Basically, this translates to the fact that small churches have more difficulty providing financial support to the judicatory. Often undervalued, they are usually sent the youngest and most inexperienced pastors, or else those nearing retirement, neither of which have been trained for the unique challenges of the small parish ministry. Pastors themselves often view the small church either as a stepping stone to greater things, or a way station on the way to retirement. Super farms are replacing the family farm, Supermarkets have replayed the corner grocer, and the mega-church movement is challenging the small church. In recent years we have been told not to call ourselves a small church as if it were some kind of dirty word.
Small churches have unique gifts.
They are primary caring groups where values are formed. It is significant that large churches are finding that in order to minister effectively to their congregations, they must divide their membership into small care groups. In other words, large churches are trying to survive by copying the very thing that small churches do best. That is being a small group of loving caring people. Small churches are intimate.