Optimal Church Size

The Bigger the Better

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2514830
AutoresRobert J Stonebraker (0000-0002-9052-7310, autor de correspondencia)
Año1993
Volumen32
Número3
Páginas231
Fecha de publicación1993-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0021-8294 • E-ISSN: 1468-5906
EditorialJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/1386662
OpenAlexW2331608992
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas3

Large congregations are often plagued by free-riders members who participate, but do not contribute. However, large congregations also enjoy lower costs per member. On balance, as congregations grow, their revenues rise faster than the costs of providing services to their members. The extra monies fund disproportionate amounts of local benevolence programs and synodical and national church ministries. Unfortunately, large congregations have not parlayed their financial advantage into membership gains. Since increased benevolence boosts external ministry to others more than internal ministry to members themselves, members of small congregations have little incentive to move to larger, more efficient ones. Small congregations continue to survive and members will not passively abandon them

Economics · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Mathematics · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development