Can a Small Congregation Grow?

It's a dream of congregations in the smallest size category to be bigger, have more people to do things, stronger finances, a building of their own, more diverse programming, actual staff members... but can it be done?

My observation is that maybe it can and maybe it can't, for reasons both internal and external.

After I wrote about clergy and small congregations, my colleague Jane Dwinell reminded me that some places just won't be able to support a large enough congregation to call a minister.   There need to be enough people.  In some places, there need to be enough people right now, because that is all there will be.  In other places, it might be worth taking a chance on growth.  But take care!  Growth depends on both external and internal factors.

The external:  in an area where new people are moving in, where there are growing medical, educational, and tech-oriented employers, and already a good base of population, there's a good chance.  If you have 80-90 members and your community presence is bringing in visitors every week, it's worth taking a chance. If you have 50-60 members, it seems risky. I think a town or cluster of towns of 90,000 can support a UU congregation of 100-150.  Growing into that size is easier of there are new families arriving who need to make connections and want to  find a way to give their children some faith background.  Some younger people come with an interest in social action on issues we support, and that's a positive for making strong connections.

anonymous small congregation celebrating their new building

But it also depends on internal factors.  The congregation needs to be ready to make room for newcomers.  Leaders of one congregation I served admitted that an earlier attempt at growth had failed because they were not connecting personally with the new people so much as checking them off on a list and looking for the number of dollar signs printed on their foreheads. Families did not stay. New leaders did not develop.  New pledges were not large.

Are visitors coming?  If you have visitors every week, make sure you are treating them well!  Mainly, get to know them.  Invite them to social activities.  Help them become part of whatever is going on.
Get their kids involved in Religious Education and family fun activities.

Are they staying?  Keep reaching out and keep finding ways to connect them with the congregation.
Have an appealing program for converting visitors into members and gather them into it.

Are new leaders developing?  This is a very tricky issue for established small congregations.  New leaders are at the same time both intensely desired and viewed with suspicion. To have your heart's desire -- more people to help with the work -- you must work on your suspicion of anyone new.  New leaders to need training.  They need to learn the ways of your congregation.  What they don't need:  a vague assignment where they are left totally on their own to sink or swim; a specific assignment with so many instructions and so much supervision that they can't do it themselves.

Are new pledges generous and growing? People who are engaged with the congregation, who feel they have found a spiritual home, and who have been invited to generosity will give.  You know that, because that's how you came to be giving as much as you are.

Having clergy or a building may help with growth, but the internal dynamics and the external opportunity need to be there first.