Moving Toward Effective Evaluation and Planning

In my 25 years as a pastor, I estimate that 90% of evaluation of any church event, including Sunday morning worship, has been based on attendance. The annual statistical report required that we complete for our denomination includes questions like, "What was your average weekly worship attendance? What was the average weekly attendance of children in Sunday School and adults in small groups? How many youth attend youth group? How many women are active in United Methodist Women?"

This predominant practice for evaluating church ministry is understandable. Attendance numbers are one measure of a church's vitality and they are also numbers that can be "captured" and recorded. Numerical amounts, in general, can be used for goal setting and results can be observed quickly. For example, each year Brighton First's Stewardship Committee sets a goal for the number of annual giving pledges that they are seeking to receive.

Through Vital Church Initiative, Brighton First leaders are learning that "you get what you measure for" and asking tough questions about how we are evaluating our programming. I recently read Holy Clarity: The Practice of Planning and Evaluation by Rev. Dr. Sarah B. Drummond.

Drummond believes that when a church is clear about what is being done, why it is being done and how it is being done, it can shape significant ministry in the name of Christ. Drummond points out that strong leaders understand that evaluation is essential and goes deeper than simply conducting a head count. Evaluation brings commonly understood benchmarks that can motivate a community. Leaders also know that the goals must be owned by the "stakeholders", those who are empowering the ministry.

In reading Drummond's book, I have been challenged to consider how Brighton First plans for ministry and evaluates what it is doing. It is so easy to fall into how we have always done things and then wonder why they are not working as well.

Drummond observes that people's perceptions of what church should be and how they participate in church is changing. She writes that these key practices can be found in vital churches:1. Committee structure is more nimble. People with specific gifts gather as task forces to do specific work. 2. Budgets are primarily based on the church's future vision. 3. There is a "flat hierarchy" to leadership. The pastor plays a collaborating and coordinating role, bringing a spiritual perspective. 4. Congregations see conflict as part of a way forward and decision-making involves open discussion. 5. Churches understand themselves as existing within a culture, not in an alternative world. The church both participates in and critiques the wider society. (p. 14)

Drummond suggests that new way of planning and then evaluating church ministries are essential. Recording attendance numbers and hoping that those numbers will rise is not effective for moving forward and broadening our ministry reach in the name of Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of a ministry or event? What impact are we intending or what is that will change because of the ministry or event? How will we know that this is happening or has happened?

Consider church ministries that you have been involved in, whether it be worship, mission, outreach or Christian education. Whether you attend Brighton First or another faith community, what questions are you asking? Are you asking about more than numbers?

Tomorrow, I will include a few evaluation ideas that Drummond outlines in Holy Clarity.