Karen B. Tye
Chapter One Review by The Mustard Seed
“As we begin to think about
Christian Education in the small membership church, it is important to get the
lay of the land. To do this we need to look at two things. First, we need to
reflect on the nature of the small membership church in general. What are some
characteristics of these churches that shape their congregational lives? We
also need to do a brief overview of education – what it is, why we do it, and
what some of the essentials elements of Christian education are, no matter what
the size of the church. Once we have developed this lay of the land, then we
will have a good foundation from which to explore the ministry of Christian
education in the small membership church in ways that are meaningful and
appropriate to these congregations.” (p. 1)
The most
common criterion for qualifying a church as “small” is that is has less than
one hundred attending worship. Small churches used to primarily be rural
parishes or only within small towns, however, today we find small churches
everywhere. So, what other qualities are particularly important when planning a
Christian education program within a small membership church? According to Tye,
there are six qualities that stand out in regards to education.
Starting
with the first quality: “a strong sense of community.” (p. 2)
Relationships are what matter most to members of a small church, not the
programs that are offered. Fostering those relationships and knowing and caring
for each other is a priority, central to the church’s sense of mission.
Educationally speaking, this means that we should focus on a people-centered
education strategy where we pay attention to the particular needs and
interests of members through curriculum and methods that give careful thought
to how we can address those needs and interests. “In other words, surround
the people in the daily, intimate settings of their lives with the teachings of
their faith, and they will more than likely “catch a serious case of
faithfulness.” “ (p. 4)
Secondly, a
small membership church “is like a family.” (p. 4) Often, small
membership churches are like a family both figuratively and literally. New
members don’t join, they are adopted into this family! These family ties
provide comfort and security; they are forgiving of certain slips and
behaviors, and supportive of any family member’s vision to improve and enlarge
programs which serve the family’s needs. From the Christian education
perspective, a benefit of comparing membership to a family image is that we see
that many generations make up the church. All generations should be invited
to contribute to the church’s Christian education program. “Functioning
like a multigenerational family allows the small membership church to be a
place where the old can teach the young and where the young can guide the old.
It is a place where the one teenager in the congregation can see herself as a
vital and needed part of the family, the church. You don’t need a youth group
to do this!” (p. 5)
Next,
within a small membership church, “traditions run deep.” (p. 6)
Orthodoxy and tradition go together hand-in-hand, a beautiful symbiotic
relationship. Tye summarizes how deep roots of tradition applies to Christian
education within the small membership church (and in this case, a large
membership Orthodox Christian church, too) by writing, “Holding on to our
traditions helps up know who we are and provides an anchor in a culture that
seems to pride itself on living only in and for the moment. A key purpose of
Christian education is to provide continuity. It is to pass on the traditions
and teachings that form the core of our identity and help us know who and whose
we are.” (p. 6)
After
that, the author discusses the quality of “a high percentage of
participation.” (p. 7) While there may be fewer names on the rolls of small
membership churches, research shows that there is a higher percentage of people
who actively participate in church activities. This should be encouraging to
your small membership church! Small does not mean deficient. Be aware that
there is a smaller pool from which to draw for Christian education staffing,
and there is a risk of burnout, so use wisdom and caution when forming a
volunteer staffing model. Keep it simple and realistic, with room to grow or
adapt as opportunities present themselves. “Encouraging ourselves to think
of an educational ministry that is woven into the life of the congregation and
utilizes already existing gatherings and groupings allows us to take advantage
of the higher level of participation and involve all the congregation in the
call to Christian formation.” (p. 8)
Next, the
author points out that “organization structure is simplified.” (p. 8)
There is no denying that small membership churches have fewer people and fewer
resources to use in Christian education. Accepting these facts leads to the
solution of a simplified organizational structure, which can mean that your
program may operate on a shorter time frame, planning will occur closer to an
event’s actual date, planning will be informal without multiple special
meetings, and often the course of action will be determined through phone
calls and conversations during Coffee Hour. It’s good to know that
communication is generally faster within a small membership church; this is to
your advantage! “Planning does not require a complex organizational structure,
but the call to be intentional and deliberate needs to be at the heart of our
commitment to Christian education.” (p. 9)
The final
quality of a small membership church is “worship is the primary activity.”
(p. 9) When a congregation comes together to worship, there is more going on
besides worship (even though the Liturgy will always be the most important
event we celebrate.) There is education happening! “It is important to
celebrate the centrality of worship in the small membership church and to see
it as a strength. Also, we need to see, then, that worship is a central
context for education in this setting. We need to realize that everything
we do in worship is helping to form the people of God, helping them know what
it means to be a disciple of Christ.” (p. 10)
Throughout the rest of the
chapter, the author reflects upon the essential elements of Christian education
as it applies to a small membership church. The following quotes are selections
that might provide a starting point as you explore and discuss your church’s
educational needs with others who share your commitment to educational
ministry.
“Children often learn
appropriate worship behavior not from formal teaching but from being in worship
on a regular basis and watching the people around them. To understand education
as a process of socialization is to understand the importance of participation
in the life of the small membership church in its daily, ordinary activities
and events.” (p. 13) Church School Directors, please note: Socialization is
recognized as a primary method of catechesis in the Orthodox church.
“The basics of education in
any setting, including the church, require us to think about what education is,
why we do it, where and when we do it, who the participants are, and how we go
about it. These are the essentials elements in any educational endeavor.” (p.
16)
Further
Reflection (p. 17-18)
List
the qualities of a small membership church discussed in this chapter: a strong
sense of community, being like a family, deep traditions, high percentage of
participation, simple organizational structure, and the centrality of worship.
Consider the following:
·
Rank these qualities
one to six in terms of how well they describe your church, beginning with one
as the strongest trait of your congregation.
·
What other qualities
of a small membership church would you identify? Where do these qualities rank
on your list?
Summary
Relationships
are what matter most to members of a small church, so this means that we should
focus on a people-centered education strategy. The life of a small membership
church is shaped by a family-like structure, a strong sense of community, and
deep traditions. And fortunately, these parishes are blessed with a high
percentage of participation from members, which provides opportunity for
recruitment to Christian education ministry – although a small volunteer pool
means the risk of staff burnout is higher, so always be mindful of this.
Up
Next...
The
remainder of the book “Christian Education in the Small Membership Church” is
structured into chapters focusing on the questions of who/where/when/how in
Christian education, plus two additional chapters covering resources and
guiding principles. The next post in this series will discuss the people of the
small membership church: the who. What do we need to know about these
participants of Christian education? “In the small membership church, we have
to think about the people, who they are, what they want and need, and what we
can expect of them.” (p. 19)
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