top of page

Small Church

Webinars/Podcasts

Pew to Pulpit Series

Articles/Resource pages

Suggested Resources

Webinars/Podcasts

Webinars and Resources for the small church from PRC

Sharing Spaces - Tim Pollock, commissioned ruling elders and commissioned pastors coordinator for the Synod of the Covenant, offered a webinar full of ideas on extending ministry networks to municipal and nonprofit agencies. People on the call shared innovative ideas for how their churches are partnering with schools, local government, food pantries, service organizations and other entities to better serve their communities.

Watch the hour-long broadcast here.

The Small Church Ministry Podcast with Laurie Acker:

Can This Work In A Small Church? Karl Vaters podcast

Practical Ideas that Work In Small Churches, 7/2024 podcast with Laurie Acker

Social Media For Small Churches, video

Cultivating Change in Small Towns and Rural Communities, 7/20/2023 PRC webinar on demand

Small Church, Big Mission, 9/2021 PRC recorded webinar

Small Church Series: Thriving Rural Ministry, 9/2021 PRC recorded webinar

Small Church Series: Big Impact, PRC Recorded webinar

Can This Work In A Small Church? Karl Vaters podcast

Small church webinars and other resource page from PRC

Pew to Pulpit Series

This series from PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) is for church folks who find themselves leading worship – From Pew to Pulpit. Whether they’re stepping in for a pastor on leave, helping during a transition, or moving to stronger congregational leadership, we’re here to help. It’s part practical support (What is a lectionary? where can you find reliable exegesis online?), part art, and part encouragement. These are recorded webinars.

From Pew to Pulpit: Preaching Your First Sermon

From Pew to Pulpit: Liturgy – The Work of the People

Pew to Pulpit: How to Select Music

Articles/Resource pages

Small Church Ministry, nondenominational organization

Small Church Faith Formation Support, a list of small church resources from the PC(USA)

7 Small-Church Choices That Will Strengthen Your Ministry, 12/2023 article by Karl Vaters:

Let’s reframe vitality, 4/2023 Outlook article by Phil Blackburn

Faith and Leadership, Allen T. Stanton, UMC, articles for small rural churches

Congregational Capacity for Change: A Challenge for Small Churches, 4/2022 article

The small church: a gift to its community, 10/2021 PC(USA) article

Smaller congregations are ‘hardy and tough,’ says Stewardship Kaleidoscope speaker, PC(USA) article

Can Small Congregations Change? 3/2015 article by Sarai Rice (Congregational Consulting Group)

What Is A Small Church? 7/2021 (Karl Vaders article)

Revitalizing church leadership: PneuMatrix joins the Holy Spirit in identifying adaptive change and positive deviance, 2/2018 (Presbyterian Outlook article)

3 Unique Gifts of the Rural Church, 5/2021 (Lewis Center for Church Leadership article)

Leveraging Church Property Can Sustain Your Mission, 5/2021 Lewis Center for Church Leadership article

To the Point: A New Way to View Small Church Vitality, 3/2019 article by Lewis A. Parks

Ministry Boosts Small Church Vitality, 2012 United Methodist article

Articles about Small Churches by Karl Vaters

Studies & Resources

How to Develop Well: This guide from the PC(USA) helps congregations develop their property in a way that aligns with their mission

How to Rent Well: This resource from the PC(USA) offers practical advice on renting church property effectively and ethically

What About Taxes?!!!: A comprehensive guide from the PC(USA) addressing tax-related questions for churches generating revenue

Good Futures Accelerator, a 7-session, self-guided course to help congregations reimagine their church property, $

Watch a video promo for The Good Futures Accelerator

We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry by Mark Elsdon, (2021)

The Disciple Making church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality by Glenn McDonald (2007)

Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations by Allen T. Stanton (2021)

Small Church Essentials by Karl Vater.

Click here to listen to him talk about his book in this podcast.

Small on Purpose: Life in a Significant Church by Lewis A. Parks (2017, Abingdon Press)

99 Thoughts for Smaller Church Youth Workers: Doing More With Less by Stephanie Caro (2011, Group), Paid

Rural Churches

Small Church Series: Thriving Rural Ministry, 9/2021 PRC recorded webinar

3 Unique Gifts of the Rural Church, 5/2021 (Lewis Center for Church Leadership article)

Cultivating Change in Small Towns and Rural Communities, 7/20/2023 PRC webinar on demand

Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations by Allen T. Stanton (2021)

Faith and Leadership, Allen T. Stanton, UMC, articles for small rural churches

bottom of page