Beatifully Small: Outpost Churches
as the Heart and Soul of the UMC

By Reverend Steve Schroeder
Seven Rivers District Superintendent

In my younger years I was always fascinated with the title of a book called “Small Is Beautiful.” I remember little about the content of the book except the title. At our last cabinet meeting we had an interesting conversation about small outpost churches that could have been titled “small is beautiful.” It was a conversation that reflected upon and honored the gracious and faithful work of many small outpost churches. The new realization for me, as the conversation meandered back and forth, was that small outpost churches could also include churches in the metropolitan areas of our Annual Conference, as well as those in rural settings. We are so “big oriented” these days that we often ignore that the faithfulness of God is also seen in many of our small outpost churches.

As I traveled the north end of the Seven Rivers district for charge conferences this fall I was reminded at the significant ministry and mission of the United Methodist Church in rural north central Washington. In some cases this faithful presence of God is a bit out of balance with the perception that the great “they” [me and others who represent the Annual Conference] don’t care or respect the significant work and mission of the small rural outpost churches. This perception would also be true for metropolitan churches. As I sit, in the middle of December, writing this I am watching the snow quietly fall utside my office window. For over 100 years the small outpost churches have been apart of the heart and soul of the United Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest. Their faithful witness has been apart of the backbone of who we are. The face of the connection is seen in both small and large churches, in rural, urban, and suburban settings. If we are to affirm, “large is beautiful” we need also to remember “small is beautiful.” Now if you would excuse me I am going to put down my pencil and go shovel snow. Shalom!