Comments on: Medium-sized church crisis http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: adammclane.com » » Changing the metaphor for small church http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-5223 adammclane.com » » Changing the metaphor for small church Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:09:09 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-5223 [...] couple months back I raised some eyebrows by saying that medium-sized churches were in crisis. Since that post I’ve had dozens more conversations which confirm that it isn’t just me [...] [...] couple months back I raised some eyebrows by saying that medium-sized churches were in crisis. Since that post I’ve had dozens more conversations which confirm that it isn’t just me [...]

]]> By: adammclane.com » » Medium-sized Church Crisis… Let’s Talk Money http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4923 adammclane.com » » Medium-sized Church Crisis… Let’s Talk Money Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:03:49 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4923 [...] first time I talked about this topic, the assumption in comments was that the reason the medium-sized church is struggling is because of [...] [...] first time I talked about this topic, the assumption in comments was that the reason the medium-sized church is struggling is because of [...]

]]> By: adam mclane http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4892 adam mclane Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:29:47 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4892 Jeff- awesome thoughts. I tend to agree with you. I'm going to talk about money next, but I spent a little time on this post http://adammclane.com/2009/02/14/two-kinds-of-medium-sized-church-people/ explaining exactly the tension you mention.... there seem to be two kinds of church people right now, megachurch people and small church people. If you subscribe to the blog, soon you'll see the post where I talk about money and why the medium-sized church will get squeezed and the mega/small churches will be OK. Jeff- awesome thoughts. I tend to agree with you. I’m going to talk about money next, but I spent a little time on this post http://adammclane.com/2009/02/14/two-kinds-of-medium-sized-church-people/ explaining exactly the tension you mention…. there seem to be two kinds of church people right now, megachurch people and small church people.

If you subscribe to the blog, soon you’ll see the post where I talk about money and why the medium-sized church will get squeezed and the mega/small churches will be OK.

]]> By: jeff http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4891 jeff Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:09:33 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4891 I actually think the economic issues may hit the mega church hardest. Many of them are leveraged to the max to get into their buildings and are driven by paid staff, not a paid staff/lay mix. If the money dries up, look out. That being said, I have said before I think the mid-sized church will have a tougher time in the church "marketplace" in the years to come. I pastor at a mid-sized church and the folks that come to our church via a local mega church want more intimacy and relational connection..without sacrificing programmatic quality/excellence. Well, we don't have a full time video person and a full time light/sound person and the preacher is not able to dedticate 30+ hours a week to their sermon. You do not get the same "experience" at my church as you do at the church down the road with the staff of 40. If you come from a small church hoping for more opportunities/activities for your children, my mid-sized church will offer that. But you will not have the "everybody knows everybody" feel like you had in the church you left. Mid-sized church are going to be increasingly squeezed because they can not offer the same programmatic excellence as the mega church nor the relational intimacy of the small church. Great conversation. I am going to get follow up comments by email to see what others have to say. I actually think the economic issues may hit the mega church hardest. Many of them are leveraged to the max to get into their buildings and are driven by paid staff, not a paid staff/lay mix. If the money dries up, look out.

That being said, I have said before I think the mid-sized church will have a tougher time in the church “marketplace” in the years to come. I pastor at a mid-sized church and the folks that come to our church via a local mega church want more intimacy and relational connection..without sacrificing programmatic quality/excellence. Well, we don’t have a full time video person and a full time light/sound person and the preacher is not able to dedticate 30+ hours a week to their sermon. You do not get the same “experience” at my church as you do at the church down the road with the staff of 40.

If you come from a small church hoping for more opportunities/activities for your children, my mid-sized church will offer that. But you will not have the “everybody knows everybody” feel like you had in the church you left.

Mid-sized church are going to be increasingly squeezed because they can not offer the same programmatic excellence as the mega church nor the relational intimacy of the small church.

Great conversation. I am going to get follow up comments by email to see what others have to say.

]]> By: adammclane.com » » Two Kinds of Medium Sized Church People http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4871 adammclane.com » » Two Kinds of Medium Sized Church People Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:57:36 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4871 [...] are some more thoughts on the medium-sized church crisis. My post the other day attracted a fair amount of comments and attention… and I was pretty [...] [...] are some more thoughts on the medium-sized church crisis. My post the other day attracted a fair amount of comments and attention… and I was pretty [...]

