Characteristics of MidSize Congregations and Leaders

Source: George Bullard

4 Sizes of MidSize Congregations

1. Pastoral (100/70)

2. Shared Leadership (150/110)

3. Shifting Stage (220/150)

4. Program (300/225)

How Do MidSize Congregations Get to Be That Size?

1. Once smaller, grew to MidSize.

2. Once larger, decreased to MidSize.

3. Been MidSize for at least 7-9 years. Institutionalized at that size Requires greatest effort to turn-around

Niches in the 100-300 Range

+ (have grown to current size)

- (declined to current size)

+/- (at present size 7-9 years)

Pastoral (100/70)

Shared(150/110)

Shifting(220/150)

Program(300/225)

7 Characteristics of MidSize Congregations 1. They know who they are.

Clear sense of identity, history, values, mission

2. They know where they’re headed. Vision, goals

3. They seek to fulfill God’s vision for them through intentional actions. High quality programming re: goals

7 Characteristics of MidSize Congregations 4. Focus on addressing human hurts and spiritual hopes of

individuals.

5. Share (not hoard) their gifts and resources. i.e. Glocal (GlobaLocal) missions

6. Are flexible and creative. Open to experimentation

7. Can disagree w/o being disagreeable. Unity not defined by conformity but consistency

Diagnostic Questions

1. Which of these 7 are most characteristic of your congregation? What can be done to strengthen these?

2. Least characteristic? To what extent will these 3 keep you from

reaching your Kingdom potential?

Most and Least Characteristic

+ (Most) - (Least)1. Identity2. Vision3. Intentional4.Address hurts5. Shares 6. Flex/creative7. Can agree

Characteristics of Midsize leaders

1. They are clear about their identify.

2. Are clear about destination.

3. Help congregations fulfill God’s vision for them through intentional actions.

Characteristics of Midsize leaders

4. Help congregations address human hurts and spiritual hopes of people.

5. Model servanthood to empower networks of ministry partners.

Characteristics of Midsize leaders 6. Build cultures that have passion for future

mission fulfillment that extends far past the current leaders. Story-telling at 2025

7. Know how to place individual and cultural diversity in perspective to the overall core ideology and envisioned future of the congregation.

Diagnostic Questions

1. Which of these 7 are most characteristic of your leadership? What can be done to strengthen the

effectiveness of these characteristics?

2. Least characteristic? To what extent will these 3 keep you from

reaching your Kingdom potential?

Most and Least Characteristic

+ (Most) - (Least)1. Identity2. Destination3. Intentional4.Address hurts5. Serve/model6. Life beyond7. Diversity

Remember:

The goal is not to create great leaders, but great congregations

Leadership is not an end in itself, but a means to another end

Characteristics of MidSize Congregations and Leaders

Copyright John P. Chandler, 2000

Sidebar: 22/44 Ministry Mobilizers

People giving 22 hrs/week, 44 weeks/year Keeps under 1000 hour/year U.S. tax laws Spouses, retirees Building leadership culture in congregation Based on aptitude rather than training Can give more productivity than full-time

generalists (60%, given administration)

Sidebar: 22/44 Ministry Mobilizers

Can have closed-end experience (1-3 yrs) rather than “till something goes wrong”

Can employ 3-4 mobilizers for same cost of one full-time ordained staff

A growing church should look at adding 22/44 mobilizers to staff

Reframes sr. pastor’s job to coaching staff