BIG Things are Happening!

As you read this, I’m in San Francisco attending the MCC Large Church Pastors Conference. Yes, as you might imagine, there is plenty of “size matters” double entendre being bandied about. The fact that we’re meeting in MCC San Francisco’s sanctuary in the Castro seems to encourage the jokes, probably because “size matters” is one of the prevalent themes of window displays and advertisements.

Now, you might think I digress in beginning with this description of the conference, but actually, I’m right on task. The point is, size really does matter, especially in churches. Some of you will remember that in the two years before leaving to serve as Elder, Rev. Ken Martin began to work with the Board and other church leaders in the area of church size dynamics. One of the themes of my candidacy week with you included numerous conversations about the congregation’s willingness and my ability to lead us into our “big church” years.

“Big church” is variously defined, but for our purposes, the label means an average weekly worship attendance of 350 or more. Reaching that kind of size has many implications for a church. One of the greatest impacts, as we often talk about, is the changing role of Sr. Pastor. Most noticeably, perhaps, has been our shift from a congregation in which the Sr. Pastor provides the majority of pastoral care to a model in which our 25 Deacons are now trained and supported in providing a great deal of pastoral care for the congregation at large and the Sr. Pastor provides pastoral care for the Deacons. The Sr. Pastor or another member of the pastoral staff also provide care in any situations beyond our Deacons’ training or confidence level.

Last year, I attended the LCP conference a mere 3 weeks after being installed as your pastor. The experience was invaluable in two ways: First, we received excellent training from a member of the Alban Institute staff pertaining to large churches and multi-staff management. Second, the introduction to new colleagues and friends from the denomination’s other large churches opened up a collegial support and information sharing network that I relied on over and over throughout the year.

This time, I’m not quite so green, feel much more comfortable participating in the give and take of ideas and resource sharing, and am (if possible) even more excited about getting back to you and beginning to implement some of the ideas that have been shared or inspired through our sessions.

Size dynamics is such an important area that a great deal of our Elders’ new structural model takes into account the size of churches. Rev. Elder Darlene Garner will still serve MCC Austin as our “care” Elder and will still work with us in areas of connection, communication, and care as well as moderate our Region VI conferences. But beginning in August, Rev. Elder Ken Martin and Rev. Elder Lillie Brock will be working more directly with MCC Austin as they take on the responsibility of providing leadership and resources to the MCC churches that already are or are moving toward the “large church” category.

All jokes aside, I know talk of “big church” and “size dynamics” is not a comfortable or exciting topic for many of you. Some of you have loved MCC Austin for years and your greatest desire is for it to keep that smaller, “we’re a family” feeling. Some of you still aren’t sure that it sits well with you for your pastor not to be the one you count on for all your care concerns. Some of you wonder how much time we have left before being part of MCC Austin starts to feel institutional or impersonal.

Friends, we (I say “we” because we share responsibility for how we grow.) are not going to let that happen. If we do what we’ve dreamed about, talked about, and sung about since Advent and draw the circle wide, we’re going to have a BIG circle with ever more souls on the inside. Whether we continue to feel “at home” and “part of the family” at MCC Austin is up to us. The staff and I will work diligently to provide worship and connection points through ministries and other opportunities. The board will continue to work hard to ensure that we have the financial health and resources to keep improving and adding to our programming and other connection points. And you will keep making sure that MCC Austin feels like home to our faith family as you continue embracing our mission to affirm everyone’s gifts and journeys, connect people with God and each other, and create hope and healing.

I’ll be coming home next week after I enjoy some vacation time with my family, and I promise you I won’t leave my heart in San Francisco. How could I? I left it with you in Austin.

BIG Love and BIG Blessings,