Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: English sociologist Robin Dunbar has researched small group dynamics more than anyone, finding a small group of 3 to 4 friends is crucial for a healthy social life. John Wesley 250 years earlier stressed the same … Continue reading
By National Public Radio, 6/5/11 Acording to “Dunbar’s Number,” human beings can maintain a network of only about 150 close friends. Most of Dunbar’s research … is based on the idea that human beings can hold only about 150 meaningful … Continue reading
Professor Robin Dunbar explores if there is a limit to the number of friends we can keep track of and explains the origin of “Dunbar’s Number.”
Phil Brien, shares a video slide and gives a helpful overview to Dunbar’s Oxford video, stating, “Robin Dunbar is excellent in the video – makes me wish I’d had a University education. He uses simple slides to explain his theory, … Continue reading
Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: “Robin Dunbar, the sociologist famous for depicting relationships including the “Dunbar Number,” gives us a modern version of John Wesley’s discipleship method of: band meetings (3-5 people), class meetings (12-15 close friends) and the society meeting … Continue reading
by Bob Whitesel, 4/4/14 One thing Donald McGavran emphasized is that we should not be shy about applying the sciences to our study of church health and growth. And the Dunbar Number can explain why many churches plateau in size. … Continue reading
by Bob Whitesel D.Min., Ph.D., 6/29/16. To lead an organization, you must first understand how the organization “behaves” and then begin to “manage” the “organizational behavior.” Here are comments about church organizational size, behavior and management edited together here from … Continue reading
Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: There are more factors than just these two keeping churches under 200 attendees. A primary factor not mentioned in this article is the Dunbar number. But this article does point out something that I have said … Continue reading
by Aaron Earls, Facts & Trends, LifeWay, 3/29/16. Why Megachurches Go Small Larger churches often recognize what small churches might miss—there are advantages to being little. Through small groups, multisite campuses, and now microsites, those megachurches are attempting to continue … Continue reading
When Big Goes Small: How Large Churches Are Learning From Those With Less by Aaron Earls, Facts & Trends, LifeWay, 3/29/16. …In the last five years, the typical megachurch’s main sanctuary decreased in size from 1,500 seats to a median … Continue reading
by Bob Whitesel D.Min., Ph.D. 11/8/15. This is part of my continuing study of multiplication strategies. Here I add another list of characteristics in my study of multisite churches in Chicago. Update on #MultiSite Tour of Chicago: still suffer from … Continue reading
by Bob Whitesel D.Min., Ph.D., 10/25/15. Gary McIntosh is a good friend and I appreciate what he writes (and he must feel the same, for he has endorsed my books). But, that doesn’t mean we don’t at times see things … Continue reading
Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: “As you may know, I advocate churches build more auditoriums of smaller size so that they can: 1) offer more culturally diverse worship options and 2) take advantage of the “Dunbar number” whereby smaller venues create … Continue reading
by Bob Whitesel, 6/3/15. Sometimes my students wonder if we are further dividing the church by offering separate worship celebrations based upon culture and/or aesthetics. Let me answer this question. Sociologists tell us that people naturally break into groups of … Continue reading
Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: “Ever since Robin Dunbar’s research suggested that the optimum auditorium size for community events is around 150, there has been a push to establish church sanctuaries is in the 150 size range for optimum fellowship. Here … Continue reading
By Bob Whitesel July 7, 2014 I’ve noticed that newly planted churches will often approach a large church or mega-church in their area and seek to create a mentor-mentee relationship. On the surface this seems like a good idea, for … Continue reading
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