| by Alice Mann
Alice Mann, Senior Consultant with the Alban Institute, served for two decades in the dual roles of local pastor and nationally recognized consultant-trainer in the field of congregational development. Her particular areas of emphasis include incorporating new members, redeveloping struggling congregations, defining judicatory roles in growth and revitalization, breaking through size plateaus, and deepening parish spirituality. She engages large and small groups in practical learning and candid conversation about the choices church leaders face today.
This special report defines the "smaller congregation," explains how small congregations can be vital, and examines the challenges and options facing small congregations—including the options of shifting to part-time clergy, merging two or more congregations, clustering, securing lay pastors or local clergy, growing, or "ending well."
A set of related resources, as well as a print-ready version of this report, are available by clicking on the links at the bottom of the left-hand menu. (To access the print-ready version, you will need to have installed the free download, Adobe Acrobat.)
Introduction
This report explores the many ways smaller congregations adapt to resource challenges in the current economic climate. It is designed to help two audiences:
- Smaller-church and smaller-synagogue leaders—lay, licensed, and ordained, and
- Partners of smaller congregations—including denominational staff, consultants, and potential participants in co-operative ministry arrangements.
We hope that this resource will help you and your congregation to fulfill these purposes:
- Widen your view of the options available to smaller congregations that find themselves struggling to sustain a vital life and ministry;
- Deepen your understanding of particular options, when they might be useful, and what is required in order for them to succeed;
- Share knowledge easily with others, without financial barriers, by referring them to this site and its contents.
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