Congregational Vitality Assessment Survey

The purpose of this survey is to give the leaders of your congregation a sense of the current vitality levels in your church. For each question, please circle the number next to the answer that describes your congregation.  There is a self-scoring sheet on the last page. 

If you are joining a Cluster Group, bring your leadership team together and build a consensus around each answer, and come to a composite score.  Also, come to a consensus around the three areas of church life you wish to focus on. 

Send the composite self-assessment to Paul Nickerson at MACUCC 1 Badger Road, Framingham, MA.  01702. There are trained Vitality Coaches to help you implement strategies for the growth of your congregation.

Worship Attendance-Look up the average adult (Post-high school and above) worship attendance from five years ago and from last year.  Compare the two worship averages.  What has happened?  Have you increased or decreased?

1. Decreased                    .

2. Increased           

Who is Joining?-Look at who has joined your congregation in the past three years.   What percentage of those who joined had either no background in Christianity or had not been in a church for many years?

1. Less than 20% with little or no background

2.  More than 20% with little or no background

 Small Groups- Determine your average worship attendance of the past 12 months.  Add up the total number of adults who are in small, growth groups.  For the purposes of this survey, a small group is a gathering of 5-12 people that meets at least twice a month and engages in bible study, prayer, a mission project, adult Sunday school class or some other activity.  These are growth groups not boards and committees, nor groups that meet strictly for fellowship.  What percentage of your average worship attendance is in small groups?

1.   Less than 33%

2.   More than 33%

 Advertising-Add up all the expenditures made for advertising and publicity.  This could include newspaper ads, phone book ads, direct mail, flyers, radio and television, etc.  What percentage of the total church budget does advertising represent?

1.  Less than 5%

2.  More than 5%

 Invitation-Are people in your congregation inviting others to worship and/or other people-gathering church events?  Poll your worshipping congregation on a Sunday morning and ask each member how many adults in the community they have invited and attended with them in the past 12 months to worship or other church event.  Average the totals for your congregation.

1.   Our church members average less than 3 people invited/year

2.  Our church members average more than 3 people invited/year

 Training and Leadership Development-What percentage of church leaders have participated in at least four hours of leadership training during the last year?  This training could be “in-house” events, regional workshops, special resources, etc.  Such training does not include Bible studies or administrative meetings in the church or Conference.

1.  Less than 25% of our leaders have had 4 hours of training

2.  More than 25% of our leaders have had 4 hours of training

 Rotation of Leadership-Of all the people who have joined the church in the past five years, what percentage of them are now in leadership roles in your congregation?

1.  Less than 10%

2.  More than 10%

 Hospitality- How many of the following items are currently part of your intentional system of hospitality?  Check off the items you do, add up the total and circle the appropriate number below. 

               ___greeters in the parking lot

               ___greeters at entry ways/doors

               ___a welcome station in the lobby area

               ___area for refreshments and conversation

               ___flyers/brochure/information about church available

               ___a hospitality team overseeing hospitality ministry

               ___a time of greeting during the worship service

               ___a method of collecting information about newcomers

1.  Less than 3

2.  More than 3

 Guest Follow-Up-How many of the following items are currently part of your intentional guest follow-up system?  Again, check off, add up the total and circle the appropriate number below.

               ___letter sent from pastor within 3 days

               ___a second letter sent by other staff member within 3 weeks

               ___a third letter sent by lay leader with 3 weeks

               ___guest is added to newsletter mailing list

               ___feedback card is sent to guest to give feedback on 1st visit.

               ___a phone call is made within 36 hours

               ___a face-to-face visit by a lay person is made with 24 hours

               ___newcomer added to email list of church

1.   Less than 3

2.  More than 3

Vision-What percentage of your members could state in one sentence or less the vision of the congregation?  This assumes that within the past 5 years the congregation has engaged in an all-church envisioning process to clarify values, beliefs, vision and mission. (this % is based on your best estimate).

1. Less than 20%

2. More than 20%

Understanding the Community Around the Church-On a regular basis (at least once a year) how many of the following practices does church leadership engage in?  Again, check off, add up the total and circle the appropriate answer.

               ___study of demographic material

               ___interviewing business and community leaders

               ___prayerful listening to community demographic groups

               ___conversation with unchurched

               ___prayerful discernment of what groups to reach next

               ___matching church programs to community needs

                     (if you need demographic data go to Link2Lead.com)

1.  Less than 2

2.  More than 2

Hands-on Mission work-What percentage of the congregation is involved in some hands-on mission project that reaches the community.  This is actual involvement, not the sending of money for someone else to do mission.

1.  Less than 20%

2.  More than 20%

 Stewardship-From demographic material determine the median household income in your ministry area or zip code.  From your church records determine the median family pledge this past year.  Divide the median pledge by the median income and select the appropriate number below.  (Note:  go to Link2.Lead.com for the demographic information).

1.  Median pledge equals less than 2% of median income

2.  Median pledge equals more than 2% of median income

Web Site Work-How much time and money is spent on maintaining an interactive web site? How does it compare to what is spent on buildings and grounds?

1.  Web site work is less than half spent on building and grounds

2.  Web site work is equivalent to buildings and grounds

Self Scoring

Add up the numbers circled on the above thirteen questions.  Your score will range from 14-28.

Your score _______________

Range of scores

            ____ Under 18 struggling/declining

    ____ Over 18 Transforming/Thriving

 Your name  ____________________________________.

 Please return to Paul Nickerson at MACUCC 1 Badger Road, Framingham, MA.  01702. Questions? Contact Paul at  Nickersonp@macucc.org or 508-875-5233.