What you have is enough. Those five words on our cover capture the heart of the Small Church Issue.
Do you believe them? I confess, when I read those words, my brain jumps into critical overdrive. Most congregations don’t have enough money, people or energy to do what they’d like to do — or what they think they should do. Churches are small, and for the most part, getting smaller. The “not enoughness” hangs in the air, like a weary sigh.
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There’s no denying the numbers, and yet, could a bit of intentional reframing help churchgoers see the opportunity in smallness — even, the calling Last August, Rt. Rev. Kimberly Heath of Brockville, Ont., was elected to lead The United Church of Canada as moderator, and part of what resonated with voters was her call to lean into smallness. At the time, Heath told Broadview she thinks the United Church must “learn to be small again” and to recognize that its faithfulness is enough. The church needs “to trust that all we offer will not be wasted, that God will continue to use it as we go forward,” she said.
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As an editor serving a mostly United Church-going audience, I took note. What does it mean to be called to be small?
To find answers and discern a direction for this issue, I called a few smart people — and you’ll see them re -interviewed in the articles that follow. Rev. Heather McCance, president of the Atlantic School of Theology, noted that Jesus didn’t come to help us build buildings or to preach the capitalist mindset that bigger is better; he came to give us abundant life. Rev. Cameron Fraser, the United Church’s executive minister of growth and stewardship, said when communities of faith are able to see the possibilities in what they have, that’s the “secret sauce.” Rev. Ron Johnston, founder of Small Church Connections, talked about the harms of the evangelical church growth movement, which equates megachurches with God’s favour and declining congregations with failure. “God has a place for all kinds of churches,” he said.
What does it mean to be called to be small?
This special edition is our answer to that question. Although some of the advice in this issue may lead to growth, helping you attract new members isn’t our primary objective. Our aim is simply to spark ideas and give you the tools to find your own calling. Starting Tuesday, September 22, we’re offering a webinar for churches seeking a new way forward, hosted by Rev. Christopher White.
Remember, Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and a couple of fish. While the disciples did the math and fretted, Jesus trusted God to work with whatever was already on hand.
What you have is enough. Do you believe it?
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Jocelyn Bell is the editor and publisher of Broadview.
This article first appeared in the September/October 2026 issue of Broadview with the title “You’re Enough.”
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