I co-wrote a book after the pandemic had basically quieted (you can still pick it up on Amazon.ca – This is Us! Canadian Small Churches in Action: The Covid Years). We (Nate Stacheruk, Matthew Cunningham and myself) reviewed 35 podcasts on small churches in Canada that I had done during COVID. In the end we came up with some summary conclusions and the following after Covid epilogue. Nothing new – but a few years later I don’t think we were far off:
Simple church. Significance is not based in paid leadership, building size or weekly attendance. The church as the gathering is the definition of church more than the building, a denominational legacy structure, paid staff reputations or even size of attendance. The simple church leans into a much needed understanding of the small church as a model and example.
Gift-based function. We will be more active in promoting a gift ministry style – so each small grouping is individually their own church. We have lived with an overwhelmingly traditional/one style fits all so non-conformists were persecuted. We will need to move to a more open source type of church.
Liturgical service. Service will become an integrated way to live. Worship is all of life – so the liturgical (service) calendar is always full. Churches will seek to expand their sense of liturgy to include set times of vertical worship, outreach in service to the community/world, socialization to the kingdom.
Facility in-focus. Small churches will decide the financial viability of maintaining a facility. Physical buildings can be a great advantage until the cost of repair, utilities, etc becomes too high. We will prioritize people over facilities.
Shared instruction/preaching. In a video saturated world, there are many accessible audio/visual instructional/preaching offerings. In our current society we are used to the use of microphones and being willing to be out-front. Speakers are able to be nurtured even in the smallest of churches.
Elastic MOU’s. As the universal church, we will seek to understand each other, finding were we can bend and be flexible. Finding the core of unity will continue to be a vital pursuit. But unlike an approach that seeks to make the definition of the church super detailed and restrictive, most churches will seek to find small points of agreement. Networks will proliferate to achieve projects/resources to benefit the local/small church.
Curated Resources. Various church formats will need to examine their viability along with understanding the best practices to achieve the best results. Collating and curating resources to assist in this ecclesial literacy will become the emphasis of broad networks (which will serve denominations/networks)
Expansive F2F. Cross fertilization of ideas will be increasingly acceptable. Instead of entrenched debate there will be a desire for loving discussion. Workshops will proliferate – both to share ideas but also to share stories. Use of Zoom will continue to provide virtual connection. This posture shift will cause churches to listen while not compromising truth.