tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post8031010817386245234..comments2023-05-01T05:20:32.574-07:00Comments on Observations and Opinions: Care?Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01950476090876270020noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post-62939181727554164442009-03-17T15:48:00.000-07:002009-03-17T15:48:00.000-07:00Drop me an email at my @gmail.com account, startin...Drop me an email at my @gmail.com account, starting with shawn.abigail<BR/><BR/>I also work at ALU and was NNC before that. Probably lots of friends in common.<BR/><BR/>And the next time you are in Ottawa, drop by my cube!Shawn Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09810173103807948064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post-91818304305227522322009-03-17T14:03:00.000-07:002009-03-17T14:03:00.000-07:00Well, interesting you ask -- I am in Silicon Valle...Well, interesting you ask -- I am in Silicon Valley this week, and I saw your last post regarding that. AND, I also work in Ottawa!<BR/><BR/>I worked for Newbridge, and now am at ALU. I used to have a friend at Redback who was a Brethren, and he was out of Canada as well. <I>at the time he lived in Silicon Valley)</I>Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01950476090876270020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post-60716529665215927792009-03-17T12:55:00.000-07:002009-03-17T12:55:00.000-07:00Yes, we could have a church without the Sunday mor...Yes, we could have a church without the Sunday morning sermon, but it's much harder to have a church without pastoral care.<BR/><BR/>And yes, I think it might be healthy for a church to declare that they feel 250-500 is a healthy size. If they hit 500, they divide into two churches that are 250 each. This size of church is good for reproducing itself (you can afford a mortgage without bankrupting yourself, you can support missionaries and ministry staff, and maybe even give someone a helping hand with the costs of seminary). <BR/><BR/>By the way, which telecom company do you work for? I'm also in the industry, as well as speaking in "Brethren Assemblies", a deacon and a few other ministries on the side 8-)Shawn Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09810173103807948064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post-10323421675746428582009-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:002009-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:00I heartily agree - which is why I believe in a plu...I heartily agree - which is why I believe in a plurality of elders - yet, as you so aptly put it, even then there is a problem.<BR/><BR/>Hence, maybe the answer is smaller churches. Radical, I know -- but the problems inherent in larger churches make this a reasonable idea.<BR/><BR/>Far too many larger churches are primarily personality cults. However, if the church leadership commits to a size -- say, 500; yes, it is still difficult, but doable, and after that size takes one of the leaders they have been grooming for pastoral ministry, and plants a new church, you can be more effective.<BR/><BR/>People need pastoral care much more than they need a great speaker. <BR/><BR/>Our church (very small) ministers to a good percentage of people who attend a mega-church on Sunday, but find that their needs are not met, so they come to our church for pastoral care.<BR/><BR/>BTW, thanks for stopping by - I think healthy discussion on this subject is needed.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01950476090876270020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14386953.post-91953902653142632722009-03-16T15:58:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:58:00.000-07:00The larger the church, the harder it is to care fo...The larger the church, the harder it is to care for the flock. If you have three elders and 100 church members in 50 families, you can share a meal once every 3 weeks. This is entirely reasonable.<BR/><BR/>But if you have 2000 church members, it is pretty much impossible to have any sort of meaningful fellowship. You can't function with 60 elders (the elders wouldn't even be able to meet to discuss issues). And so you end up with a handful of men who either work themselves silly or resign themselves to simply preaching a really good sermon each week. Perhaps the mega churches have small groups, but I'm not sure that this is the same as real pastoral oversight.Shawn Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09810173103807948064noreply@blogger.com