, we need to meet people where they are - whether it be at Starbucks, AA meetings, the local greasy-spoon restaurant, or even if we attended some mega-church functions (See Luke 15:2).
Either way, let's feed His lambs - churched, unchurched, de-churched, re-churched, or mega-churched.
4. Bill
- 03/16/2010 9:20 pm CDT
Phil - great post.
Gary - I have to admit that I don't get your point, at all.
6. Jared
- 03/16/2010 9:24 pm CDT
Gary, I think you missed the point. Phil clearly said he pastors these people because they are Jesus' sheep.
Also: The trends you cite are true, but you don't know if they are applicable for Phil or this specific situation. Just because people show up to ask for help doesn't mean he's not out ministering to others.
People without a shepherd are asking for help. No pastor who is worth his salt and who has the ability to say yes would say no to them. Helping someone in need trumps making some point about buffet Christianity.
7. Ben Arbour
- 03/16/2010 9:24 pm CDT
This is one of the best things I've ever read about pastoral care and mega-church culture. Thanks for articulating some things I believe very deeply in a much more humble way that I am able.
8. Les Puryear
- 03/16/2010 10:23 pm CDT
A pastor friend of mine pointed me to your post. If it's okay with you, I have linked to it in a post on my blog.
Blessings,
Les
9. III
- 03/16/2010 10:27 pm CDT
Thank you for your faithfulness. Faithful pastors like you are what hold the Church together. I pray that God would continue to give you the perseverance and wisdom and energy to feed His sheep.
I don't know if you've ever heard of Ray Van Neste or not, but he's preaching a very similar message. If you have the time to listen to it, I highly recommend this address that he gave at a SBC conference at Union University in the fall.
Dr. Van Neste is a professor of Greek and Old Testament at Union, and also an elder at Cornerstone Community Church in Jackson, TN. He blogs at rvanneste.blogspot.com
10. Shrode
- 03/16/2010 10:27 pm CDT
Ben, thank you!
Les, of course it's OK! Thank you for linking to it!
Gary, I haven't forgotten you! I plan to respond tomorrow.
Thank you everyone.
11. Chuck Warnock
- 03/17/2010 7:56 am CDT
Great post and you confirmed a suspicion I have had for a long time. Thanks for giving voice to this opportunity and frustration for small church pastors. Also, Gary has a point, too, and I think we need a conversation about pastoral care in the missional church. How would that work? What would it look like? How would it be different from what we do now in both small and large churches?
12. Whitney
- 03/17/2010 8:26 am CDT
Phil: I love you too!!! :)
I completely get what you're saying... I actually have a draft in on my blog talking about some very similar stuff. It's hard to find a church where the pastor is the "preacher" and the "pastor" all in one. You know... the person you see on Sunday mornings, but also the person you can turn to in a crisis or time of need. I do think that the larger the church gets, the members MUST be equipped to help each other out more, however, how are they going to learn to do that, unless shown by example? That's the main reason I love our church...
13. Mark
- 03/17/2010 8:39 am CDT
Very interesting post. It makes me think of these passages from Hebrews 13.
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
and
17a Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
14. nhe
- 03/17/2010 8:47 am CDT
Shrode - can you clarify? - you said there should be one ordained minister per 100 people.
I go to a church of 3500 - so that would be 35 ordained ministers? Are they all paid?.....or are they bi-vocational/part-time? Why do they have to be ordained?......couldn't trained/equipped lay people do this?.....or maybe their ordination is just a commissioning?, not something that requires an MDiv?
15. Shrode
- 03/17/2010 9:30 am CDT
III,
I've not heard of that guy, but I'll check that out. Thanks!
Chuck,
Thank you also. I do think Gary has a point too. I'm planning on engaging those things he brought up. There's a lot to think about in regards to this. Just one example, the connection in people's minds between the building and the pastor. Our building is probably what brings people in first. (A little church on the highway, then they want the pastor to go along with it.)
And Chuck, you are right. That would be a good and worthwhile conversation.
Mark,
I'm interested to know your thoughts. How do you see those passages as applying to this situation specifically?
16. Shrode
- 03/17/2010 10:06 am CDT
nhe,
that number was just a suggestion based on the average small church size.
