Nearly every church sees it: 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. How do we get more people involved? Scott Thumma says he knows how, so I invited him to share his story with the rest of us.
Scott, and co-author Warren Bird recently wrote a book addressing this dilemma that caught my interest. He advises pastors to go after the missing majority with a vengeance, check out the interview for details.
Watch the Full Program
Rather Listen? Click HERE for the Mp3.
Synopsis
We’ve all witnessed the decline of civic involvement over the last several decades in American society. People simply aren’t as community-minded as they once were, and our churches are no exception. While this may be an excuse for the 80/20 dilemma, Scott Thumma says it goes much deeper than that – and that the way to greater participation starts with figuring out what the 80% are thinking. Here are my notes from the interview:
Listen to the Lost Sheep
Imagine if Jesus had told the 99 sheep, ‘Forget about that lost one, he’s expendable.’ It’s this kind of thinking Scott confronts when he says church leaders have an obligation to listen to the non-attending flock. He says setting up Listening Teams, whose sole job is to hear what the disenfranchised are saying, can be an effective strategy.
Are Our Ministries Spiritually Fulfilling?
Scott says church members disengage when they sense the work they’re involved in no longer feeds their spiritual hunger. Connecting people with tasks that truly nurture, and utilizing their gifts, is key.
Meet People Where They Are
Scott says it’s time for many churches to re-think everything from service times to meeting days because the Church should be going where the people are, i.e. soccer fields and shopping malls, and no longer waiting for people to find us. This may be the new frontier for effective ministry.
About Scott Thumma
Scott Thumma is a Professor at Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT and researcher at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford, CT. He has co-authored several books including The Other 80 Percent and Beyond Megachurch Myths. He has researched and written articles on the mega church phenomenon, congregational studies and vital church growth. In addition, he guides the Seminary’s Dmin Program and its church survey service as well as maintaining a half dozen religion research websites including the portal site Insights into Religion:
www.religioninsights.org
www.hartfordinstitute.org/about/thumma.htm
www.hartfordinstitute.org/theother80percent.htm
www.megachurchmyths.com
A Word from Scott:
“The practices I recommend to clergy interested in building strong churches….
First, as a researcher, I always encourage clergy to focus on good research reports about congregational life and especially the attitudes of those in the pews – projects like www.Faithcommunitiestoday.org or www.uscongregations.org or reports from Lifeway, Baylor and Pew.
Second, talk to people both inside and outside your church – especially those you don’t have in your congregation. You don’t need to only preach to the choir, you need to preach to those you don’t yet have as committed participants… and you have to know their needs and interests in order to preach to them effectively.”
Books Scott Recommends:
Growing an Engaged Church – Al Winesman
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations - Robert Schnase
Fusion – Nelson Searcy
Sponsors
Church Post – If you are looking to improve your church’s communications you’ve got to check out this great email platform. I’ve found it easy-to-use, reliable, and John, Debra and Kim are great to work with.
Wistia – If you’re still hosting your videos at YouTube or another ‘free’ video sharing site you know the drawbacks. Wistia helps me put out great looking videos and see who’s watching for how long. The Wistia staff is easy to work with and very professional.
The Grow My Church Store – Everything from mugs to pens to fridge magnets, this is a promotional products store aimed at helping churches become closer communities, more hospitable, and welcoming. I started this store and shop there often because I couldn’t find anywhere else to go for these products.
