FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY
Rev. Brice Hughes 

"WHAT SIZE CHURCH?

What is the right size for a church? Is bigger always better? What changes take place as church attendance changes? What are the tradeoffs as churches change in size? This is an important issue for us at this time because the size of church God is calling us to be will affect the strengths we need in our next Called Pastor.

As we continue to follow our vision of where God is calling us to be as a congregation, we hear language about “Pastoral Churches” and “Program Churches.” This newsletter and the next will present brief descriptions of “Pastoral” and “Program” sized churches in the hope that these snapshots will help as we move forward toward our vision. This week, a brief description of Pastoral Church size; next week, Program Size Church.

“Pastoral Churches” are generally in the range of 50-150 in average worship attendance. The Pastor (or Pastors) is at the center of the church. Members of the congregation tend to relate directly to the Pastor as the place where their spiritual needs are met. Visitors and new members most commonly become part of the congregation because of their relationship with the Pastor.

A relatively small leadership circle, working directly with the pastor, is responsible for leading the church. While the Pastor is usually a key player in every activity of the church, it is important that the pastor delegate authority and assign responsibility to others. To function at peak effectiveness, the involvement of a large percentage of membership is needed.

Communication with the congregation at large is of key importance. Leaders cannot assume that the congregation is aware of decisions and plans made; significant energies need to be focused on communicating with the congregation at large.

While a congregation this size is made up of more than one extended family, the congregation still feels a sense of identity as one large family, where everyone knows everyone else. The strength of relationships between members of the congregation is a major factor in the strength of the congregation. Like a large family, conflicts between any two members are keenly felt by the whole group. Conflicts between individuals often cause anxiety in the whole group out of proportion to the issue at hand because the presence of conflict within the community is perceived as a threat to the whole community.

This congregation has been functioning at about the peak of attendance and activity for a Pastoral Church, with three worship services averaging nearly 200 in total attendance per week. Based on the work of Roy Oswald and others, it seems unlikely that attendance and participation at MCC will grow significantly under a Pastoral sized structure. In order to grow in size, the structure at MCC will need to change to a Program sized structure. Next week, a snapshot of the Program Size Church.

Grace and Peace,
Brice Hughes
Interim Minister 

WEEK OF COMPASSION VIDEO 

FLOOD RECOVERY CONTINUES
Mission Station Workers Thank MCC 

Marion Christian's Mission Station has just completed hosting this summer’s first week of mission volunteers. (See related story below) Workers came from Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, MO, Raytown Christian Church, Raytown, MO, and St. Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, KS. Here are the messages left by the workers following their week of work in the area:

Thank you very much for opening your church home to us. Everyone we met, from Lyle to Althea, went out of their way to see that we were taken care of. God bless you all!

Very excellent reception, friendliness, Christian charity, and accommodations! Thank you Marion Christian Church.

We couldn’t do it without your church’s support. Thanks for your hospitality.

Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality and fellowship. It’s meeting folks like you that make these mission trips special. Please look us up in Olathe if you ever make it to KC.

MCC- our new home away from home! Darrel and Friends, the light of Christ illuminated the face and heart of everyone here at MCC and everyone we met here in Iowa. Sincere thanks for a warm bed, hot showers and hearty meals. Love and prayers to all. Althea, I have a new hero. P.S. Darrel, we will miss your concierge services.

Thank you for the friendship and fellowship. Lyle does a great job keeping your facility nice. We loved staying here.

Thanks for all your hospitality. Everyone we met was so cordial I never felt like a stranger. it’s a big step to open your church to people you don’t know and you have done it so graciously.

The great hospitality from Marion Christian Church made this week enjoyable and productive. I look forward to visiting you again.

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Church World Service is sponsoring an ecumenical build in Cedar Rapids from mid-April through May. Each denomination is working to recruit groups of 15-20 from all over to participate in the build. Josh Baird, Associate Director of Disciples Volunteering, and Brandon Gilvin, Associate Director of Week of Compassion are involved in the planning committee for this build. They are specifically recruiting volunteers to come for the first 3 weeks of May. Most of the work will be done in the neighborhoods down near Cedar Christian Church.

Marion Christian Church is planning to continue to host volunteer groups coming in to help with flood recovery. We already have our first reservation from a group in Kansas the first week in May for the ecumenical build. We have been asked if we can provide one evening meal a week for the month of May, just like we did last year for the “Alternative Spring Break” (efforts that were made on Cedar Christian Church). If any individuals or groups would like to take up this challenge to help prepare and serve a meal, one evening a week for 4 weeks, please contact me or the Church office. MCC did an excellent job last year and I received many very positive comments and thanks from the volunteers who came and enjoyed our hospitality. As May is not very far away, please let us know if you can help so we can start planning.

If anyone would like to join in the special build, you can also let me know. I am planning on taking a few days vacation in May to help out with the build. I am sure that if you would like to join in with any of the volunteer groups we host this year, to go and work with them, they would welcome you. The more the merrier!

Trying to stay on God’s path, one step at a time.

Darrell Boatwright
MCC Volunteer Coordinator 

Home page
Welcome;
Financial Peace Univ.
Page 2
From the Pastor's Study;
WOC Video;
Flood Recovery Continues;
Mission Station Thanks
Page 3
Sunday School;
Adult Sunday School
Page 4
W.O.W.;
SmugMug Pictures;
Little Girl & Psalm 23
Page 5
Map to the Church;
"Cartoon of the Day,"
Disciples of Christ Video
Page 6
Disciples News Briefs
August 12, 2010
Page 7
Newsletter
September 1, 2010