100 also seems to be the limit of the amount of people you can know and actually have some sort of regular personal relationship with.
Another way to do it that might be more practical would be by family/household. So you would have say, 1 pastor per 60 households. (a household could be one single person living alone or a multi-generational family with 12 people under one roof.)
Obviously, each church would have to look at their own situation and see what's doable for them. I would assume that a megachurch pastor would be especially good at analyzing such things and implementing a workable strategy. If they don't want to hire additional staff, they could start by subdividing what they have. Let's take your church for example. How many pastors do you have on staff? At a church of 3,500 I'm guessing you have at least 10 ministers on staff. So each minister gets assigned 350. They could see if that works. If they are not able to maintain good pastoral care with that structure, then they need to adjust their plan.
They could come up with a self-evaluation tool. (A church of that size knows how to do this.) They could survey their members and ask if the members' needs are being met in this area.
Now let me answer your questions more directly:
I go to a church of 3500 - so that would be 35 ordained ministers?
Yup. As I said, I'd be interested to know how many you have already. Also I know that some big churches who have a "minister of pastoral care" who almost exclusively does wedding/funerals/hospital visits/counseling etc... At a megachurch, I don't think one's enough, but if you have a few assigned to that exclusively, I think you could adjust your numbers some, say one minister to 300-500 members, for example.
Are they all paid?.....or are they bi-vocational/part-time?
I think you need to start with the staff you've got. Then if you are not able to assign one pastor to 100 people (or 60 families) or whatever number you come up with to get the job done, then you start looking to add. Sure, some could be part-time. Others might be retired pastors (or ministers employed elsewhere like at a university or school) that are members of your congregation. They could be available on a needs basis. You might assign them less families obviously. But the main thing is to make sure that every single member has a pastor they can call who KNOWS them, and who will take their call, and that the member feel comfortable calling them because there is already a relationship.
Why do they have to be ordained?......couldn't trained/equipped lay people do this?
Because of weddings and funerals. People need a pastor to marry and bury them. Legally speaking, people need to be married by an ordained minister. And while I suppose anybody can officiate at a funeral (or a quincinera), most people would prefer an ordained minister.
I understand that there is more to pastoral care than weddings and funerals, but that's where I get the majority of my outside requests.
Even at my little church, our deacons help with a lot of our pastoral care. (at our church one deacon is assigned to every 7-10 families.)
They help with calling when someone misses services, hospital visits, providing food for grieving families, and just general comfort and support. And they are wonderful, and I couldn't do it without them. But deacons don't marry and bury. People want an ordained minister for that. As far, as crisis counseling goes, I have a few deacons equipped for that, but I think that at least some training is preferable.
.....or maybe their ordination is just a commissioning?, not something that requires an MDiv?
Sure, if the people are comfortable going to them. That sounds great. I don't know about your church, but in my church tradition, ordination does not require an M.Div. It only requires the official recognition of the church that God has called that person to "vocational ministry". We also have something called a "License" that is slightly less permanent, but carries with it the authority to marry and bury. Churches could license a few lay ministers to do weddings and funerals, and that would be recognized by the state. But more than that, people need a shepherd they can go to for anything. People need a shepherd who will go to them.
17. nhe
- 03/17/2010 10:17 am CDT
Lets see Shrode....we have a "spiritual formation" pastor, a youth pastor, a childrens pastor, a small groups pastor, a college and career pastor, an admin pastor, and a missions pastor.....so I guess that's 7. (Our lead teaching pastor just left, so we're looking for an 8th).
Sorry I forgot about your model including weddings and funerals - that does require license/ordination of some kind.
I asked because I actually think you're on to something - we certainly have the leadership potential in our church to develop one shepherd per 100 people. I really wish we would consider this - I have suggested this to my close friends on the pastor staff. I think there is sentiment among the staff to move this direction, but I fear that our board of directors (all guys with deep pockets and influence - for better and worse) is stuck in the attractional model......so ultimately, we won't move this direction.
Right now, they're all geeked up about bringing in a dynamic speaking/CEO-type lead-teaching pastor.......a direction that deeply troubles my soul.
20. jen
- 03/17/2010 11:14 am CDT
Great post. As one who is a member of a large church, the pastoral care issue is one that has become bigger as our church has grown.
