How Large is Your Local Church?

[SynchroKnight]

I'm curious about the size of the churches (in members) twebbers attend.

Also, if you could imagine an "ideal church" for yourself, would it be larger, smaller, or the same size as your present one?

Finally, do you see any benefits or disadvantages concerning the size of your church?

[$cirisme]

The old church I went to was over 3,000 members.

The current church I am attending is between 2,000-2,3000.

I don't think size has much to do with my ideal church.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I love BIG churches. Mine has 15K regular attendees.

[spl_cadet]

Mine's about three thousand people as I recall. Don't know what my ideal church would be, probably around the same size.

[PRAISE]

Today @ 05:41 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=#post)
SynchroKnight:

I'm curious about the size of the churches (in members) twebbers attend.

Also, if you could imagine an "ideal church" for yourself, would it be larger, smaller, or the same size as your present one?

Finally, do you see any benefits or disadvantages concerning the size of your church?

About 70-80 members for my church, but considerably more as regular attendees!

PRAISE

(PS: For me, when God tell you that a particular church is for you, it really doesn't matter what size it is!)
PRAISE:thumb:

[Jin-Roh]

My Church is fairly large. I kinda like Big churches. I've never really been in a small one.

[$cirisme]

Whoa, Dee Dee. :eek: And I thought my church was big....

[$cirisme]

Ha! I found where our old worship minister went to. :yipee:

Now all I have to do is move to Florida. :shifty:

[Freak]

Today @ 05:41 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=#post)
SynchroKnight:

I'm curious about the size of the churches (in members) twebbers attend.

Also, if you could imagine an "ideal church" for yourself, would it be larger, smaller, or the same size as your present one?

Finally, do you see any benefits or disadvantages concerning the size of your church?


I am techincally a member of a 25,000 member church here in North Dallas. But I rarely go. I simply fellowship with other believers when I have opportunity as I travel often.

[$cirisme]

Where do you people find these big churches? :shifty:

As far as I know, these two churches are the largest in the area. :hrm:

[Freak]

Today @ 07:46 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=#post)
cirisme:

Where do you people find these big churches? :shifty:

As far as I know, these two churches are the largest in the area. :hrm:


We have quite a few mega churches in Dallas.

There's Prestonwood Church (which I am techincally a member of) that has 25,000 members.

T.D Jakes church which has 30,000 members

Chuck Swindoll's church which I believe has close to 10,000 members.

Tony Evan's church is here, as is Bob George's, etc.....

We have many....

[Rubia Warren]

My church has about 200-400 people- something like that.I like big churches, and I like small ones, too, both for different reasons, they both have their pros and cons. The one I went to before this had only about less than 100 every week, and I kinda like the size of the one I go to now a little better. I can't imagine what Dee Dee's church is like to go to- there are only a couple in my area that have about 1000, but nothing like on that scale. It must be like going to a stadium for a concert, or something!! LOL I bet it's cool, though.

[studyhound]

Today @ 09:41 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=#post)
SynchroKnight:

I'm curious about the size of the churches (in members) twebbers attend.

Also, if you could imagine an "ideal church" for yourself, would it be larger, smaller, or the same size as your present one?

Finally, do you see any benefits or disadvantages concerning the size of your church?

60 to 80 people attend the local church I attend. Not sure how many are "members".

Me personaly I like small churches Because there are more oppertunites to serve with less strings attached (most of the time). Mega-churches have I have attened have all these hoops you have to jump through to serve and even then the person could be a non-beliver or a heritic. Smaller churches, I have found, allow the leadership to get to know those who serve. And can protect the flock From wolves in sheep clothing

[Xmansmommy]

Wow, I have never attended a church that had thousands of members! The closest thing I have encountered is a local Catholic church at Easter time (since my brother was becoming a member). I attend a small grace assembly. My understanding is that grace churches usually are very few in numbers as far as members as well as assemblies. I believe I can see pros and cons for either. I imagine that church resources are far greater in churches with large numbers. But I also think that it might lack some of the closeness that a smaller church might have. But please don't hold me to that. As I've stated before, I've never attended a huge church. My local assembly has about 100 or so regular attenders I'd say. :hrm:

[Solly]

Yesterday @ 06:41 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=#post)
SynchroKnight:

I'm curious about the size of the churches (in members) twebbers attend.

--We are 6 members, with three attenders

Also, if you could imagine an "ideal church" for yourself, would it be larger, smaller, or the same size as your present one?

--Larger, but still under 100. If I was pastor and the church grew beyond that, I would seek to start a new congregation elsewhere in town (we are just under 200,000 population).

Finally, do you see any benefits or disadvantages concerning the size of your church?

