44 Questions for Congregational Self-Appraisal

by Schaller, Lyle E.

• ISBN13: 9780687088409
• ISBN10: 0687088402
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-02-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Press

Summary

Churches don't sit still; they are either planning for the future or wishing for the past. Yet, even when setting about to discern the future into which the Spirit is leading, how does a congregation map its way? How does it understand its strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and limitations, gifts and graces? In 44 Questions for Congregational Self-Appraisal, Lyle E. Schaller directs the reader to the crucial questions a church must ask itself if it is to understand its mission and the course it must chart in order to achieve that mission. He helps pastors, congregational leaders, and strategic planning groups understand that the questions we ask and the data we gather tend to set our priorities, and for this reason it is crucial to seek the correct information from the outset.Schaller shows church leaders how not to become trapped by "means to an end" questions (real estate, staffing, money, and schedules) and focus instead on questions related to the congregation's distinctive mission (identity, purpose, role, and God's call) and message.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	11	(10)
CHAPTER ONE: Where Do We Begin?	21	(37)
Two Responses	22	(1)
Which Planning Model?	23	(35)
A. What Are the Expectations We Project?	25	(5)
B. Who Is Our Number One Constituency?	30	(4)
C. What Is Our Niche?	34	(4)
D. How Large Is Our Parish?	38	(1)
E. What Is Our Approach to Ministry?	39	(4)
F. What Do We Do Best?	43	(1)
G. What Is Our Driving Motivation?	44	(4)
H. What Do We Expect of Our Pastor and Staff?	48	(10)
CHAPTER TWO: What Do the Numbers Tell Us?	58	(31)
A. How Large Is This Congregation?	59	(5)
B. What Is the Ratio?	64	(1)
C. What Is the Median Tenure?	65	(2)
D. What Is the Frequency of Worship Attendance?	67	(8)
E. What Is the Turnover Rate?	75	(3)
F. What Are the Sources of Our New Members?	78	(2)
G. How Many Baptisms?	80	(1)
H. Where Do Our People Live?	81	(1)
I. What Is the Age Distribution of Our Members?	82	(2)
J. What Is the Marital and Family Distribution?	84	(3)
K. When Was This Congregation Founded?	87	(2)
CHAPTER THREE: What Is Our Purpose? What Is Our Community Image?	89	(9)
A. What Is the Operational Statement of Purpose?	89	(3)
B. Are We Happy with That Operational Statement?	92	(1)
C. How Do Others See Us?	93	(3)
D. Are You Happy with That Image?	96	(2)
CHAPTER FOUR: Who Will Be Tomorrow's New Members?	98	(9)
A. How Long Is the List of Prospective Future Members?	99	(1)
B. Who Is Responsible for That List?	99	(1)
C. How Many First-Time Visitors Worship with Us Each Weekend?	99	(1)
D. How Many New Face-to-Face Groups?	100	(1)
E. How Many New Full Members Did We Receive Last Year?	101	(1)
F. Has That Ratio of New Members Received to Resident Full Members Been Going Up or Down During the Past Several Years?	101	(1)
G. What Are the Ages and Marital Characteristics of Our New Members?	102	(1)
H. Can We Interview Our Past Visitors?	102	(5)
CHAPTER FIVE: How Are We Organized?	107	(9)
A. Permission-Giving or Permission-Withholding?	107	(1)
B. Abundance or Scarcity?	108	(2)
C. Care of Members or Welcome to Strangers?	110	(1)
D. What Is the Crucial Dividing Line Between the Laity and the Paid Staff?	111	(1)
E. What Is Our Self-Image?	112	(1)
F. What Is the Stance of Our Pastor?	113	(3)
CHAPTER SIX: Means-to-an-End Questions	116	(25)
A. How Much Land Do We Need?	118	(1)
B. How Much Money Do We Need?	119	(8)
C. How Much Staff Do We Need?	127	(4)
D. What Are the Criteria and Trends for Designing Our Schedule?	131	(10)
CHAPTER SEVEN: How Large Should We Build It?	141	(17)
Twenty-one Questions	142	(14)
What Else?	156	(2)
CHAPTER EIGHT: Three Fork-in-the-Road Questions	158	(20)
A. Teaching or Learning?	159	(7)
B. Youth or Families?	166	(6)
C. How Many in a Group?	172	(6)
NOTES	178