by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader
How are we doing as a church? As evaluation season for clergy and church staff approaches, I trust evaluating how churches are doing in missional advancement is part of the discussion. In fact, I hope church leaders are asking this question frequently during the year, perhaps during every lay leadership team meeting. Just how are we doing as a church? When we integrate this question into our everyday rhythm as churches, we are far more likely to make progress since we tend to naturally align our efforts with our driving questions.
So, back to the best evaluation tool ever. This particular tool is the most reliable, and up to date evaluation tool there is. Before describing the tool itself, let’s consider the context. I hope your church has its mission statement and core commitments in place, since this is needed in order to do meaningful church evaluation. Otherwise, what are we evaluating? When these are not in place, typically we default to how we feel about our church and its ministries. How we feel is not nothing; yet it’s insufficient for evaluating missional progress. An example perhaps… when your mission statement is something like, “Making Disciples For The Transformation Of the World,” then you have a reference point. How are we doing with this?
Without further delay then, here is the best church evaluation tool ever:
(BTW, It’s financially free – yet will cost you laser-like focus and intense missional commitment)
Your People.
The real, living people who are your church.
How they (including church leaders) are living their lives is the best indicator of how successful your church is.
In timely fashion, this week and next, present a fantastic opportunity to do this kind of church evaluation. You may have noticed we are in election season in this USA, though we’ve all had enough of political ads by now! Since our aim as churches is to turn ordinary human beings into people living the Way Of Jesus, then how are we managing ourselves during this election season? What difference does our call to be Jesus people make in us as we relate to each other regarding elections? If we are not much different than everyone else, then perhaps our church is failing in its efforts to make us into disciples. When we practice respect, integrity, grace, and pursue values of love in this context, then perhaps our church is succeeding in its mission to transform us into Jesus’ disciples.
But, how do we know these answers? How might we do this kind of real time church evaluation? How can we find out? Even more, do we actually want to know? Do we have this kind of missional courage in our churches? This is far more difficult to observe than organizational metrics for sure. Yes indeed. And here are a few suggestions:
Preach and teach on this kind of church evaluation regularly, reminding one another of your highest aim as a church.
Facilitate church community conversations — gather people to discuss together what difference their faith is making in the way they manage themselves during this election season.
Invite conversation and exploration about how Jesus people are different and the same as others.
Consider how your congregation will be different a year from now, as you pursue formation in the Way Of Jesus for one year.
Write articles about this; make videos about this; communicating every way you can.
Don’t hesitate to lift the conversation of your church beyond buildings, bodies, and budgets, since those things are necessary, yet rarely inspiring. Lift the conversation to your church’s primary mission, drawing your people and others into lives reflecting Jesus our Lord.
So, let’s do it. Let’s make first things first. Let’s allow the mission to which Christ has called God’s Church to become the actual mission. Are we ready? Then, through the grace, power, and love of Jesus Christ our Lord, may we move ahead, evaluating our churches with the best evaluation resources ever—our people. How much we are being transformed into Jesus people through church engagement is a fantastic way to evaluate the effectiveness of most any Christian church.