Slideshow image

Minor Can Be Major

Annual reports from Christian Churches provide ample documentation of decreasing membership across mainline parish congregations.

This decrease in numbers is not just in rural, less-populated areas of our country. Parish churches in all municipalities are experiencing this decline.

At the same time, there are some who are growing. They are in the minority.

The decline, in reality, affects the church at all levels: reduced numbers mean reduced resources for the ministry of the Christian gospel. Those resources are covered under the umbrella of the 3T’s of stewardship and thus, reduced time, talent, and treasure.

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada will need to address this issue of decline at its next gathering.

With all of this in mind, I watched a recent documentary on South Korea.

Geographically South Korea is small in relation to other countries. For example,  South Korea is small compared to Canada in square miles. Population comparison yields another story.

Some interesting facts:

  • South Korea borders water on three of four sides.

  • South Korea has one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world.

  • South Korea is a leader in high-quality steel production.

  • South Korea is the leading country in building cargo ships, due to its high-quality steel.

  • South Korea produced the first safety vests for the military and police.

  • South Korea has the fastest internet speed in the world.

  • South Korea has some of the most skilled engineers, architects, and math scholars.

  • South Korean men must serve in the armed forces, except for the most highly qualified students who can enter directly into engineering, architecture, and math sciences. 

These are only a few of South Korea’s assets. What do any of these mean to the small church? 

They tell us that small churches have great capabilities!

A survey of the successes of small parishes will reveal statistics like:

  • The percentage of giving is far greater than that of larger parishes, on a per family basis.

  • The percentage of members active in lay-ministry is high.

  • The percentage of members active in volunteering is high.

  • The level of practice in the three aspects of stewardship (time, talent, and treasure) is high.

This speaks well for the place of the small congregation or parish!

Sometimes we in small parishes may feel as if we border oceans on three sides. But this need not deter our vision for the future. Our faith in Christ is our resilience. It is like we are wearing safety vests.

Jesus gave us a great parable for the journey—the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt 13:31–32)

He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”

Let’s celebrate who we are and all of our successes.

Blessings for this week,
Archdeacon Brian+