May 5, 2006
by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has launched a new Web site dedicated to small churches.

The site, http://www.pcusa.org/smallchurch/, is intended to further the mission of the Small Church Ministry Network, a voluntary association of people throughout the church involved or interested in small church ministry.

Small congregations are those with average attendance at Sunday worship of 100 or fewer. Two-thirds of PC(USA) congregations qualify for the designation.

"The Web site will continue to provide tools to help small churches more effectively serve and witness with their communities," said the Rev. Phil Tom, the PC(USA)'s associate for Urban Ministry.

The new Web site boasts networking opportunities, leadership training and resources, congregation success stories, and information about events such as Small Church Sunday (July 9) and Wee Kirk conferences, sponsored by Presbyterians For Renewal (PFR).

The site, designed in cooperation with the Internet Services staff in the PC(USA) Office of Communication, went online last week. Tom and Eva Slayton, a staff member with the Small Church Ministry Network, edit and provide content.

The new site also invites church leaders and members to find and access a range of small church ministry-related materials available through The Presbyterian Marketplace – http://www.pcusa.org/marketplace/ – an online resource for ordering PC(USA)-related materials.

Among the resources offered:

Living the Vision: Small Church Ministry – This part of a "how-to" series of booklets focuses on aspects of congregational life that lead to healthy and vital ministries.

Cooperative Parish Manual – This resource guides a congregation or presbytery through the process of exploring and organizing a cooperative parish ministry.

Presbyterian News Service