Growing Church

We just recently had our annual church conference, and one of the things we talked about was church growth.

We are at a weekly attendance level of approximately 125, and our District Superintendent shared that that's one of those plateau levels, considered a "barrier" level. It's very difficult to move from 125 to higher attendance.

There's a book by Gary L. McIntosh, Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There. The author, president of the Church Growth Network and professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Talbot School of Theology, makes some suggestions to help breach the 125 barrier.

• Start a Second Worship Service
• Add Staff
• Add Classes
• Expand Facilities
• Continually Increase Programming
• Pastor Becomes Administrator rather than Shepherd
• Delegate Ministry
• Mobilize Lay People 
• Streamline the Decision-Making Process

We've already started a second worship service, but some of the other suggestions raise questions, at least in my mind.

Do we want a pastor who's an administrator rather than a shepherd? Who will shepherd our flock?

What do you think?