True BearingPress

Free from Church Renewal

The Church Health Check

Thirty statements about your church, in six areas. It takes about ten minutes, and you’ll see your results right away, with practical first steps for the areas that need attention.

Answer for your church as it is today, not as you hope it will be. If you don’t know, choose “Not sure.” The Health Check is a conversation starter for pastors and church leaders. It isn’t a scientific test, and a low score isn’t a verdict on anyone’s faithfulness.

Taking it with your leadership team? Start a team, and everyone’s answers come together on one page so you can compare.

The questions draw on Bart Denny’s doctoral research on pastors who led small churches through revitalization, and on his book Reassigned. Your answers are saved without your name so we can see overall patterns. If you ask us to email your results, we’ll keep your address with them.

Before you start

About you and your church

These are all optional.

Part 1 of 6

Mission and focus

Whether the church knows what it exists to do and arranges its time and money around it.

Most of our people could say in a sentence or two what our church exists to do.
When we decide what to start, keep or stop, we ask how it helps people follow Jesus.
A real share of our calendar and budget goes to people who aren’t part of our church yet.
In the past three years we’ve changed or ended at least one ministry because it no longer served its purpose.
Our leaders spend more of their meeting time on people and mission than on buildings and schedules.

Part 2 of 6

Prayer and spiritual life

Whether the church depends on God together, and whether people are growing in Christ.

Our church prays together regularly, beyond the prayers in the Sunday service.
Our leaders pray together about the church’s direction before they make major decisions.
People in our church are growing in their knowledge of Scripture and living it out during the week.
In the past year we’ve seen people come to faith in Christ or return to Him.
We expect God to answer prayer, and we tell the church when He does.

Part 3 of 6

Developing leaders

Whether the church is preparing people to carry real responsibility, before it needs them.

Our pastor regularly brings someone along on ministry work, such as visits, teaching or planning, and talks it over afterward.
People who get involved are given real responsibility, not only tasks, within a year or two.
When someone tries something new and it doesn’t go well, we encourage them to try again.
If our pastor were unavailable for three months, others could teach, care for people and make ordinary decisions.
Right now we’re preparing at least one person to take on a role someone else fills today.

Part 4 of 6

Sharing the load

Whether ministry is spread across many people and whether those who serve are cared for.

Ministry work is spread across many people, so the same few aren’t carrying most of it.
We notice when volunteers are close to burning out, and we give them room to rest.
Essential knowledge, such as finances, passwords and building systems, isn’t held by only one person.
Volunteers know what’s expected of them and whom to ask for help.
We thank and encourage people who serve, including those doing work nobody sees.

Part 5 of 6

Welcome and follow-up

Whether newcomers are noticed and followed up, and whether anyone notices when people drift away.

First-time guests are greeted warmly, and someone follows up with them within a week.
Our leaders know the names of most people who have visited in the past three months.
Our members regularly invite friends, neighbors or coworkers.
We have real relationships with people and organizations in our community.
When someone stops attending, someone notices within a month and reaches out.

Part 6 of 6

Trust, change and endurance

Whether people can speak honestly, whether change is led with care, and whether leaders can keep going.

People can disagree with our leaders without paying a price in the relationship.
Bad news reaches our leaders while problems are still small.
When we make changes, we explain why, give people time, and listen to those who will miss what’s ending.
Our leaders and members keep going through hard seasons without giving up on the church.
Our pastor has friends and support outside the congregation and takes regular rest.