How to Minister Effectively in Family, Pastoral, Program, and Corporate-Sized Churches (Article)
Roy M. Oswald, Author.  Action Information. March/April 1991. Vol. XVII, No. 2, pp. 1-7. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute.

In this article, Roy Oswald argues that the size of a congregation affects the ability of clergy to minister effectively. The skills and attitudes that are successful in a congregation of one size are different from those that will lead to success in a congregation of a different size, he says.

In part one of the article, Oswald provides an overview of the different sizes of congregations—family, pastoral, program, and corporate (as first articulated by Arlin Rothauge)—describing the clergy roles and congregational expectations characteristic of each of the different sizes. He also covers the personality types and traits that tend to be most effective in each of the four size settings, as well as how clergy and laity may become obstacles to growth from one size level to the next.

In the second part, Oswald discusses the particular difficulties that clergy, lay leaders, and the congregation face during size transitions. He then outlines the changes in thinking, structure, and role that are necessary for both clergy and laity to effectively make the transition from one church size to another—whether because of an increase or decrease in membership.

All pastors and lay leaders in the midst of a size transition would benefit from this article. The information provided here would also serve to help prepare all church leaders for such changes, however immediate or distant they may be.
 

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See also these resources:

Staff Your Church for Growth: Building Team Ministry in the 21st Century (Book)
Gary L. McIntosh, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2000.
Presenting an approach to church staffing that is both functional and biblical, Staff Your Church for Growth helps senior pastors answer key questions about the "what," "how," and "why" of multiple staff ministry.