For staff or board, some guideline questions to assess and improve
People issues
- GETTING THEM IN
Do new people come, and what gets them there?
How can we help to attract them?
How do we invite our people to invite thei8r friends? Or, first, to have friends who do not go to church?
- RECEIVING THEM
How are guests (not visitors) met at the door of the church building?
Or when they wonder where to take their children to classes?
Or if they go to an adult group (Adult Bible Fellowships)?
- ASSIMILATING THEM
Is it easy for them to make friends?
Do church leaders stay only with their friends or can they receive new people?
Who is the point person on staff who watches this and helps it happen?
- TRAINING OR DISCIPLING OR ‘EMPLOYING’ PEOPLE
Is there a path to leadership or ministry in the church?
Do assimilated people get challenged to try a true discipleship group?
Is there a plan for teachers to mentor new teachers, and greeters to train new greeters, and singers to recruit new singers?
Our values
- GRACE
Are we known for grace and love and truth?
Can the involved people explain salvation carefully without clichés?
Are leaders gracious?
Is this a good place to recover from legalism?
- WORSHIP
Does our service seem authentic as opposed to plastic or glitzy?
Do we seek as much excellence as possible?
Do we sing words people would say so they can mean it?
Have we solved the worship war and strategy in a good way?
- COMMUNITY
Are our groups for Bible study really planned for community and love?
Do we have at least 40-50% of our attenders in groups?
Do we offer good training and encouragement for our team leaders?
Do we offer true discipleship, specific support groups, and specials for seniors?
- MISSION
Do leaders share the main goals for who we want to be?
Do we communicate our values and goals regularly?
Do we care about local and global missions?
- INTEGRITY
Do we have strong policies for finances and morality?
Do we talk about real life, so our teaching is candid about the way things are?
Our church decisions
- CONGREGATION/MEMBERSHIP
Is it clear what they decide? Do we show that at membership class?
Can we love but not listen to the people who remember church size 50-100 when the membership voted on everything?
Do we communicate enough for all the people, so they are aware?
- THE MAIN BOARD
Do they have a clear job description for the board?
Do the pastor and the board chair have a good relationship? Do they avoid ever surprising each other?
Do board members know they do board work only when they are all together, and not individually as they walk around?
Do they speak with one mind, and avoid telling who voted which way?
Do they have a spirit of devotion to Christ first, and model that by the way they start a meeting?
Is there good agenda information sent ahead of time, so no surprises?
- STAFF
Is there a clear difference between the work of the board and the work of the staff? Have you seen “the soccer field’ for this?
Do all members have job descriptions, and clear ways of reporting? Clear DNA of staff related to details and mood?
Are there enough times for communication, prayer, fun?
Our gatherings
- WORSHIP SERVICES
Do we have enough for our numbers? We do we add venues?
Do the services connect with people? With God?
Do we think of all ages in the planning?
Do they have as much excellence and authenticity as possible?
- COMMUNITY OR STUDY GROUPS
Do we have options on Sunday as well as during the week? For seniors?
Do we have one group for every 30-50 adults? Are 40-50% involved?
Is there a team of leaders for each group, not just the teacher?
How do we coach them, especially the leaders of the groups?
- DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS
Do staff all lead one?
Do we honor the limits for true discipleship – 3-7, all men or all women?
Do we reproduce these so more people get involved?
- SUPPORT GROUPS OR COUNSELING
Do we help people with special needs support each other? Who is the point person on staff for planning these?
Do we have clear policies, limits, reference ministries, for true counseling?
Our giving, our offerings
- PARTICIPATION
Do we know how many give regularly?
Any idea of what % of income people give? (Anonymous surveys can reveal that.)
How many use offering envelopes, and how do they get them?
- “OUTSIDE THE WALLS”
How much of our giving goes outside the walls, locally and globally? (“Outside the walls” includes not only money marked missions but any that is used for other-than-church-maintenance ministries, for any ministry to people that do not go to church.)
Do church leaders monitor how much goes outside the walls?
Do people on the board and the staff think outside the walls, and does the pulpit promote not only giving but also ministry there?
- TEACHING ABOUT FINANCES
Is there biblical teaching on a regular basis about giving?
Do the classes or ABFs ever follow the sermons on giving so that there can be discussions and q/a time?
Do church staff and leaders teach a common message about what is expected of a faithful New Testament giver?
Our praying
- LEADERSHIP
Do all staff and board meetings include prayer times?
Is there teaching on prayer from the pulpit and in membership class?
- SUNDAY AND HOME GROUPS
Do they receive ideas for prayer from the central office so that all requests are not about broken bones?
Do we teach conversational or natural prayers? Do the groups enjoy praying together?
Is there a care captain in each who helps people in that group pray for and care for special needs among them?
- STAFF
Is there an understanding that part of our DNA is regular prayer?
Do we talk about personal needs when we are together, and pray for each other?
- FAMILIES
Do we encourage home prayers and teach how? Are there guidelines and requests somehow given to families?
Do we assume too much?
Are there true discipleship groups where family leaders are taught how to pray?
Our mood
- GRACE AND LOVE
Does a new person feel welcome? In general and in groups?
How about a rich person? A poor person?
Does the pulpit model truth with grace and love?
Are groups motivated and trained to show love to their people?
Can new people “break into” the circles of grace and love?
- JOY
Can it be felt in the halls and in the groups? The children’s rooms? Youth? In the announcement times? From the pulpit?
Is there an understanding that while life and the Christian commitment are very serious, there are times for laughter and joy?
- AUTHORITY
Is it obvious that Christ is Lord of this church?
Is it obvious that the Scriptures are viewed as true and foundational?
Do leaders and workers feel appreciated?
- MISSION
If you attend here, can you tell that the church knows