As your church becomes renewed and begins to grow, you’ll eventually discover an important reality: what works organizationally with 20 people may not work with 50. What works with 50 may not work with 100. And what works with 100 may not work with 200. Growth requires us to continually evaluate and renew our structures. We wanted to give you some key principles to remember as we turn the corner of the year and head towards 2027. The Fall is the time for planning, and we hope this will help you get into that mindset for mission.
Structure won’t cause growth, but it will either limit or allow growth.
By discerning structural needs now, you can set goals and make specific plans to implement changes in the new year. Otherwise “the tyranny of the urgent” could take over. Another year passes, the same problems remain, and we wonder why we’re still getting the same results. As Dallas Willard famously observed, our systems tend to produce exactly the results they are designed to produce.
So what structural changes might your church need to make in the coming year?
A Biblical Example of Structural Renewal
Acts chapter 6 gives us one of the clearest biblical pictures of structural renewal. Throughout the previous four chapters leading up to it, the early church experienced extraordinary spiritual vitality and rapid growth, but that growth eventually created an organizational problem. The structures that worked for the original disciples, from the first dramatic expansion following Pentecost onward, were no longer sufficient. Acts 6 tells us that, as the Church took in new converts, a group of them was feeling left out. The Hellenistic Jews complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The Twelve recognized the problem, gathered the disciples, and proposed a new structure. Seven qualified leaders would take responsibility for this ministry so the apostles could remain focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word.
What happened next? It says, “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” (Acts 6:7) The apostles didn’t ignore the problems created by growth; they addressed them and adapted their structure. And the mission continued moving forward.
This section of scripture gives us four important principles for structural renewal.
1. Pay Attention to Complaints
Pain in the body tells us something needs attention. In the same way, complaints in a growing church can reveal areas where the structure is no longer working. Of course, sometimes people simply like to complain! But wise leaders listen carefully enough to determine whether there’s legitimate pain in the Body of Christ that needs to be addressed. That was true in Acts 6. The complaint revealed a real ministry problem, and dealing with it ultimately strengthened the Church. Instead of immediately dismissing complaints, ask: Is this revealing something in our structure that needs to change?
2. Be Willing to Change
If we’re unwilling to let go of “the way we’ve always done it,” we’ll eventually limit growth. Healthy churches develop a culture in which change is expected because mission matters more than maintaining familiar structures. When our identity and security are rooted in Jesus Christ rather than in a particular church program, ministry role, worship schedule, or organizational structure, we’re much freer to make changes when necessary. And if we genuinely love people who do not yet know Christ, we should be willing to make sacrifices—even uncomfortable ones—to reach one more person with the Gospel. The apostles modeled that willingness in Acts chapter 6.
3. Work Collaboratively Toward Solutions
There are very few easy answers or quick fixes when it comes to church growth and revitalization. Acts 6 shows us a collaborative process. The apostles gathered the disciples, presented a solution, and Scripture tells us, “This proposal pleased the whole group.” Structural renewal works best when leaders prayerfully discern solutions together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That may involve clergy, staff, vestry members, ministry leaders, and sometimes outside coaches or consultants. Bringing the right people together can help identify solutions that one leader working alone might never see.
4. Let Go of Control
The apostles also understood something every church leader eventually needs to learn: you can’t do everything yourself. They said: “Choose seven men from among you… We will turn this responsibility over to them.” They understood their primary calling and delegated other ministry responsibilities to gifted leaders. Growing churches must continually develop new leaders, delegate responsibility, and empower people for ministry. When everything has to go through one person or small leadership group, growth eventually reaches a ceiling.
What Might Be Limiting Your Growth?
Every congregation is different, but there are several common structural barriers worth examining. You may simply be running out of parking or seating capacity. Perhaps it’s time to add seating or begin considering another worship service. Pastoral care may also need to change. The way members experience meaningful relationships and pastoral care in a church of 50 will not necessarily work in a church of 200. Small groups or other forms of community can become increasingly important as a congregation grows. You may also be facing the familiar 80/20 problem, where 20 percent of the congregation is doing 80 percent of the ministry. If so, you may need better systems for helping members discover their gifts and move from being attendees to active ministers. These are only a few examples.
The important question is this: What structures in your church are helping the mission move forward, and which ones may now be limiting it? Take time this Fall to pray, discern, and plan. Structural renewal will not create spiritual growth by itself, but healthy structures can make room for the growth God is bringing.
If you’d like help thinking through the structural challenges in your congregation, reach out to me, the Rev. Brian Pape, or the Rev. Clancy Nixon for an initial consultation. We’d be glad to hear what’s happening in your church and explore whether our coaching and consulting resources can help. Visit www.churchrevive.org to schedule a call!