|
|
|
|
|
Template 7 [For use during the SWOT Team/Health Check Meeting outlined in Part 6.]
[A printable copy of this Template is available to download below and paper copies will be made available.]
Church Health Check
Working with a partner, score each of the bulleted points out of 5 (5 = we do this very well, 1 = we do not do this at all). Try to identify evidence.
1. Energized by faith
-rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
2. Outward-looking focus
-with a ‘whole life’ rather than a ‘church life’ concern
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
3. Seeks to find out what God wants
-discerning the Spirit’s leaning rather than trying to please everyone
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
4. Faces the cost of change and growth
-rather than resisting change and avoiding failure
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
5. Operates as a community
-rather than functioning as a club or religious organisation
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
6. Makes room for all
-being inclusive rather than exclusive.
Score /5
Evidence to support score
7. Does a few things and do them well
-focused rather than frenetic
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
Now sort the evidence into the three areas. This will give you a clearer picture of where your church is strong and where it might need to strengthen its mission.
[A printable copy of this Template is available to download below and paper copies will be made available.]
Church Health Check
Working with a partner, score each of the bulleted points out of 5 (5 = we do this very well, 1 = we do not do this at all). Try to identify evidence.
1. Energized by faith
-rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- worship and sacramental life: moves people to experience God’s love
- motivation: energy comes from a desire to serve God and one another
- engaging with Scripture: in creative ways which connect with life
- nurtures faith in Christ: helping people to grow in, and share their faith.
2. Outward-looking focus
-with a ‘whole life’ rather than a ‘church life’ concern
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- deeply rooted in the local community, working in partnership with other denominations, faiths, secular groups and networks
- passionate and prophetic about justice and peace, locally and globally
- makes connections between faith and daily living
- responds to human need by loving service
3. Seeks to find out what God wants
-discerning the Spirit’s leaning rather than trying to please everyone
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- vocation: seeks to explore what God wants it to be and do
- vision: develops and communicates a shared sense of where it is going
- mission priorities: consciously sets both immediate and long-term goals
- able to call for, and make, sacrifices, personal and corporate, in bringing about the above and living out the faith.
4. Faces the cost of change and growth
-rather than resisting change and avoiding failure
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- while embracing the past, it dares to take on new ways of doing things
- takes risks: and admits when things are not working, and learns from experience
- crises: responds creatively to challenges that face the church and community
- positive experiences of change: however small, are affirmed and built on.
5. Operates as a community
-rather than functioning as a club or religious organisation
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- relationships: are nurtured, often in small groups, so people feel accepted and are helped to grow in faith and service
- leadership: lay and ordained work as a team to develop locally appropriate expressions of all seven marks of a healthy church
- lay ministry: the different gifts, experiences and faith journeys of all are valued and given expression in and beyond the life of the church.
6. Makes room for all
-being inclusive rather than exclusive.
Score /5
Evidence to support score
- welcome: works to include newcomers into the life of the church
- children and young people: are helped to belong, contribute and be nurtured in their faith
- enquirers are encouraged to explore and experience faith in Christ
- diversities: different social and ethnic backgrounds, mental and physical abilities, and ages, are seen as a strength.
7. Does a few things and do them well
-focused rather than frenetic
Score /5
Evidence to support score:
- does the basics well: especially public worship, pastoral care, stewardship and administration
- occasional offices: make sense of life and communicate faith
- being good news as a church in its attitudes and ways of working
- enjoys what it does and is relaxed about what is not being done
Now sort the evidence into the three areas. This will give you a clearer picture of where your church is strong and where it might need to strengthen its mission.
- Growing new disciples in missionary church communities which are younger, more diverse, active and spiritually engaged
- Nurturing increasing vocations, nurturing new and existing disciples, increasing financial giving
- Serving present for all, speaking and acting prophetically for justice, supporting pastorally especially the vulnerable, deprived and excluded
| template_7.pdf |
