Church AssessmentDr. Pablo Jiménez * www.drpablojimenez.net
Based on
Robert H. Welch, Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry, Second Edition. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2011.
And
James D. Anderson & Ezra Earl Jones. The Management of Ministry: Building Leadership in a Changing World. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1993.
Introduction
• Assessing congregations is a tricky business.
• We are used to classify congregations by their denominations or traditions.
• In this occasion will focus on constituencies, relations with the community and size.
Understanding your Congregation
Basic Categories
• Following the 20/80 rule, your congregation is divided between the “People of Influence” and the “Congregation.”
• The People of Influence are, approximately, 20% of the congregation.
• The Congregation is, approximately, 80%.
People of Influence
Three constituencies compose this group:
• The Pastoral Team
• People of Position
• People of Passion
People of Influence
Pastoral Team
• Includes any person involved in Pastoral leadership.
• In small congregations, the team might only include the Pastor & some lay leaders. In larger ones, it may also include associate pastors, church staff & small group leaders.
People of Position• These are formal leaders that occupy
volunteer positions of leadership at church.
• In particular, it refers to those who are currently appointed to and serving in a position, such as deacons, elders, board members, chairs of commissions & committee members, among others.
People of Passion
• These are informal leaders involved in an area of ministry that they are passionate about.
• Although they may be officially appointed to a position, they will always pursue their passion.
The Congregation
Three constituencies compose this group:
• People of Participation
• People of Passivity
• People of Perpetual Care
The Congregation
People of Participation• Church members who attend regularly
and support the church with their offerings, tithes and pledges.
• If asked, they may serve as volunteers, particularly as members of small groups or committees for a short amount of time. They usually reject leadership positions and long-term commitments.
People of Passivity
• Church members who attend with some regularity and support the church with their offerings. They rarely tithe or pledge any significant amount of money.
• They usually reject active participation in any ministry.
• They usually only attend Sunday Worship.
People of Perpetual Care
• Church members who are passive objects of ministry.
• Although some may attend worship with some regularity, this classifycation also includes those who are too frail to attend, particularly shut-ins and bed ridden people.
Beyond the Congregation
Other important constituencies are:
• The “Crowd”
• The Community Art-Large
• Religious Institutions
• NGO’s & Non-Profits
• The Government
The “Crowd”
• People who rarely attend worship, but are known to the pastor and the congregation.
• Includes relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers of active parishioners.
• This crowd is usually twice the size of the congregation.
The Community At-Large
• The community at-large, as defined in the next section, can and do offer ministerial opportunities to the local church.
• In occasions, the community demand the church’s attention to key issues.
Religious Institutions• The religious institutions that demand
attention from the church fall into two categories:
• Denominational structures (including other congregations and judicatories)
• Interdenominational organizations (such as other congregations, ministerial associations, theological schools, etc.)
NGO’s & Non-Profit Institutions
• The church also interacts with other instructions that serve the public.
• In particular, the church work alongside non-governmental institutions (NGO’s) and non-profits. These organizations may or may bot be religious.
The Government
• Interacting with the government, in its many expressions, is unavoidable.
• If possible, the local church should have a good working relationship with local government officers, such as the mayor, the school council, the city council members, the legislature, etc.
Summary
Assessment by Type
Introduction
• The relationship between the local congregation and its community defines its type.
• How a church defines its community determines how the congregation acts and reacts.
Neighborhood Churches
• This type of congregation is located in a well-defined been contained residential area.
• It is clearly identified with the neighborhood and may share it's name with the community.
Small Town Churches• A church located in a small town of several
hundred to several thousand inhabitants typically serves the people living in the surrounding area.
• It is usually the only congregation of its denomination in town.
• If they belong to a “Mainline Church,” they may be called “First Christian Church”.
Rural Churches
• These congregations serve sprawling rural and semi-rural areas that are usually sparsely populated.
• It may serve communities in unincorporated territories or suburban neighborhoods close to other townships.
Downtown Churches• Sanctuaries of these congregations are
usually located in downtown central business districts of large cities.
• The congregation attracts people from the city and neighboring suburban areas.
• Its membership ranges widely in social class, due to the church’s ability to reach different communities.
Metropolitan Churches• This congregation serves a large part of
a metropolitan area or region. Its members come from different cities, townships and suburban areas.
• It is strategically located in a major thoroughfare, in a visible and accessible site. It is usually accessible through a known street, main avenue or highway.
Special-Purpose Churches
• These congregations are not defined by geography.
• They attract people for their unique theology, ethnic composition, unique worship style, distinct ministries other exceptional quality.
Emerging Congregations
• A congregation passionate to reach new generations and populations that usually do not attend church.
• To reach its goals, it is willing to try new worship styles, meeting times, media technology, meeting places and staffing, etc.
Assessment by Type
Classification
• The Family Church (0-50 members)
• The Pastoral Church (50-150)
• The Transitional Size Church (150-350)
• The Medium Size Church (350-750)
• The Large or Corporate Size Church (750-2000)
• The Mega-Church (2000+)
Family Size• A small congregation which membership
does not exceed 50 people.
• Although many have buildings, this category includes “house churches.”
• It is lead by a bi-vocational minister or a retired ministers that receives little or no compensation. It may also be lead by a team of lay leaders.
Pastoral Size
• A congregation manageable by a one full-time minister.
• However, most are lead by bi-vocational leaders who may receive some compensation for their labor.
• It depends heavily the work of volunteers.
Transitional Size• A congregation too large for one full-time
pastor, but not large enough to support a full-time associate minister.
• It depends not only on lay volunteers but on part-time ministerial staff (such as youth ministers, choir directors, etc.)
• It may revert to Pastoral Size or grow to Medium Size.
Medium Size
• These congregations have enough volume to justify calling a full-time associate pastor, but they rarely do. Therefore, they depend on part-time associate ministers charged with different tasks.
• It faces resistance to change, which explains why it tends to revert to Transitional size.
Large or Corporate Size• This is a multi-staff congregation led by
an influential Senior Pastor. It offers several opportunities for Sunday worship and ministries for all ages.
• The Senior Pastor focuses on preaching, teaching and developing leaders. Pastoral care is delegated on associate pastors and small groups.
The Mega-Church• It shares the traits of the Large Size
congregation, mentioned in the previous slide.
• It has a large main campus, a robust Internet ministry, and even it may even offer worship at other sites—led by associate ministers. The Senior Pastor preaches and teaches at all sites, usually by video (recorded o streamed).
Summary
What is Size is Your Church?
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