--They mainstay of the church at the moment is two families with 4 children under 5 between us. This limits us somewhat. Our singing isn't what it could be with more voices, our giving bumps along safely, but not enough to do anything but keep the building going.

[joelkaki]

Our church is still a church plant right now, so we have about 30-40 people attend of Sunday Morning.

I personally think about 150-200 is good (we're involved with another church about that size). I think that getting up into the thousands is probably not too good of a thing, for the elders can't properly shepherd the people that way. I've got a friend that goes to a mega church, and he's only met his pastor like once.

Joel

[Faramir]

The church I go to has about 4000 members. I grew up in a small-medium size church (about 500) and thought that I would hate going to a large church.

When I started going to my current church there were about 500 members, but as it grew, I quickly saw the great advantages of going to a large church. I love it. :yipee:

I also find the stats here interesting. About 12 years ago, I was doing youth work in a medium size church. I went to a siminar on "long term planning" the speaker said that the trend for churches in the next 10-20 years would be that most churches would be either realy big (over 2000) or really small (less than 100).

[SynchroKnight]

Thanks to all who've participated up to now.

I've enjoyed reading your posts. I didn't anticipate so many people would be from churches of over 1K (I should have provided an additional catagory). :wink:

[AcousticJS]

I'm part of a church that has about 250 adult members (I think). I like the size we are at the moment - it allows a nice variety of relationships to be built and people to get to know, while still being small enough to actually know everyone at least by sight.

I'm also part of a 5-year-old Vineyard church that has about 40-45 adult members when I'm at Uni. I also like the size of this, though as a worship leader I do miss having a wider range of musicians available for the worship team. But then I remember that people aren't a resource to be used - they're a brother or sister to be loved. So I'm praying for lot's more (musical :wink: ) brothers and sisters to play with!

Blessings in Christ
Jon

[joelkaki]

For those of you with church's in the thousands (or even upper hundreds):

Do you know your pastor? Elders?

Joel

[$cirisme]

I wonder how many at the feeding of the 4 thousand knew Jesus very well?

:huh:

[Faramir]

Today @ 03:56 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=60538#post60538)
joelkaki:

For those of you with church's in the thousands (or even upper hundreds):

Do you know your pastor? Elders?

Joel

We have several ministers on staff at my church (4000 members)and I would say that I know most of them, including the pastor.

[GrayPilgrim]

I attended a church before going to seminary that had right around 50-60 members and boy the same few people got called on to do everything.

I attended a church during seminary that grew from about 70 members to over 250 members and about 350 regular attenders (it was only planted 9 months prior to going to seminary) and boy the same few people got called on to do everything.

I attend a church now that has between 100-200 members and attenders and everyone is asked to join in and help. It is probably one of the better churches I have been to.

I have known the pastor at all three (used to go to movies and hang out with the pasotr of the first one a lot) but I prefer smaller churches because it has more of a family atmosphere IMHO. Heck I was in the same time as Willow Creek and stayed away like it had the plague (but that could have been for other reasons as well :read: )

GP

[Pilgrim]

My Church has about 650 memebers. It falls into what would be called the "Program" model and is moving into the "corporate model" which is defined as the largest model. Churched of over 700 members.

I like a church with more than 200 and less than 1000. I like it over 200 because there are more resources available to do ministry. I like it under 1000 because I can still know everybody.

I also have this feeling that huge churches are in some way failing because our mission is to reproduce ourselves and if we are just creating this huge, safe, Christian communities we are not doing that and we are not taking it to the world. I think that once a church hits about 1000 people it should begin to plan a church plant and reproduce itself.

[$cirisme]

I also have this feeling that huge churches are in some way failing because our mission is to reproduce ourselves and if we are just creating this huge, safe, Christian communities we are not doing that and we are not taking it to the world. I think that once a church hits about 1000 people it should begin to plan a church plant and reproduce itself.

I disagree. Every big church I've been to has been constantly starting plants to keep growth under control. In fact, bigger churches have more of a capacity to start plants because they have more resources to get the plant started well. The current church I attend has just doubled the amount they donate to new plants.

[GrayPilgrim]

I remember my pastor from the middle church being asked:

"Shouldn't we be planting churches to limit our growth?"

He pointed out that church planting is generally the worst way to limit growth that in point of fact churches that plant churches are generally the fastest grwoing ones. Obvioulsy this is not a rule but an observation from multiple studies.

