CLM 580 Help for the Small-Church Pastor (Book Review)

From: stephen@midac.com.au

Fri, 6 Mar 1998

Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 580 Help for the Small-Church Pastor (Book Review) I was very interested to read the article Church Growth and Pastoral Stress by Rowland Croucher (CLM 579). I have just read a book by Steve R. Bierly, "Help for the Small-Church Pastor", (Zondervan Publishing House, U.S.A., 1995). He defines small church as less than about 150 people. He also claims that some of what the church growth people say is inapplicable to small churches. My experience has been in churches much smaller than 150. (I am now in my 4th church as a Baptist pastor in NSW. All those churches have had congregations of less than 60 people. I also grew up in a small country church). In my experience, on both sides of the fence, i.e. as a member and as a pastor, quite a bit of what Bierly says rings true. I found what he said most refreshing and encouraging. The fact of the matter is that in towns with populations between 500 and 1500 (where I have spent quite a bit of my time) there is unlikely to ever be massive church growth. But Christians in such places still need teaching, fellowship and encouragement, just as much as anywhere else. There will also be occasional conversions and people added to the church. I also agree with Bierly that pastors need to be encouraged to see small churches in small communities as a valid ministry, not just a stepping stone to larger places. Yet there often seems to be a subtle message that the pastor of a small church hasn't quite arrived. (I have heard that youth pastors suffer from a similar subtle message that being youth pastor is just a stepping stone to being "a real pastor") It was once said to me "Its good that there are people who are prepared to serve in small country churches." My response was "As I see it its good that there are people who are prepared to serve in large city churches." I am really only qualified to speak in regard to small churches, but in regard to small churches I agree so much with Rowland Croucher's thesis "that some outcomes of 'church growth' thinking and practice can be destructive rather than redemptive for pastors and their churches". One example of Bierly's challenging perspective is "Church Growth experts maintain that 'everything rises and falls on leadership.' In the small church, however, everything rises and falls on relationships. People in small congregations will not follow one who is perceived to be an outsider. Small congregations don't want an outside expert to come in and fix all their problems. They want a close friend who can occasionally offer some helpful advice. Small-church leaders must seek to become accepted as 'one of the gang' by the members of the congregation." (p49) I would recommend Bierly's book to bring another challenging but encouraging perspective to the situation. - Stephen Harris ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

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