I have a hard time seeing a congregation of 35 as viable. Unless you are imagining a completely unpaid clergy force. Letting wardens be the “in charge” folks further entrenches the family size dynamic - clergy are just hired hands. Also, how would we train these clergy? The local options available right now are not yielding well formed priests. I think there are serious problems with the ATS model right now, but residential 3 year MDiv is still the best way to get a priest that actually is competent. It would seem a far better option to dig in our history and recover the minster model (I make that argument in my Substack) Small parishes then become house churches or convenience chapels to the mother minster. Then priests can serve as a college of ministers serving an area.
What I could not accept is the idea of being an hourly employee for a little parish. I served 17 years scrapping in small churches giving my lifeblood. (I have a little small parish PTSD) Now I serve a program-sized cathedral and don't have the frustration with vestries content with survival and not growth.
If growing is not going to happen, cut bait. Don't die a death of 1000 papercuts. And golly, if one is the bishop, have some guts and close those places that are continually working on the diocesan dime.
I serve what I call 'Sustainable Part-time' with my 35 member congregation.
I serve task-based, not time-based ministry: Holy Eucharist twice a month, pastoral care, ministry assistance, tech administration, and spiritual exercises.
I see myself as their 'clergy consultant'. It's their ministry - I support it.
They pay me about $10,000 a year - of course it's not full-time, but since I spend about 10 hours/month with them, I have plenty of time to take on other ministry, so I serve full-time in ministry.
I also train clergy how to do this - in several dioceses so far.
this is ministry re-imagination. This is starting from a different set of assumptions about what ministry is, and how clergy and congregations work together.
Father Cathie, just a word about a project I'm involved with. Pastor died. Congregation dropped from 100 to 12. Presbytery killed it. Now there is remnant that wants to meet online for the summer. I have no idea what will happen but I'm along for the ride.
and I know you've already subscribed to my other publication: Trexo.
We're going to start doing discernment conversations on the first Wednesday of the month - so next Wednesday! - at 4pm Eastern. It will be livestreamed - so you'll get the link sent to you via email.
I'd love to have you there! (of course there will be a recording as well).
also, we use Planning Center for church management software - which I find very easy to use, and it is done on a sliding scale, so even the smallest congregations can use it.
I have a hard time seeing a congregation of 35 as viable. Unless you are imagining a completely unpaid clergy force. Letting wardens be the “in charge” folks further entrenches the family size dynamic - clergy are just hired hands. Also, how would we train these clergy? The local options available right now are not yielding well formed priests. I think there are serious problems with the ATS model right now, but residential 3 year MDiv is still the best way to get a priest that actually is competent. It would seem a far better option to dig in our history and recover the minster model (I make that argument in my Substack) Small parishes then become house churches or convenience chapels to the mother minster. Then priests can serve as a college of ministers serving an area.
What I could not accept is the idea of being an hourly employee for a little parish. I served 17 years scrapping in small churches giving my lifeblood. (I have a little small parish PTSD) Now I serve a program-sized cathedral and don't have the frustration with vestries content with survival and not growth.
If growing is not going to happen, cut bait. Don't die a death of 1000 papercuts. And golly, if one is the bishop, have some guts and close those places that are continually working on the diocesan dime.
welcome to Free Range Priest!
I serve what I call 'Sustainable Part-time' with my 35 member congregation.
I serve task-based, not time-based ministry: Holy Eucharist twice a month, pastoral care, ministry assistance, tech administration, and spiritual exercises.
I see myself as their 'clergy consultant'. It's their ministry - I support it.
They pay me about $10,000 a year - of course it's not full-time, but since I spend about 10 hours/month with them, I have plenty of time to take on other ministry, so I serve full-time in ministry.
I also train clergy how to do this - in several dioceses so far.
this is ministry re-imagination. This is starting from a different set of assumptions about what ministry is, and how clergy and congregations work together.
oh, and I have a *lot* to say about 'family-size dynamics'!
https://www.freerangepriest.org/p/the-myth-of-the-program-size-church
What is growing is a new way of being church.
Father Cathie, just a word about a project I'm involved with. Pastor died. Congregation dropped from 100 to 12. Presbytery killed it. Now there is remnant that wants to meet online for the summer. I have no idea what will happen but I'm along for the ride.
I am truly sorry for all the trauma associated with that.
AND - I am truly excited for the possibility before you.
Glad to have you here.
Hi Cathie. Keep describing your mission with the small church! I’d like to know more about the church software.
I continue to work at the possibility of the deaconhood, which could be getting more focused this fall. Pray for my continued work, please.
totally praying for you, Floyd. I can tell there is some kind of call there!
and I know you've already subscribed to my other publication: Trexo.
We're going to start doing discernment conversations on the first Wednesday of the month - so next Wednesday! - at 4pm Eastern. It will be livestreamed - so you'll get the link sent to you via email.
I'd love to have you there! (of course there will be a recording as well).
also, we use Planning Center for church management software - which I find very easy to use, and it is done on a sliding scale, so even the smallest congregations can use it.
Here's a blog I wrote about it:
https://www.freerangepriest.org/p/the-church-app-as-pastoral-care
planningcenter.com