June 23, 2009
Pastor of one of Oregon’s largest churches steps down
Rolling Hills Community Church Pastor steps down after 31 years of incredible growth.
By Traci Scott,
Dale Ebel, founding pastor of Tualatin’s Rolling Hills Community Church, recently stepped down in his role as senior pastor after 31 years of service. Today, between 2,700 and 3,200 attend the two Sunday services. Ebel is a native Oregonian and a resident of West Linn since 1978. In 1975, Ebel was returning to Oregon for graduate work at Portland’s Western Seminary when he sensed a call to start a church. After he finished his Master of Divinity degree, four families who were friends of the Ebels asked him to be their pastor. Together, they established Rolling Hills Community Church in February, 1978, at first meeting in family homes. They then rented a public elementary school in Lake Oswego for six years before moving into their current Tualatin location in 1984.
Ebel credits Rolling Hills’ growth to the communal belief that people are weak and God is strong. He also believes that teaching the word of God and its application to daily life has had a strong impact on members.
Church members also credit the church’s multi-generational feel and Ebel’s strong people skills as contributing factors toward the church’s success and growth. They also note that Ebel has made strong ties outside the church, including support for Tualatin’s Bridgeport Primary School, where church members help with various programs.
Yet, in the midst of his devotion to ministry, Ebel has remained dedicated to his family, which includes wife Linda; three married children, and nine grandchildren.
Ebel’s life motto: “We are all Stewards: we only steward two things – our Affluence and Influence.”
Receptions honoring Dale Ebel’s will be held after church services on June 27 and June 28 at the church, 3550 SW Borland Road, Tualatin.
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June 23, 2009
MegaChurch growth looks impressive at first glance. But then you have to consider that, as a percentage of the total population, church attendance has remained flat in Oregon during the same time period Ebel has been at the helm of RHCC -it’s only barely kept pace with population growth. Usually what happens when one church grows is another church, somewhere, shrinks. What looks like growth is often just migration from one church to another. The end result: A few big -but very comfortable- organizations replacing smaller, more intimate gatherings. It also means fewer jobs for preachers when, like with big corporations, everything is consolidated for “economy of scale” sake. I’m not convinced it’s all good.
June 23, 2009
So why did he step down? Is he retiring, taking a bigger church, scandal?
June 23, 2009
I agree with you Dan, there is a lot of transfer growth in large churches, but they got big because something was being done right, and the other churches usually stay small for a number of negative reasons too. Competition, if friendly is usually a good thing, even among churches.
June 24, 2009
Josephus,
Bigger is better certainly is the American battle cry. And, yes, small congregations are not immune to the problems of the flesh just because they are small. And also yes, a little friendly competition is healthy . . . as long as we are attracting people for the right reasons. Seems to me a lot of megachurch goers are largely spectators of slick presentations that are more high tech and “professionally” produced than what a smaller church can muster.
I just can’t help but think that largeness -just as with big government or big business- mitigates against meaningful relationships, accountability and a truer version of discipleship. When you realize that the Son of God saw fit to shepherd an intimate group of 12 on a regular basis, you gotta wonder how “in depth” a pastor of 2000 can be.
Hopefully the person who takes his place will have a true calling.