15 Characteristics of the Small Church

While no church will manifest all 15 of these characteristics, in most cases there will be several that predominate.

1. The small church is relationally driven.
   There exists within the congregation a family atmosphere where individuals are considered part of a bigger family, where relationships become more important than performance and organization.
2. The small church works through informal channels.
   Because of the close relational bonds, decisions are often made over coffee rather than formal meetings. While policies and procedures for conducting church business are important and should be implemented, they should be communicated informally and in relational terms, rather than through formalized channels.
3. The small church works as a whole.
   When the church acts, it acts as a whole rather than as individual parts. The whole congregation makes decisions rather than a representative few. People desire to know what is going on in every program and ministry even though they are not directly involved. The ultimate decision-making authority resides within the congregation rather than within the board or pastor.
4. Power and authority reside in the laity rather than the pastor.
   The small church is owned and operated by the laity rather than the pastor. While the pastor may retain the title, the power of the church belongs to the people who have built and directed the church for generations. If the pastor comes into conflict with that power, then the pastor will often be asked to leave.
5. The small church relates as a family.
   The small church functions as a family. To become part of the family, a person must be grafted in. This depth of relationship takes time to develop, thus making it difficult for first timers to be included.
6. Communication occurs through the grapevine.
   Everyone knows what is going on because everyone talks about it. The rule of thumb regarding the grapevine is that the smaller the church and more close knit the people, the more the grapevine will be an asset.
7. Traditions and heritage undergird the structure, ministry, and culture.
   Within the small church, traditions are more than ruts; they are the stories and bonds that tie the present congregation to previous generations. Because the small church values not only the present membership, but also past members, traditions play an important role within the life and expression of the church. They are slow to change for change constitutes a break not only from the past, but from the past membership.
8. The church functions and worships intergenerationally.
   Because they are a family they want to be with the whole family. To divide the congregation by age is to split the family. People in the small church not only enjoy being with other family members; they often resent any segregation (other than during the Sunday school).
9. The focus is on people rather than performance.
   In the small church, the focus shifts to the individual person instead of performance. Thus, a person is kept in a particular position even though there are others more qualified and could do a better job.
10. They have a place for everyone.
    The small church has a place for everyone. Whether it be the mentally slow person who runs the sound system, or the retired grandmother who teaches the adult Sunday school class, everyone is given the opportunity to be involved.
11. The small church values relatives.
    Because of its size, the church often has a higher percentage of people related to other members of the church. This interrelatedness has tremendous impact in the life of the congregation. One way it impacts the church is in the selection of key leadership positions.
12. The small church values generalists.
    In an age of specialization, the small church values and utilizes generalists who can do a number of different jobs and responsibilities. Because there are few workers to perform the multiple tasks within the small church, there is a greater value placed on leaders who can do a number of things satisfactorily rather than an individual who can do one thing extremely well.
13. There is a place for everyone and everyone has a place.
    Place is extremely important in the small church. Like a family that sits in the same place for every meal, people sit in the same place Sunday after Sunday. When they are absent, everyone notices their places are empty and they are missed. Place is also a symbol of their belonging to the church family. It symbolizes their security in a world that is insecure. It becomes part of the memory and story of the congregation.
14. It has a different calendar and different timetable.
    Small churches have their own calendars around which they function. These calendars are often seasonal and tied to the employment base for the community.
15. Small-church attenders are givers.
    People in the small church have a strong sense of ownership of the church. As a result, they are willing to give their time and money to the church. However, often they view giving differently. Instead of giving from the standpoint of a set amount, they approach it based upon the needs of the church.