The Gift of Small: Embracing Your Church’s Vocation

Most churches in the US are small-membership congregations. As Allen T. Stanton notes, most church leadership resources focus on membership growth as a central, guiding paradigm for the work of the church. The assumption is that membership growth is a natural outcome of a healthy congregation and successful ministry. However, Stanton argues that this assumption fails to engage theologically with the vocational gifts that small-membership churches offer. This oversight fuels the perception that small congregations are failing in their ministries or lack vitality. Instead, The Gift of Small argues that small-membership congregations are well positioned for the faithful, effective work of the church.

Stanton explores the roles that relationships play in faith formation and organizational leadership in small-membership churches. In doing so, he highlights the profiles of people who belong to these congregations and examines the assets they bring. The result is a renewed understanding of the critical role that small-membership churches often play in their members' vocational discovery and community-leadership development. Stanton grounds his observations in Jesus's teachings that use the imagery of small to represent powerful agents of transformation.

The Gift of Small can help clergy and lay leaders recover from discouragement and disillusionment regarding the often-disregarded work done in small-membership churches. This book will serve as a reinvigorating guide to help such clergy and leaders see their congregations' vital impact with clearer and fresher eyes. This book, in turn, will facilitate a renewed commitment to the work of small-membership churches.

Allen T. Stanton is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, advocating for and supporting small congregations, rural churches, and rural communities. In his full-time role, Stanton works at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, managing a $53 million initiative to expand access to dental care in Tennessee. Additionally, he is a consulting fellow with the University of the Ozarks' Rural Ministry Initiative. Stanton is the author of Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Communities, which was named a Top 10 Book of the Year by the Academy for Parish Clergy. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Abby, and two daughters.