I will say that I whole-heartedly agree about the chapel idea. I got married in our church's large, modern auditorium. We made it work and it was lovely, but a more traditional setting would have been so much lovelier. I don't think we've had a wedding at our building in more than a year - I'm on the ministry team that helps coordinate and I haven't been asked to help with a wedding in a long, long time.
Aaron, why bill the home church? When a non-member wants to use a church for a wedding/funeral, often that person/family is billed a small fee for the rental of the space. Even as a member of my own church, I had to pay a small fee for the use of the space for my wedding - to cover the cost of cleaning and for a nomical stipend to the coordinators who helped.
21. Bill
- 03/17/2010 12:26 pm CDT
Shrode touched on this, but I'm kind of surprised it hasn't gotten more attention in this thread.
The New Testament model for those assigned to take on congregational care is the office of the Deacon. It's unfortunate that in many cases the Deacons are just considered kind of a board of directors for a church. Deacons should be about widow ministry, family ministry, food distribution, etc. The pastor can't do it all.
The thought of hiring new, paid staff to do what Deacons are supposed to do (except for the marrying and burying part) troubles me, a lot.
22. jen
- 03/17/2010 12:33 pm CDT
Bill, I agree. I've been thinking about this since I read the post. I get what Philip is saying about needing a point person for every 100 people or so, but I don't think it needs to be a paid staff person. That's a lot of compensation for the budget to handle.
I think the loss of deacons or some kind of elders is what is missing in these churches, especially non-denominational churches. There's no hierarchy beyond the paid staff and maybe a board of directors or some committee that holds the pastor accountable. The ministry leaders are missing.
24. Jared
- 03/17/2010 1:11 pm CDT
Echoing Bill, I would say this is solved not necessarily with staff pastors -- although it could be -- but with a plurality of elders who would provide pastoral care and counseling and a stable of deacons and deaconesses who would provide physical/"tangible" care.
The church we planted Element out of ran at one time about 4,000. When we left it had about 1500-2000, but only one "real" pastor. And he was the guy who spoke on weekends. There was a counselor there but pastoral care just flat-out didn't happen. The church appeared to exist for the weekend experience.
I am not anti-megachurch. There are good big churches and terrible small churches; I don't think size matters, really. :-) But I am definitely anti megachurches that put Monday-Friday's efforts into Sunday's gathering and not much else. That's not even church.
25. Shrode
- 03/17/2010 1:12 pm CDT
Thanks, Bird!
Gary, (from comment 3)
Thanks for reading and commenting. I went and took a gander at your blog to try and get some idea of where you were coming from. good blog. I liked the internet security article. It was this one that really interested me though, the one entitled, "Unchurched Again", where you tell of your personal love/hate relationship with "The Church" and the fact that you are a former pastor and are not in any church now and your not sure you ever want to be again.
I'm not sure how all that affects your thinking about my post, but I'm sure that it must!
First, small church pastors have been enabling their congregations for years. For too long, pastorates have been filled by really nice people who don't necessarily have the desire, or the ability, to say no. They are always available - and they hurt their congregations by filling the void. Instead, pastors need to be teaching their people how to be the church. The congregation needs to be ministering to one another, and the community around them.
True. Now you are preaching to the choir. ;-) In my opinion, what you describe is one reason small churches stay small. But whoever it is you think should be "ministering to church members", some of the megachurches in my area are not doing it. I don't think that's the small church pastor's fault!
Second, we, as a culture, are moving deeper and deeper into niche specialties.
Here you have a good point, and it's an interesting thought. You are right about the "specialists". And specialists aren't all bad. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that's part of God's plan. (He Gives some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers - Eph. 4:11)
But someone within the Christian community (yes, church) needs to be responsible to make sure that the needs of their flock are being met. Acts 6:1-7
Finally, and I'm sure you know this, but these are God's people - not the mega-church pastor's people. We need to feed them wherever they are.
Either way, let's feed His lambs - churched, unchurched, de-churched, re-churched, or mega-churched.
I agree they are God's people. I also agree with your last statement. But the megachurch pastor does have a responsibility to make sure that his sheep are being fed. “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (I Peter 1:2-3). And like the Apostles didn't act until the problem was brought to their attention in Acts 6:1-7, I'm trying to bring it to their attention.
