What could be gained by having smaller churches:

1. More intimate fellowship. Everyone instantly becomes more accessible because there are far less of you.
2. The giftings of each member would more readily find output. In a larger church, the math says there will be numerous people with the same or similar giftings but the opportunities for gift exercise within that local body will not be proportionally increased.
3. Accountability comes with more intimate fellowship.
4. Church discipline is more realistic because of familiarity though by no means easier.
5. Increased percentage of undesignated giving freed up to be forwarded to the Cooperative Program.

Because of the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program the amount of money given to missions should in no way decrease if churches were to be constituted around a smaller number. In fact, with smaller churches with presumably smaller operating budgets a higher precentage of the church’s offerings could be dedicated to the Cooperative Progam.

Example, a church of 50 members giving $10 weekly, 10% percent of which is forwarded to their State Convention (i.e., $1 per person or $50 collectively) who then forwards 35% to the Cooperative Program, in the end gives $17.50/week to missions collectively. Split that group of 50 into two groups of 25 whose churches are able to give 20% of their undesignated receipts to their State Convention of which 35% still makes it to the Cooperative Program, ends up giving twice as much (half the group, but double the percentage times two).

All this to say that while one may assume that a larger church is able to give more to missions, the reality is rather the opposite due to the operating costs associated with large buildings, properties and staffs. A smaller church is freed up to give a greater percentage provided monetary cooperate responsibilities are at a minimum. A larger church is not able to give more, but requires more to keep the operation running.

What is gained by having larger churches:

1. Attendees can remain anonymous, avoid confrontation and remain uncommitted much like a movie-goer.
2. More money may secure greater amenities for the members (big screens, coffee shops, bookstores, etc).
3. Less impetus for members to exercise spiritual gifts in a congregation that has professionalized the ministry.

The benefits of a smaller church far outweigh the superficial, comfort-lending benefits of the larger.