Preachers Say the Darnedest Things
Local Pastor: 'Size Doesn't Matter' Crofton Online Interviews Reverend Chris Holmes
The size of a church doesn't really matter as long as the congregation is faithful, said Crofton Pastor Chris Holmes of Community United Methodist Church in an exclusive interview with Crofton Online.

Holmes's ten years at CUMC have seen two major building initiatives, with the second culminating in the dedication of a new social hall this fall. Crofton Online asked Holmes about the benefits and drawbacks of this rapid growth.

"I don't know that bigness over smallness is valued by God any differently," said Reverend Holmes. It is important "that a church be faithful to the kinds of things that churches should be doing, caring for people in the community and addressing community and world concerns."

Holmes was quick to point out that the growth at CUMC was not necessarily at the expense of other area churches. "Over half the people who join every year were not connected with another congregation," he said, calling this "evangelism." He added that people "are drawn to our church because it's different, because it is relaxed in terms of worship style." Holmes said that the current church membership is over 850.

Reverend Holmes acknowledged the difficult task of maintaining a feeling of Christian intimacy in a group that large. His strategy is to involve the congregation in small groups, as well as train them to assume some of the tasks of community visiting and caregiving, he said.

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Click here for a transcript of this interview.