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Free from Church Renewal

Ready for Renewal

Can your church come through a turnaround now, and what has to happen first? Thirty-five statements in seven areas, about fifteen minutes. You’ll see your results right away, with first steps for the next 90 days.

Answer for your church as it is today, not as you hope it will be. If you’re the pastor, answer the statements about “our pastor” about yourself. If you don’t know, choose “Not sure.”

Where the Church Health Check asks how healthy your church is today, Ready for Renewal asks whether it can come through a turnaround now: whether people see the need, whether the pastor can stay the course, who really decides, and how long the money lasts.

The statements draw on Bart Denny’s doctoral research on pastors who led small churches through revitalization. At the end we’ll ask for your email address so we can send you a link to your results.

Before you start

About your church

A few facts that shape your results.

Part 1 of 7

Facing the facts

Does the congregation see the decline, or explain it away? A church that doesn’t feel the problem won’t pay the price of change.

Most of our members could tell you roughly how many people attended five years ago and how many attend now.
Our leaders can talk about our decline without blaming the neighborhood, the culture or a former pastor.
Many members believe we’ll grow again once the right young families find us.
Our people believe that if nothing changes, this church may not be here in ten years.
In the past year our leaders have sat down together and looked honestly at our attendance, giving and ages.

Part 2 of 7

The pastor’s footing

Turnarounds are led by pastors who are trusted, supported and staying. This area asks whether the pastor can carry the load for the years it takes.

Our people trust our pastor enough to follow on a decision they don’t fully understand yet.
Our pastor expects to stay at least five more years.
Our pastor has people outside this church, such as a coach, mentor or group of peers, to talk with honestly about the work.
Our pastor’s family is holding up well under the strain of ministry here.
Our pastor is worn down enough to wonder about leaving.

Part 3 of 7

Who holds the keys

In many small churches the people who decide aren’t the people on the org chart. This area finds out whether official leaders can lead.

Our board or council is where decisions get made, and people outside it accept that.
A few long-time members or families can stop almost any change they don’t like, whatever the board decides.
Our pastor and board agree on what the church most needs to do in the next two years.
Once a decision is made, people stop arguing about it, even if they voted the other way.
At least two or three respected lay leaders would stand up in public for a needed change.

Part 4 of 7

History with change

A church remembers its last attempt at change. Old wounds and short pastorates make the next attempt harder.

The last real change we made, in worship, schedule, building or staff, went reasonably well.
Our church still carries hurt from a split, a forced pastoral exit or a serious conflict in the past fifteen years.
Pastors here have tended to leave within three or four years.
When people disagree here, they usually go to the person directly instead of talking around them.
We can talk about past mistakes without reopening old wounds.

Part 5 of 7

What they’d give up

Every turnaround costs the people already there something they love. This area asks what they’d let go of for people who aren’t there yet.

Most members would accept a new worship style or service time if it helped us reach new people.
We’d let newcomers lead ministries and serve on the board within a year or two of joining.
Some rooms, furnishings or memorials here can’t be changed, moved or used differently.
We’d end a long-running program or event if it no longer served our mission.
Our members care more about reaching the next generation than about keeping things the way they like them.

Part 6 of 7

Facing outward

A declining church often loses sight of its own street. Some passersby may assume it has already closed.

We know who lives within a mile or two of the church: their ages, their work and what their lives are like.
In the past year, people from outside the church have used our building or served alongside us in the community.
If several new people unlike us started attending, many members would be uncomfortable.
Our members regularly invite friends, neighbors or family to church or church events.
People in our community know we’re here and think well of us.

Part 7 of 7

Runway

Change takes money, hands and time. This area estimates how long the church has before a crisis makes the decision for it.

Our giving covers our regular expenses without drawing down savings.
We have enough volunteers to try one new thing without dropping something essential.
Upkeep on our building takes most of our budget or our volunteers’ energy.
If our leaders agreed to it, we could put a few thousand dollars toward a new effort this year.
Our denomination, network or a partner church would help us with coaching, money or people if we asked.

Last step

Where should we send your results?

You’ll see your results as soon as you press the button. We’ll also email you a private link so you can come back to them, print them or start a team.

We’ll send you the link to your results and occasional news from Church Renewal, our imprint for books on church revitalization. You can leave the list any time. Privacy