Ratio, O Ratio, Wherefore Art Thou, Ratio?
Comments
6 responses to “Ratio, O Ratio, Wherefore Art Thou, Ratio?”
-
Hmmm…I flipped past that article in Rev; I’ll have to go back and check it out.
A few things. I’m not sure that size doesn’t matter. The one that stands out to me is the 1:7 friends ratio. In smaller churches there is a smaller “pool” to make friends with. We can love each other as a family, but being family isn’t the same as being friends. In a larger church the “pool” is much greater to find people you have a connection with. (Just as in a larger church there seems to be a greater distribution of gifts and talents, i.e. multiple musicians etc.)
The other tricky one is the 1:4 visitors who stay. If someone could please tell me how to get people to stay! As a church we’ve been reading together Mark Dever’s book “What is a Healthy Church?” (excellent by the way) It’s a good reminder that no church is the perfect church; our goal is to be healthy. If only we could get every visitor to read that book. Too often I think people are looking for the “perfect church”. On any given Sunday I don’t think any church comes close to being perfect. And we get so few opportunities with visitors!
That’s what I think.
-
Michelle,
I always get a little wary when someone says a church “should” be this way or that. The only should I would want for my body of believers is “we should be walking with God,asking Him what *He* wants for *our* body” and not trying to copy what He’s doing in other bodies. -
From a medium sized Lutheran parish in rural Indiana these ratio numbers actually fit us. The last two however…
7:100 – Your church should have 7 groups for every 100 members-plus-regular-attenders
6:10 – For every 10 members-plus-reg-attenders, your church should have 6 role/task positions
We average about 250 per Sunday and we do not have anything near the numbers the author suggests. Yet these are thoughts and points to ponder. But again, rural people are not necessarily interested in programs…truth be told we have about 7 groups known as “families”
-
In larger churches, programs often serve as connecting points, though these programs often net people lots of shallow acquaintances rather than the kinds of friendships that fit the 1:7 ratio. People don’t need more stuff to do.
Pastor D and Eric, both of you pastor rural congregations. I loved Pastor D’s comment about 7 of his church’s groups actually being FAMILIES. Arn probably wasn’t thinking about families in computing these social science ratios. But they are the essential social structure, aren’t they?
Most of us want someplace where they know our name and they’re always glad we came (you know, like the ficticious `80’s bar, Cheers). The copying to which Michelle refers will never ever net authenticity. If a church uses stats like this to re-calibrate programs so they don’t “lose” people, they’re missing the point – and there will be little lasting fruit.
I appreciated the stats because I’ve felt very lonely in church, and the stats validated my own biased observations. However, I want to be a part of an organism, not an organization. And I know you commenters (and all you lovely lurkers) do too.
-
I very much relate to this post since I spent a few years recently looking for the right church for me, after I decided I needed to leave the church where I had been a member for 15 years.
I am happy in the church I found recently.
It is almost like a marriage, IMHO, finding the right church.
We give and we receive so much as members. I wish you success in finding the right church home. -
Thanks, Terra – Your analogy of marriage when it comes to a church is a good one. I think that’s why leaving one where you’ve been involved can feel like a divorce.
We’re enjoying our new church. I hope we never have to look for a church again.
Leave a Reply