Resource Church

In 1985 Arlin Rothauge published Sizing up a Congregation, which produced a brand new perspective on how parishes operated and need to be organized. The four categories are based on Average Sunday Attendance (ASA).

They are:

• Patriarchal/Matriarchal, under 50 ASA;
• Pastoral, 50-150 ASA (most Episcopal Churches are in this Category);
• Program 150-350 ASA; and
• the largest size, Resource or Corporate...

These larger Episcopal Churches average more than 350 on a weekend; Christ Church fits into this category; last year our average weekend attendance was 583.

The illustration below shows the primary characteristics of a Resource-size parish. Sometimes people who have grown up in a smaller church or remember a time when their present parish was a lot smaller, have a difficult time understanding why the congregation doesn’t operate the way it used to. The reality is that it can’t. Excellence in programs and ministry initiatives cannot be sustained or maintained given the number of people the parish is serving unless there is proper staff support. I invite your response and observations.

- Jeff