Growth is mainly attempted through existing parishes and the establishment of new ones as populations expand. Church growth research indicates churches that have been in existence for several generations grow slowly if at all. Those that do require a gifted leadership and need to be willing to change radically. The cost of establishing new parishes complete with adequate buildings is crippling and limits available funds for ministry expansion. There is no quick and simple answer to these problems.
Different situations require different measures.
The advantage of retaining the parish system in some form is that it ensures that a minister with his congregation is responsible for ministry in every local area covered by a diocese. The parish system, however, needs to be adapted and expanded. In the era of the automobile parish boundaries are largely redundant and ministries cannot nor should be restricted by them for the sake of 'kingdom growth'. To be effective, diocesan and regional authorities should encourage the growth of large churches with team ministries, partnerships between smaller churches and especially new church plants directed toward particular target populations. Church plants are especially crucial in reaching migrants.