Decades ago, church consultant Lyle Schaller coined the term “The Awkward-Sized Church” in his book The Middle-Sized Church. This term refers to congregations ranging in size between 160 and 240 in Sunday morning worship. Statistics and personal experience tell us that churches of this size are now being overshadowed by both smaller and larger congregations, contributing to the phenomenon often referred to as the “vanishing middle.” In fact, many people in churches of this size consider their church to be small. Let’s consider some of the unique challenges facing the awkward-sized church today.
The positive aspects of a church this size are numerous. The awkward-sized church is usually large enough to provide the resources needed for mission and outreach and to support a full-time pastor. Additionally, it is often small enough that regular attendees can know one another by name. Moreover, one might find one or two stand-out ministries in a church this size, such as worship music or student ministries. Many small towns and county seats across the state of Alabama can support a few churches of this size; often, these churches serve as the heartbeat of the local Baptist association or community missions organizations.
However, there are also drawbacks to consider. First, the awkward-sized church is too big and complex for a single pastor to fulfill all roles—preaching, shepherding, discipling, administration, and worship planning—without assistance. Many pastors in these churches are the only full-time ministers because the church cannot afford a second full-time minister. As a result, the stress on the single minister often leads to shorter pastoral tenures—usually a change of pastor occurs every three to four years. Second, churches of this size may be especially vulnerable to internal disruptions, such as conflict or pastoral transitions; when troubles arise, attendance may quickly decrease by one-third or even more. Third, due to limited time and resources, a church of this size may struggle to prioritize effectively. The wants and needs of the church often exceed the available resources. While strong ministries for students, children, music, missions, and senior adults may be possible in a larger church with multiple staff and budgetary support, the awkward-sized church must be more discerning about where to invest its time and resources.
How does the awkward-sized church continue to flourish despite these challenges? Serious consideration should be given to the approach and priorities of the church. Often, churches in this size bracket try to operate like smaller churches with hyper-democratic structures, failing to delegate enough responsibility and authority to leaders and ministry teams. Awkward-sized churches need leaders who are encouraged to lead! Furthermore, the awkward-sized church needs a pastor and supportive laity who will help set focused priorities in calendaring, budgeting, and ministry, all while paying careful attention to the needs of the church and community and utilizing every possible avenue of communication.
Communication is key in the awkward-sized church. While smaller churches often benefit from organic communication through the grapevine, this doesn’t always translate to the middle-sized church. At least 75% of discontent in the typical church is due to the conviction that people have not been heard. “No one listens to my concern.” Members of a church of this size need to be reminded that the church can’t do “everything” and do it well! Likewise, leaders in the awkward-sized church must avoid the danger of turf-ism and unhealthy ownership of various ministries—especially ministries that need revitalization or reevaluation. In addition to high-quality expositional preaching, keeping everyone communicating well is a key responsibility of a pastor in a church of this size.
Churches of 160 to 240 attendees are not as common as they once were but remain vital. In fact, churches of this size provide considerable ministry to the Kingdom and fund a significant portion of the mission dollars used to advance the Gospel through missions agencies. The awkward-sized church is small enough to feel like family and large enough to shape a community for Jesus Christ. Churches of this size can grow larger as God blesses the church and leaders address structural changes. Even so, pastoring such a church is sometimes called a “clergy-killer” sized congregation due to the unrealistic expectations.
In conclusion, some may say, “If our membership were larger, we wouldn’t have these challenges.” Not so! As churches grow, they simply exchange one set of problems for a different set. The important factor is that the Great Commission is obeyed, and disciples are made for God’s glory!