I will continue to do my part.
I think it's possible Gary, that you missed at least part of my point. You are possibly a little biased towards Barna's micro-communities. A good mega-church, and there are many, will have good small groups and will provide care for their members and will have members caring for each other as you describe. Many do. Large churches can care for their members.
There are several very large churches that are closer to me than the churches I am rebuking in this post, that have never once had a member wander to me for weddings, funerals, or a special service.
The point of my post was to be a "speaking the truth in love" sort of rebuke of my brothers in ministry. It was not to shirk my own responsibilities to all of God's children wherever or whoever they may be.
27. Milly
- 03/17/2010 8:35 pm CDT
I attend a church that had hopes of being a mega but that wasn’t His plan. I am so thankful for that. We are a nice small group of people who love each other. I know we do because when my ex and I were having trouble the shepherds stepped in. when my marriage fell apart and my ex left the church they called, wrote, and welcomed me. They prayed for me and with me. They love my children and my sister. They tell me they love me. I’ll take the small loving over the large swallowing any day. Thank you Phillip for being a good minister.
28. Brian
- 03/17/2010 10:54 pm CDT
This is one of the reasons we recently left our church of 17 years. The pastor was just not, well, pastoral. And we only had about 150 people.
The pastor saw his primary role as teaching and preaching. And he would help and counsel if asked. But there was no proactive effort to get into the lives of the people in the congregation. No discipleship or mentoring. Not that he had to do it all himself. Others could have helped but it needed to be championed by the pastor.
29. Scott Roche
- 03/18/2010 10:42 am CDT
Excellent letter! I hope it gets read far and wide and will link it around myself.
Our church is starting up small satellites, not traditional church plants per se since the intention is for them to stay connected, but the do have their own elders/deacons (PCA). While we're not in any way a "mega" church (where is the distinction number wise?) we're good size, maybe a little too big in my mind, around 5-600 attenders on a Sunday.
I think this would be a good alternative for mega churches, split up. It would be nice to see a church split for a "good" reason, to better take care of their people, than over a doctrinal issue. This way our churches become more community based and the pastoral staff can handle it.
Alternatively we've also begun having community groups. These are different than small groups, in function. We've broken up our congregation by geography and identified shepherds (lay people) who can help elders by acting as a go between and by organizing community activities and giving add to members of the church or non-churched members in the community.
Anyway, I agree with what you said, these mega-churches need to bring their A-game in these areas as well. I'm sure some are, but not enough apparently.
30. Mark
- 03/19/2010 9:46 am CDT
First, I it's ironic that I recently talked with a small church pastor who experiences this very thing from the local mega-church.
Now, the reason Hebrews 13:17a and 13:7 came to mind.
17a Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
This verse shows great responsibility before God of pastors over their congregation. This must entail more than simply listening to the sermon and obeying. A sermon alone, while very important, cannot do the discipling a congregation needs.
There is no feedback for the preacher to know whether or not they are being obeyed. It would also be very hard to give an account for that which is unknown. Especially, in light of the end of the verse it would be hard for a pastor to give an account without groaning if they don't know what they are giving account for.
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
If a Christian is to consider their pastor(s) in this way he/she must have some knowledge of them that goes beyond a 30-60 minute sermon. I'm not sure how this verse can be carried out if this is the extent of the relationship. One can just as easily listen to a podcast of another pastor and get the same or maybe better preaching.
Just some thoughts...
31. Gary Walter
- 03/19/2010 3:42 pm CDT
Great discussion here. I had no idea I had wandered into such a well-read blog, by such a respected and loved pastor. (I stumbled in here from a Facebook link, while out of town and browsing on my bbPhone - just got home yesterday and decided to catch up on the discussion)
A couple of points to note:
First, Gary MacIntosh has written in his book, One Size Does Not Fit All, that there needs to be one pastor for every 150 people. This is from both religious and secular research. 150 seems to be the magic number - average.
Also, @Jared, from comment #6, remember, even Jesus walked past people whom He didn't heal (See Acts 3:1-2), but made provision to help (via the Disciples). From my experience, one can help far more people by setting up systems, than we can by rushing out to help everyone who asks. Often it is the pastor's family who suffers.
