Introducing the Church Health Check

GrowingHealthyChurches

Agenda for the session

Introduction to the Church Health Check

• Rationale and purpose

• Values and ethos

• Overview of the process

What happens at a Health Check

Planning and practicalities

Promoting the event

GrowingHealthyChurches

Church Health Check

What is it?

A response to the needs of the Church:

• Remit from the 2007 Synod Review

– to enable every church to develop a credible mission strategy

• After District Pastoral Consultations

– a new way of exercising oversight by the wider church is required

GrowingHealthyChurches

Purpose

Maintenance:

• to check the health of the local churchas a body or organisationready to represent God in the world

Ministry & Mission

• to encourage and enable the local churchto develop its understanding of, and participation in, the work of God in the world

Both are pastoral work

GrowingHealthyChurches

Church Health Check

BasisHealthy Churches Handbook

• a health-check for the body

• based on researchamong growing churches

Its emphasis: changed thinkingchanged thinking

from

Church = Building + Minister + Sunday services

to

CHURCH = COMMUNITY + FAITH + ACTIONCHURCH = COMMUNITY + FAITH + ACTION

GrowingHealthyChurches

Values• Context of prayerful reflection

– What is the Spirit saying to my church?

• Church self-appraisal– not inspection by outsiders

• Facilitators enable a process to happen– not there to impose their own views

• Church reports on its own life & health– Facilitators do not make judgements

• Church makes its own decisions about the way forward

• Facilitators respect confidences

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Summary

In the Church Health Check

• the local church conducts a self-appraisal

• led by outside facilitators

• as part of the pastoral responsibility of the wider church

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Overview of the Process

1. Identification of the church – SPAs

2. Elders Preparation – Facilitator team ldr

3. Church Health Check – Facilitators

Bible study

Logical & creative exercises

Action planning

4. Report by the church – to their SPA

5. Follow-up

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Overview of theChurch Health Check

Four different strands:

Bible exposition

Church Profile Exercise & related exercises

Angel of the Church exercises

Video material

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Overview of theChurch Health Check

Church Profile Exercise−church self-appraisal using 7 signs as criteria−suits the more logical personality−leads to action planning

Bible exposition− offers biblical basis of church review− introduces the concept of the Angel of the

Church (in Revelation 1-3)− promotes worshipful attitude to whole event

GrowingHealthyChurches

Church Health Check

Criteria of health in Church Profile Exercise:

• Energised by faith

• Outward-looking focus

• Seeks to find out what God wants

• Faces the cost of change and growth

• Operates as a community

• Makes room for all

• Does a few things and does them well

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Video material−stimulates imagination about mission−encourages thinking ‘outside the box’−provides relief from us talking!

Angel of the Church exercises− view church as single personality− suits the more creative personality− invoke church-God relationship

Overview of theChurch Health Check

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Reporting

Proforma report sheet supplied

• for self-reporting

• after the event

Page 1:

• what did the church decide about itself ?

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Reporting

Page 2:

• what does the church intend to do ?

GrowingHealthyChurches

Overview of the Process

1. Identification of the church – SPAs

2. Elders Preparation – Facilitator team ldr

3. Church Health Check – Facilitators

Bible study

Logical & creative exercises

Action planning

4. Report by the church

5. Follow-up – SPAs have watching brief

GrowingHealthyChurches

Pattern AFriday 7:30 Introductions

Opening prayer

7:45 CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church

8:30 Angel of the Church introductory exercise(CPE - Creating the profile)

8:50 CPE - Reflecting on the profile

9:30 Close

Saturday 10:00

Opening worship, including Bible study

10:45 Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise

11:15 Coffee breakFresh Expressions DVD

12:00 Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise

12:30 Lunch

1:30 CPE - What needs working on? - Generate action lists

2:00 Angel of the Church letter writing

2:45 Tea break(CPE - Collating action lists from 1:30 session)

3:15 CPE - Action planning

4:15 Closing worship

GrowingHealthyChurches

Pattern B

Saturday 9:45 Opening worship, extending Bible study

10:15 CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church

11:00 Coffee break(CPE - completing the profile)

11:30 Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise

12:00 CPE - Reflecting on the profile

12:45 LunchFresh Expressions DVD

1:45 Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise

2:15 CPE - What needs working on? - Generate action lists

2:45 Angel of the Church letter writing exercise(CPE - Collating action lists from 2:15 session)

3:25 Brief tea break

3:30 CPE - Action planning

4:15 Closing worship

Sunday worship

Theme talk: Angel of the Church introductory exercise

Sermon using most Bible study material

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Pattern C

Collating

Sunday 2

Theme talk Angel of the Church resumé exercise

Sermon Extends Bible study from Sunday 1

12:30 LunchFresh Expressions DVD

1:30 CPE - What needs working on?

2:00 Angel of the Church letter writing exercise

2:40 Tea break

3:00 CPE - Action planning

3:45 Closing worship

Collating

Sunday 1

Theme talk Angel of the Church introductory exercise

Sermon Uses most Bible study material

12:30 Lunch

1:30 CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church

2:15 Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise

2:45 CPE - Reflecting on the profile

3:25 Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise

4:00 Close

A word about language

‘‘Mission strategy’ Mission strategy’ can be misunderstood ascan be misunderstood as

Vocation’ or ‘Calling’Vocation’ or ‘Calling’may be understood asmay be understood as

something others do (perhaps overseas)

what my church pursueswhat my church pursues

a duty a natural (joyful) outworking a natural (joyful) outworking of church life (if church is of church life (if church is healthy)healthy)

all about giving (eg. to M&M) what we dowhat we do

something we’ve done already an ongoing journey of faithan ongoing journey of faith

something we decide upon(eg. because Synod tells us to)

a response to God’s calla response to God’s call

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To decide

What venue to use?

• we need one room big enough for group work

• we need plenty of display space

What arrangements need to be made for Saturday/Sunday lunch and refreshments?

• people may welcome a provided lunch

• but preparing it may compromise involvement

Provision for children and young people

• older teenagers can do the Health Check

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PromotionWhy?

• More people to discern what God is saying– Reformed principle: God’s gathered people

best discern what God is saying

• Maximum involvement gives confidence to decisions made as a result

How?

• Pray for God’s assistance

GrowingHealthyChurches

PromotionHow?

• Adequate notice - give out date early

• Clear information

• Enthusiastic support of the leadership team

• Personal invitation - proforma letter supplied

• Get people to sign up

Pray for God’s assistance