Episode 12: Small Things Well with Karl Vaters
…author of De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next
Karl Vaters joins The Last Service Podcast to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing small churches. With over 40 years of pastoral experience and as the author of several books on small church ministry, Karl provides valuable insights to help small congregations thrive.
Key Topics:
- Defining what constitutes a "small church"
- The obsession with big church models and church growth movements
- Finding metrics beyond attendance to assess church health
- Navigating successful pastoral transitions and succession plans
- The life cycle of churches and signs it may be ending
- Creating a positive legacy when a church closes
Quotes:
"We have to be thinking more innovatively and creatively than just the church building itself." - Karl Vaters on repurposing church facilities
"Integrity is the new competence. We've been teaching primarily management tools for 30 years. People aren't leaving because we didn't get techniques right, but because of a lack of integrity." - Vaters
"There does come a point where a church closing becomes inevitable...you have to be proactive and make difficult decisions." - Vaters on knowing when to end well
Listen to this insightful episode to gain wisdom for thriving as a small congregation or navigating a church's ending with Christ-centered integrity.
3 Key Takeaways:
1. Small churches are different animals than large churches, and bigger isn't always better. Be careful of applying big church solutions and tools to small churches and find ways to define the church's health beyond Sunday morning attendance.
2. Pastor transitions can cause existential problems for a church. They require time, intention, and clear communication.
3. We can think of a church's lifecycle like flowing down a river. There will be an ending. We must be aware of where we are in our life cycle and pay attention to the signs of what's coming. When we've passed the point of no return, let Christ be your legacy and do the work to ensure the remaining resources build the kingdom of God.
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