The congregation I used to go to is actually pretty large, compared to other congregations. But this is way out in the boonies here, and this one KH serves like at least 30 little towns, probably more than that.
Why aren't congregations much bigger in size?
by JH 36 Replies latest jw friends
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Midget-Sasquatch
Scully
Very interesting info on sizes of high control groups.
Along those lines, a few evolutionary psychologists have said that our brains can handle social groups of up to about 150 people. Beyond that its hard to have social relationships, keeping track of their actions and of goings-on.
The claim is that this ball park figure has shown up in several different kinds of organizations, one example being hutterite colonies.
Its all about keeping tabs on everyone.
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Leolaia
Here is what they say on congregation size:
*** w70 2/15 p. 102 Is Your Minister Interested in You or Your Money? ***
The presiding ministers and ministerial assistants in the congregations provide for their own financial needs as was done in the first century. Congregations are kept relatively small in size, from fifteen persons up to perhaps 160 to 180. Smaller congregations can easily meet in private homes, and the larger can meet in modest halls rented or built by Jehovah’s witnesses to provide seating for 40 to 200. Halls of this size can be financed with unsolicited contributions of those associated without undue burden.
*** yb72 p. 9 1972 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have a theocratic organization of more than 27,150 congregations that reach out to the ends of the earth. These congregations range in size from 25 to 200 or more persons.
I can't find much else that would indicate a biblical basis for congregation size. I would imagine that support for having a small congregation size would be gleaned from the references to house churches in the NT, or Paul's description of the Eucharist which only mentions a single cup or bread (tho this could easily be just a general reference and not to be taken literally), or the references in Acts describing a church gathering in single meeting rooms. I know of no NT text offhand that points to "120" as any significant number in this respect.
Here is an article discussing the specifics of early Christian house churches:
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Oroborus21
Greetings!
I agree that the principle reason to keep a congregation to a certain size is to "maintain control."
But you all talk about "control" like it is a bad thing (and I understand why because of your mistaken belief that JWs are a cult) but there are positive consequences of maintaining "control" and order. The persons that are suggesting that "control" is a bad thing are by consequence advocating a form of congregation which is more or less completely absent of control and thus order in which case what you have is just a meeting of individuals completely void of structure. that might be a fine experience and maybe even a good time, but it is certainly no way to organize a group towards any purpose.
Some positive reasons why the Society might wish to keep congregations small (similar to why school classrooms are kept small):
- Allows the "shepherds" to give more personal attention to individuals
- Allows for the better flow of information and communication
- Allows the individuals more opportunity to participate
- Takes advantage of the "cream of the crop" and ensures that qualified individuals rise to leadership positions
- Promotes a sense of closeness and familiarity (just contrast to those giant churches where thousands attend a service - one might never meet in person another member at one of those things)
- Helps create and foster friendships and relationships among/between individuals
- Allows for more efficient administration
- Contains the "leaven" (troublemakers, scandals, et al.)
- Informal gatherings of the congregation are smaller and easier to chaperone/oversee
- The Grapevine is close to the leaders' ears
- Leaders can more closely monitor and reward good behaviours
Some (cynical) negative reasons why the Society might wish to keep congregations small
- Contains the "leaven" (troublemakers, scandals, et al.)
- Leaders can more closely monitor/punish disapproved behaviours (this could be considered a "positive")
- The problems of "large bodies of elders" and promotion to leadership positions is avoided (imagine if a congregaton was of 300 or more persons how many brothers would gripe if they were not promoted to MS or to Elder and then imagine if the elder body was consequently 30 or 40 persons the problems that would ensue.)
- Gossip and unapproved information can be spread amongst a large fraction of the congregation before it comes to the attention of the leadership (one reason why the Internet is a nightmare for the Society)
- There may be some financial benefit to the Society (perhaps by having two congregations contributing for rent, insurance, CO's visit, Worldwide Work, etc. it adds up to more than just one large congregation. After all if you are in a large congregaton and heard the account's report you might say "oh ok that sounds good" and not contribute anything more (or at all) because the dollar amount would be (theoretically) double than it would be if you were in a congregation half the size.)
- "35,000 Congregations" sounds better than "10,000 Congregations"
As to the phenomenon, I think they tend to split if they reach about 200 or more. I have actually been in a congregaton where another congregation got dissolved and we got half of the old congregation. In the U.S. there may be more such consolidations in the future, while growth in the Spanish and other language areas means more splits for them.
-Eduardo Leaton Jr., Esq.
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solomon
btt
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mP
Well we can see this structure size is also used by the military. Im sure one could continue up the heirarchy from KH to the GB and notice many other similarities..
In my old days we had several bookstudies of about 30ish people which is a good match to a platoon and the cong being a company.
Notice that the basic structure of D2D is 2 which matches the smallest military unit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centuria
The centuria was the pivotal tactical Roman legion unit after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. It originally consisted of a hundred soldiers; later 60 to (ideally) 80 men distributed among 10 contubernia (of 8 men each).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 26 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company , which typically consists of three, four or five platoons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Company
A company is a military unit , typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain , Major or Commandant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_unit#Commands.2C_formations.2C_and_units
XXXXXX region, theater 1,000,000–10,000,000 4+ army groups general, army general, five-star general or field marshal XXXXX army group, front 400,000–1,000,000 2+ armies general, army general, five-star general or field marshal XXXX army 80,000–200,000 2–4 corps general, army general, four-star general orcolonel general XXX corps 20,000–45,000 2+ divisions lieutenant general, corps general or three-star general XX division 10,000–15,000 2–4 brigades or regiments major general, divisional general or two-star general X brigade 3,000–5,000 2+ regiments, 3–6 battalions or Commonwealth regiments brigadier general, brigade general, or one-star general (sometimes colonel) III regiment or group 1,500–3,000 2+ battalions or U.S. Cavalry squadrons colonel II infantry battalion, U.S. Cavalry squadron, Commonwealth armoured regiment or Argentine Army regiment/artillery group/battalion 300–1,300 2–6 companies, batteries, U.S. Cavalry troops, or Commonwealth squadrons, Argentine squadrons/companies lieutenant colonel I infantry company, artillery battery, U.S. Cavalry troop, or Commonwealth armour or combat engineering squadron 80–225 2–8 platoons or Commonwealth troops chief warrant officer, captain or major ••• platoon or Commonwealth troop 26–55 2+ squads, sections, or vehicles warrant officer, first or second lieutenant •• section or patrol 8–13 2+ fireteams corporal to sergeant • squad or crew 8–13 2+ fireteams or 1+ cell corporal to staff sergeant Ø fireteam 4 n/a lance corporal to sergeant Ø fire and maneuver team 2 n/a any/private first class -
perfect1
Very interesting mP!