Finally, thanks Phil for your well-informed follow-up to my comment.
Indeed, being a pastor who is called to be a change agent, hired to lead, and then fired for attempting to change the course, indeed, you are correct, that does influence my thinking. I am a second-career pastor, and though I am not employed by an official church, I don't believe the call has been removed. But, I'm not sure a building-centered, attractional model is what is best for the future of The Church.
I don't know as I'm so much influenced by Barna, as I resonate with his words (ie; micro-movements). But, with that said, I still believe there is a good case to be made for a mega church (technically >1000 in attendance). Some are just going to feel more comfortable slipping in the back door, remaining anonymous, and only being fed once a week. They may, or may not progress beyond that. Like the 5000 (or so) who listened to Jesus on the hillside, most scattered during the crucifixion, but were their hearts and lives still touched. Most likely! I wouldn't be surprised if many of them were a part of the Pentecost experience (Acts 2).
Is there a place for a small congregation that offers more personal pastoral care? Absolutely. Though my personal feeling is that many of these churches can be enabling, in a very dysfunctional sense, but that doesn't diminish the niche that is filled. For many of those attending small congregations, that may be as far, and as deep, as they can go right now.
Not everyone will join a small group. Nationwide we average about 30-35% small group participation. I've seen as high as 75% participation, and much, much lower though.
Not everyone will have an accountability partner, spiritual guide, or prayer partner. But at least they are connected to the Body in some manner - and that offers hope.
Phil, you are correct in saying that the mega-churches aren't ministering well to their people (in regards to "pastoral care" issues). Indeed, discipling in the spiritual disciplines has been sorely lacking. I believe this is what Willow Creek was trying to say a couple of years ago when they released their data. This is an area where the church growth pundits are stumped. There are many ideas out there, but not much real success yet.
I also like your example from Acts 6 - which is also one of my favorite examples of why I shouldn't be doing all of the ministry. Before I accepted my last position, the leadership team/board/elders agreed to take on many of those pastoral care functions. But when it came right down to it, they said, "That's what we pay you to do."
To me, this is where we, as the Church, have dug ourselves into a hole. In the last couple of centuries - if not since Constantine - we have continued to place the burden of ministry on the shoulders of paid clergy. Now the people have come to expect it. Turning that tide is not going to be easy. For, I agree, it is why small churches stay small - if you listen to Lyle Schaller at all.
Phil, I know you're speaking the truth in love - and I appreciate that. I'm just not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg. Did mega churches cause the problem, or are they answering society's felt-needs? Either way, learning from the 12-Steppers, the Serenity Prayer has taught me much - and that is to change the things I can, accept what I can't change, and have wisdom to know the difference.
I suppose if I were to sum up my comments in a nutshell, it would be this:
Let's not try to change others (eg; the mega-churches), instead, lets see this as an opportunity to minister to people we wouldn't normally have access to (those that seek us out - or who are not being fulfilled in the mega-setting).
Learning from my high-tech, Internet start-up friends, I see great potential in the granularity of the niche!
Thanks again for a great discussion - and for taking the time to get back to me!
33. Morgan
- 06/28/2010 9:03 am CDT
Philip - Bravo. Well said. I used to pastor a small church back before megachurches became the norm, so I never had the experience you're speaking of. Now I attend a megachurch, so this was a very intriguing post for me to read. The thought I had while reading was that I'm surprised you didn't mention wishing for compensation of some kind. That's what would go through my mind: "Dear Megachurch Pastor - if I'm pastoring your sheep, I'd like for me and/or my church to receive some kind of compensation in return--after I'll, I'm doing some of your work, and you're reaping all the glory and benefits." Perhaps not a very charitable or Christian attitude, but certainly the way I would feel. I admire the servant attitude you display toward this situation.
I think what you have described reveals the unspoken dark side of megachurches: They're "great" for people as long as things are going well, but when there's a crisis, people sometimes (often?) discover they need to turn elsewhere. The sad thing is they sometimes don't recognize the flaw in the system as a flaw, but instead just accept it as "the way things are."
Leave a Comment:
Phil: I love you.