Clarke has a BA in Christianity, 1981, Mercer University, Macon, GA

Master of Divinity, 1984, Candler School of Theology,
Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Master of Theology, 1985, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ

Doctor of Ministry, 2004, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Richmond, VA

Is married to Trish and they have a son, Joshua and a daughter, Campbell.

Interests include: reading, fishing, canoeing, baseball,
tennis, music (all kinds), and tinkering with computers.

Congregational Size

A few weeks ago I looked at men's shirts in a local clothier. I found solid and stripe shirts that were blue, yellow, white, and olive colored. After I finally settled on the color of a shirt, then I had to consider the size. I noticed that the sizes were expressed as small, medium, large, and extra large or as 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and even 20. At this point, the trick was to match my shirt of choice with my given size. For me the easy work was choosing the color of the shirt. It has been my experience, however, that occasionally a shirt listed in my size as large may not be the same size as the numerical equivalent. So, I end up trying on the shirt before buying it.

As I thought about the size of my shirt being important for appearing properly, comfortably, and nicely dressed, it occurred to me that size is an important factor for many things such as tires on cars or rings on fingers. And if size is an integral part of things in general, it must be an important factor for churches. Carl Dudley and many others describe churches or label them based upon their size.

The first kind of church is the "family church." The family church has upward to 50 people who are active in the church and usually are dependable in attendance. The second category of church has 50 - 150 active members and is called the "pastoral church." The third kind of church has 150 - 350 active members and may be called the "program church." Finally, the fourth category of church has over 350 active members and may be labeled the "corporation church."

In each category, reference is made to "active member." The Episcopal Church in its Congregational Vitality Series (CVR, Series 1, p. 2, Internet) says that one gauge of active membership is the average attendance at worship over the period of a year. This definition is important because it covers a measurable length of time and does not rely upon a membership role, which in most churches has the names of many people who never or seldom attend any longer. Also, this definition lends respect and integrity to the people who are active and loyal to the institutional church.

The Episcopal CVR also states, "There is no intent … to attach any stigma or respectability to size as such. On the contrary, it is assumed that any size church is the right size, and any size church can attract and assimilate new members" (Ibid). Church size is affected by many variables such as location and characterization. If a church is on 5th and Main Street in the inner city, parking may be a factor that sustains a given number of active members. Also, a rural church may have fewer active members than a suburban church. The same rural community may have people from the community traveling a distance to worship in a larger more urban congregation. Nonetheless, the above statement remains true: any size church can attract and assimilate new members.

From my experience, I have noticed active members from family and pastoral churches striving to reach the next level inferring and perhaps thinking that "bigger is better." It is in error to think that the next category is less troublesome; it is not. For example, if a church transitions in number from a "family" church to a "pastoral" church, the active membership must be willing to not only shed some old ways of doing church but also must embrace some new ways of practicing the faith. No one should assume that moving from one category eases the burden of church. It simply redefines the work of the church.

Until a church of any category reaches the next level (the corporate level being a topic by itself), the active membership does well to understand that active membership size will affect the way a new member ministry, among many ministries, is conducted. For example, the way a "family" church performs new member ministry will differ from the way a "program" church undertakes a new member ministry.

Different congregational sizes are a church reality. The ability to practice ministry will vary among the different sized churches but this does not mean that ministry in any given church from small to large has to be compromised. Active membership simply must have a healthy self-understanding and then build ministries upon this self-awareness.

Grace and Peace in Christ,

Clarke Hawkins