[DanielleJoy]

Wow... the church I went to at home had about 30 regulars, and probably around 100 overall (the rest just come for Christmas Eve, Easter, and the occasional Sunday or dinner). We didn't really have the problem with the same people doing everything b/c all of the volunteer work and extras during services were handled by the youth group and on rare occasions the elders. However, one thing that really irked me, that eventually made me leave it, was the tendency they had of having ''elite families.'' It's an extremely rural church, and it's just over 200 years old, and some families have been there nearly the entire time. My family was one of those, but they left it when my great grandfather was an elder and they refused to let an unwed mother become part of the church. When I was there, there were about four families who were given more respect and more recognition than anyone else in the church, even if they would normally be the less respectable of the congregation. I, on the other hand, did more work than pretty much everyone in the youth group, it seemed like not many of them even wanted to BE there, and I was the only one in my family who went to church, period, so I was a nobody. They sure were happy to go to me first with any new project, but when recognition was due, it was the families who were given the praise, the support, and the scholarships. There are so many examples, but this post is getting really long, so I'll stop here.

[DanielleJoy]

Maybe closer to 50 or 60, now that I think about it, actually.

[joelkaki]

Cirisme:

I wonder how many at the feeding of the 4 thousand knew Jesus very well?

True, but that was not his "church" that he actually was with day in and day out. I get your point, but Jesus' ministry was slightly different.
It just seems to me it would be better to have churches at a smaller size, in order to ensure that the pastor is truely shepherding people.

Faramir:


Do you know your pastor? Elders?

Joel ”
We have several ministers on staff at my church (4000 members)and I would say that I know most of them, including the pastor.

It seems to me that there just isn't any way that the pastor/s and elders could possibly SHEPHERD the flock with that many people. You couldn't be involved in their lives, and give personal guidance to them.

Joel

[Faramir]

Today @ 01:37 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=66345#post66345)
joelkaki:

Cirisme:


True, but that was not his "church" that he actually was with day in and day out. I get your point, but Jesus' ministry was slightly different.
It just seems to me it would be better to have churches at a smaller size, in order to ensure that the pastor is truely shepherding people.

Faramir:


It seems to me that there just isn't any way that the pastor/s and elders could possibly SHEPHERD the flock with that many people. You couldn't be involved in their lives, and give personal guidance to them.

Joel

This is true, but there is a small group structure within my chuch that is set up specifically to meet the individual needs of the members by an under shepherd.

The really sad thing is that there are so many people who do not want to have "personal" quidance from anyone. It seems that so many "christians" today just want to go to church on Sunday and have nothing else to do with the local church. And this is not limited to large churches either. It is just easier in large churches to "blend into the woodwork".

IMHO this is a result of the over emphasis in America on the individual. "Christians" today tend to forget that the purpose of the local church is not primarily worship, but fellowship.

:rant:

Sorry for the off topic rant.

[themuzicman]

Once you get to more than about 500, the Head pastor is just the CEO. There are (either formal or informal) people who are heads (pastors) of smaller, more managable groups. Most churches of this size have to adopt some sort of small group or cell group model in order to remain effective.

Personally, I know our pastor (somewhat), but only because I'm part of the programming team. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't.

Michael

[Faramir]

Today @ 03:06 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=66555#post66555)
themuzicman:

Once you get to more than about 500, the Head pastor is just the CEO. There are (either formal or informal) people who are heads (pastors) of smaller, more managable groups. Most churches of this size have to adopt some sort of small group or cell group model in order to remain effective.

Personally, I know our pastor (somewhat), but only because I'm part of the programming team. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't.

Michael

And this is exactly the kind of deligation of authority that God told Moses to use during the exodus.

[DanielleJoy]

I can't even imagine going to a church with 500 people, let alone 25K... then again, I grew up in an area where my graduating class had less than 80 people...

[luv1another]

maybe its too late to reply to this thread but oh well I may as well since I just voted :)
I attend a church with about 130 regular attendees including children well ones that sit on a seat anyways :)
I started attending this church about 3 years ago after my other church of about 40 had a huge split :(
I prefer the 130 church to the 40 member church for a few reasons...
1. it offers my children a better childrens program.

2. there isnt so much pressure to do things that are not your giftings.

3. Its small enough to know everyone casually yet large enough not to have every single thing you do gossiped about :)

4. Its large enough to offer a variety of diffrent groups.

6. its large enough to have a worship team with a band :thumb:

7.Its small enough to know the pastor and elders and be able to pull them aside and talk if you need to them.

8.Its small enough to be able to use your giftings within the church, yet large enough that you don't feel pressured to always be doing something.

Im sure I will think of more things after I post this but thats the ones I can think of. I havnt ever been to a really large church, I think I would feel very lost in such a huge crowd. I like the feeling of people knowing me but not enough to gossip about me too much :)
I also like the thought that if I had a word or if I wanted to do a communion talk I could see the pastor or Elders and they would allow me to speak. Or if I had a problem that I could ring the pastor and get in pretty much the same week to see him :)
anyway thats my opinions :)


In Christ
Luv1another

[joelkaki]

I know this is off topic, but is it a valid assumption to think that you believe it is alright for women to speak in a worship service?


