About Vital Signs


  • Phil Tom is the associate for the Small Church and Community Ministry Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), working in partnership with middle governing bodies and other organizations to support and resource urban, rural and smaller membership churches. Phil has served smaller membership urban churches and also worked with rural and suburban congregations and their communities as a pastor, a community organizer, community economic developer, and as a active neighborhood resident.

    The focus of Phil's blog is to share his insights, learning and comments from visiting and working with smaller membership, urban and rural congregations and their respective communities.

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September 23, 2009

Food for thought

I like to share with you a few excerpts from a book I recently read - Turnaround and Beyond:  A Hopeful Future for Small Membership Churches by Ron Crandall, Abingdon, 2008.

Mr. Crandall cites the following factors impeding revitalization:

1. low congregational self-esteem

2. fear of change and taking risks

3. no vision for the future

4. an "us" versus "them" attitude

5. power cliques in the church

6. lack of finances and/or stewardship

7. apathy and burnout

8. pastors who don't lead

9. closed to "outsiders"

10. unwilling to work hard

Mr. Crandall then goes on to cite what helps churches to experience revitalization:

1. an atmosphere of love and acceptance

2. pastoral initiative

3. new programs and outreach ministries

4. alive, open, inviting worship

5. an attitude of faith and grace

6. a strong bible focus

7. an emphasiss on children and youth

8. hard work and a desire to grow

9. inviting friends to church

10. an evangelism emphasis

11. prayer

12. emphasis on gifts and discipleship

13. laypersons involved in visitation and ministry

14. blessing of God's spirit

15. the church location and growing community

16. special outreach and evangelistic events

17. using a strategic planning process

18. using new people in leadership

19. a pastor willing to stay

There are no surprises here.  I read a lot of books on congregational transformation and they basically all say the same and describe a similar process for revitalization.  More food for your thought! 

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Comments

Deb Klopp

Phil, in the scope of your work what constitutes a "Small Church" and "Community Ministry?" I would like to gain a perspective for how to look at the church I attend and how it fits within the scope Small Church and Community Ministry Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Food for Thought on church transformation and revitalization is right on with my experience as well.

Posted by: Deb Klopp | September 27, 2009 at 12:40 AM

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