]]> By: adammclane.com » » Stellar Day http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4864 adammclane.com » » Stellar Day Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:19:57 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4864 [...] schedule yesterday, before I left my house at 6:15 AM I saw that Todd Rhoades had mentioned one of my blog posts on Monday Morning Insight. I was like a school girl when I saw that, very exciting. Also, Patti [...] [...] schedule yesterday, before I left my house at 6:15 AM I saw that Todd Rhoades had mentioned one of my blog posts on Monday Morning Insight. I was like a school girl when I saw that, very exciting. Also, Patti [...]

]]> By: Are mid-sized churches disappearing as a result of the recession? : Sic et Non http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4863 Are mid-sized churches disappearing as a result of the recession? : Sic et Non Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:10:18 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4863 [...] mid-sized churches disappearing as a result of the recession? Adam Lane thinks they might be (HT: Todd [...] [...] mid-sized churches disappearing as a result of the recession? Adam Lane thinks they might be (HT: Todd [...]

]]> By: adam mclane http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4862 adam mclane Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:55:38 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4862 @ray "The recession just accelerates that trend." I think this is so true. I agree wit this wholeheartedly. I think some of this has to do with efficiency. A megachurch can spread costs across many givers than middle churches can't. Likewise, small churches can be very efficient by creating a volunteer driven ministry that wouldn't be accepted elsewhere. @ray “The recession just accelerates that trend.” I think this is so true. I agree wit this wholeheartedly.

I think some of this has to do with efficiency. A megachurch can spread costs across many givers than middle churches can’t. Likewise, small churches can be very efficient by creating a volunteer driven ministry that wouldn’t be accepted elsewhere.

]]> By: Paul http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4861 Paul Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:13:16 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4861 I don't interact with a lot of churches, but I'm not seeing that the economy is effecting churches of different sizes differently. I'm a part of a medium sized church and we've reduced our budget and staff slightly this year. I've heard most medium and mega churches are doing the same thing. I would imagine that small churches that were already in bad shape financially as well as medium and mega churches that took on a lot of debt for building programs before the financial crisis are having to take more drastic measures or close. I don’t interact with a lot of churches, but I’m not seeing that the economy is effecting churches of different sizes differently.

I’m a part of a medium sized church and we’ve reduced our budget and staff slightly this year. I’ve heard most medium and mega churches are doing the same thing.

I would imagine that small churches that were already in bad shape financially as well as medium and mega churches that took on a lot of debt for building programs before the financial crisis are having to take more drastic measures or close.

]]> By: Ray Pritchard http://adammclane.com/2009/02/09/medium-sized-church-crisis/#comment-4860 Ray Pritchard Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:34:24 +0000 http://adammclane.com/?p=3881#comment-4860 Adam, your observations are spot-on. I would broaden it to include ministries as well. Larger ministries generally have a substantial donor base to turn to in times like these. New or start-up ministries have smaller donor bases but generally have lower overhead. It's the ones in the middle that are being squeezed. I have a friend who for years led a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Having been through this sort of thing before, he says churches must do what businesses do and make tough choices now, not tomorrow. He laid out the plan his company follows. They have already cut expenses across the board by 25 percent and may do more. "It's tough now but we'll be in good shape when this recession finally ends," he told me. Churches have a tougher time doing this, some wait too late. Anyway, neat little graph. I've thought for years that middle-sized churches are being squeezed out of the market. The recession just accelerates that trend. Ray Anh Adam, your observations are spot-on. I would broaden it to include ministries as well. Larger ministries generally have a substantial donor base to turn to in times like these. New or start-up ministries have smaller donor bases but generally have lower overhead. It’s the ones in the middle that are being squeezed.

I have a friend who for years led a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Having been through this sort of thing before, he says churches must do what businesses do and make tough choices now, not tomorrow. He laid out the plan his company follows. They have already cut expenses across the board by 25 percent and may do more. “It’s tough now but we’ll be in good shape when this recession finally ends,” he told me. Churches have a tougher time doing this, some wait too late.

Anyway, neat little graph. I’ve thought for years that middle-sized churches are being squeezed out of the market. The recession just accelerates that trend. Ray

Anh

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