Close-knit and bonded together by shared experiences—this is Steve Burt’s relational rather than numerical description of a small church. With humor and understanding he explores the unique interaction between pastor and congregation in a small church where being a “real person” often proves more valuable to a leader than professional skills.

Through personal experience, Burt offers keen insights into the relational skills needed by both pastor and lay leaders to help members see volunteering as a conscious act of self-stewardship for God. Ten keys for dynamic pastoral leadership provide practical, people-oriented ideas for recruiting, training, rewarding, and creating a favorable climate for volunteers.

Burt also provides seven basic guidelines for choosing the right pastor to meet your church’s needs and twelve clear guidelines for objectively assessing small church ministry, mission, programming, and potential.

This in-depth look into the extended-family-type church structure will encourage all pastors and leaders to become more inventive and resourceful as they come to appreciate the unique sharing relationship that is the rich heritage of the small church congregation.