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Your ideal Baptist church

Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by Alcott, May 29, 2005.

?

Average weekly attendance which is your ideal

  1. Less than 25

    3 vote(s)
    5.2%

  2. 25 to 50

    2 vote(s)
    3.4%

  3. 50 to 75

    4 vote(s)
    6.9%

  4. 75 to 100

    8 vote(s)
    13.8%

  5. 100 to 150

    7 vote(s)
    12.1%

  6. 150 to 200

    10 vote(s)
    17.2%

  7. 200 to 300

    3 vote(s)
    5.2%

  8. 300 to 400

    4 vote(s)
    6.9%

  9. 400 to 500

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  10. 500 to 750

    2 vote(s)
    3.4%

  11. 750 to 1000

    2 vote(s)
    3.4%

  12. 1000 to 1250

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  13. 1250 to 1500

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  14. 1500 to 2000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  15. 2000 to 2500

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  16. 2500 to 3000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  17. 3000 to 4000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  18. 4000 to 5000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  19. 5000 to 10,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  20. 10,000 to 15,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  21. 15,000 to 20,000

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  22. More than 20,000

    9 vote(s)
    15.5%

  23. I don't know

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Top Posters
  1. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Assuming those who post in these particular forums are Baptists and will continue to be, what are the characteristics that make up what you would consider the ideal Baptist church? These questions avoid the issues which are highly contentious on this board, such as KJV-only, Calvinism, and music style, and they focus on what would be available and the best systems of getting things done in an "ideal" church. Note: if you think pastor and elder mean exactly the same thing, then simply read the questions that way-- e.g., elders (pl.) = pastors (pl.).
     
    #1 Alcott, May 29, 2005
  2. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    Could you give a little more detail about what "spiritual decisions" you are refering to in question 2?

    Do you mean something major, like deciding to amend an Article of Faith, or something else that I am missing entirely?
     
    #2 Bro. James Reed, May 30, 2005
  3. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    By "spiritual decisions" I meant such issues as the order of the service, orientations for new or prospective members, scheduling times for communion, ministries to shut-ins with visits, service tapes, et al. Not decisions involving contractors for building repair or remodel, landscaping, determination of cash reserves, or buying and selling vans or buses... these would be under the next question about general business decisions.
     
    #3 Alcott, May 30, 2005
  4. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    I selected yes to the "voter education" choice but my idea of voter eduction includes presenting the issues relevant to all parties and candidates in way that tries as much as possible not to encourage any single party or candidate. This recognizes that elections are not single issue events.

    Our church did this last year and in non-Quebec Canada, we have 4 key parties : Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Green. In a collaboration of folks from different churches and religious backgrounds (mostly evangelicals from our church, some non-Christians), we put together a pdf that outlined the positions of each party for 15 or so issues. It was a good experience for our church which usually doesn't talk about politics and is generally uninformed about the issues.
     
    #4 Gold Dragon, May 30, 2005
  5. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    I voted YES to Voter Education but my idea of such is to preach what the BIBLE says about the issues and encourage the congregation to check out the candidates stands and encourage the congregation to VOTE.

    Our previous two pastors would say, 'If you want to know my personal choices, ask me privately during the week and I'll be glad to share that with you' sort of answer.
     
    #5 dianetavegia, May 30, 2005
  6. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    The problem with having an ideal church is that they probably wouldn't let me join. :D
    [​IMG]
     
    #6 Artimaeus, May 30, 2005
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Having seen the horrible abuses of churches "run" by preachers (hesitate to call them pastors), I have shifted more and more to the leading by a plurality of elders.

    And, no offense to this poll, doctrine is way more important than Sunday School or other "programs".

    Our new church is totally without "programs".
     
    #7 Dr. Bob, May 31, 2005
  8. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    The poll refuses to allow me to participate. Question 2 does not have the answer I would give, and it does not have "none of the above" so when I try to leave it black it tells me I have not given a correct answer.

    Poorly designed poll.
     
    #8 TCassidy, May 31, 2005
  9. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    I couldn't vote in the poll, either, starting with question #1. Numbers really don't mean much because God gives the increase.

    1Cor.3
    [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
    [7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

    Sorry.
     
    #9 LadyEagle, May 31, 2005
  10. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    After 49 responses, the mean of ideal weekly attendance in a church is 312 (by taking the average of the responses and disregarding those with only a single vote). The median, however, is 200.

    Maybe they don't, but the reason for this particular question is that I have heard hundreds, if not thousands, of people mention something about numbers when they are evaluating churches, for potential to join, or whatever other reason. "I want a church big enough to have a good youth program but not so big you can't know everybody-- about 3 or 4 hundred" is an example of what has been expressed that I am talking about.


    Maybe that, or you're a poorly designed polltaker. That last option is close to "none of the above," but perhaps you think like I once did; that any church is so far from ideal that I want nothing to do with any of them.
     
    #10 Alcott, Jun 1, 2005
  11. Jensen

    Jensen New Member

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    I agree with Dr. Bob.
    Also, LadyEagle, you are right that God gives the increase. My way of interpreting the question was ideal size. I recently went to one of those MEGA churches in Plano, TX. I would have to say that it wasn't a very pleasant or worshipful experience. To me, ideal would be far less. As God gives the increase, the church grows. As the church grows, I believe that new churches should be "birthed." That is what they say is best in growing a Sunday School class, why would it be any different with churches?
     
    #11 Jensen, Jun 2, 2005
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