The Barna Research Group has posted the results of a new survey How Faith Varies by Church Size. What interests me in the results is that there appears to be more diversity of opinions about faith issues in smaller congregations than in larger ones.
I believe that the larger the congregation, the more limited you will find the theological conversation because the pastor is the dominant voice and has centralized control over all congregation-wide conversation topics and influential participants. In smaller congregations, the pastor’s voice is one among many. The pastor is not in control of the conversation, the voices who are invited to have influence or the diversity of opinions within the congregation.
The large church breeds similarity. The small church may be our greatest hope of nurturing our conversation with diversity.
Copyright 2009 by Kenneth L. Morrison All Rights Reserved
Dr. Ken Morrison
Pastor
Via de Cristo United Methodist Fellowship
7430 E Pinnacle Peak Road, Ste 134
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-515-4490
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