Joel

[luv1another]

umm Joel was that question directed at me?
I will answer anyway :smile:
yes I believe if the pastor says a women may speak in church then its fine.... the verse where it says women were not to speak in church was to the church of that time just as wearing hats was.
Paul was actually pretty liberal for his time... in those times women were not allowed to learn they were up the back of church and if they were curious they would shout out to their husbands disrupting the service. That is why Paul tells them if they want to learn to wait and ask their husbands when they get home.... this verse would have aroused controversy in its time due to the fact women were not supposed to learn it was men who studied and learnt about God women looked after the kids and stuff and were probably lucky to even be able to read :)
so yes I believe women should be able to preach, or prophecy or whatever as long as its ok with the pastor. I believe since acts we have been in the last days :) after all isnt a thousand years like a day to God?
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

anyway thats my opinion :) sorry if the question wasnt to me
:ahem:

In Christ
Luv1another

[DanielleJoy]

I never thought that it wouldn't be okay for a woman to speak in a worship service... I didn't even realize until recently that some people didn't agree with women acting as pastors, and this is the first I've heard that anyone opposes women participating at all... someone explained themselves being against women pastors because women are more likely to interpret the scripture instead of keeping it in context, and that they don't have the same leadership skills, but what is the problem with just participating? The pastor at my old church was a woman with a PhD in theology, why isn't it alright for her, with an extremely high level of knowledge of the subject, to participate in the worship, if not lead it?

ps. pardon me for not knowing this already, I have just recently taken up my religion again after a particularly rough adolescense, so I've been away for a while. I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just want to understand the reasoning.

[luv1another]

Danielle Joy,
this is where some people get the idea a women should not participate in church services :argh:


1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

[GrayPilgrim]

Today @ 02:55 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=68975#post68975)
DanielleJoy:

I never thought that it wouldn't be okay for a woman to speak in a worship service... I didn't even realize until recently that some people didn't agree with women acting as pastors, and this is the first I've heard that anyone opposes women participating at all... someone explained themselves being against women pastors because women are more likely to interpret the scripture instead of keeping it in context, and that they don't have the same leadership skills, but what is the problem with just participating? The pastor at my old church was a woman with a PhD in theology, why isn't it alright for her, with an extremely high level of knowledge of the subject, to participate in the worship, if not lead it?

ps. pardon me for not knowing this already, I have just recently taken up my religion again after a particularly rough adolescense, so I've been away for a while. I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just want to understand the reasoning.

The passages that are used in the debate over whether a woman should be a pastor are generally, 2 Timothy 2 (is used as the rationale for why woman should not be pastors) and Gal 3:28 (is used by those who say they should be allowed to be pastors to say that since we are in Christ all gender distinctions are abolished). Those are the rallying points for both sides but the issue is obviously mroe complex than that. I just want to give a quick reply to show you where the discussion starts.

GP

[Pilgrim]

Hey DJ, when you get to Allentown, if you don't mind taking a 30 minute frive on Sunday mornings, check out First Presbyterian Church in Reading. It is an awesome church that I grew up in. You might even meet my parents there!

They have two services on Sunday AM first is contemporary and 2nd is traditional. It is a conservative evangelical church that loves women participating. In fact, the head pastors wife is also an ordained minister!

Just head South on Highway 222 and look for 5th street.

http://www.firstpresreading.org/

[DanielleJoy]

Thanks luv and Gray, I really didn't have any idea where to start looking. I'm actually interested in seeing what kind of context it's in, ie who said it, so that I can determine whether or not it is affected by the times it was written in, you know?

Pilgrim, that's awesome! :teeth: I won't be out there permanently for a year or so, but I'll definetly be checking it out.

[djnoz]

My current church has ~2000 members. It's really exciting being part of such a large congregation because the manpower allows for some fantastic evangelistic opportunities. However, the large congregation feels a bit unwelcoming because it's divided up into cliques.

So recently I've thought about leaving and joining a smaller church... there's loads of good places around where I live.

[calvinistkid]

My church is between 100 and 200 people. I think that is pretty much ideal- big enough that we can accomplish quite a bit, but small enough to have a really close family feeling.

[joelkaki]

Today @ 02:08 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=74786#post74786)
calvinistkid:

My church is between 100 and 200 people. I think that is pretty much ideal- big enough that we can accomplish quite a bit, but small enough to have a really close family feeling.

I too think that is pretty much ideal. Good to see you around.

Joel