The notion that churches need to get feedback on how things are going is so radical thand threatening that few even consider it. Just talk with a church group that is not growing and listen to their excuses. Few ever consider an exercise in self evaluation and many just criticize the churches that are growing.

When faced with an inability to draw young people we did some focus groups and discovered what they wanted. After establishing programs and functions to meet their needs our youth and family attendance grew dramatically. So, we first need to ask, “What kind of bar is needed?” and then establish that as a goal to be met.

McDonald’s seems to know what bars are important. I am not sure most leaders do know or care very much. Ask the people what they want and see what comes up. Almost every group wants more help with marriage, parenting, relationships, sex, etc but the leadership is not prepared to provide the assistance needed.

For at least ten years Southern Baptists have found that the top reasons ministers are fired are always due to an inability to develop good relationships. Despite their research, there are few if any training programs to improve the relational skills of leaders and congregants.

So, the bar is low and still not being met but little if anything is being done to raise it. The same old boring lessons are being served that failed to satisfy so many people last year.  Teaching people how to relate to relatives at Christmas is critically important but we teach and preach on issues such as whether the stable was a cave or a barn. At least McDonalds is washing 80% of the tables because they know cleanliness is important while we are not even acknowledging the concerns of the customer.

I’ve watched two large churches in our area turn stale because they had become complacent in their attitudes towards their programs.  They aren’t reaching the younger families and their numbers are beginning to dwindle.  What is ironic is that they were begun in the 70’s and 80’s as the alternative to the “same old, same old” and that is exactly what they have become.  I think that self evaluation and critique is key to remaining relevant.  What was cutting edge last year is now old news.  Most successful organizations watch dog new developments as it pertains to their particular situation.  Some even have full time employees that do nothing but research and report their findings to key members of management in order to just keep up with changes.  I think the church would do well to learn from their secular counterparts in that regard.

First, let me acknowledge that leading a church is very difficult. It takes our very best skills and spiritual wisdom. Second, the McDonalds article makes me think about goals. If we do not knw where we are going any road will get us there. If we want to emphasize small, intense and supportive fellowships we can in any size congregation but only with effort and planning.

For over thirty years I have written and taught listening skills.  I learend these skills in college but they are still rare in church. A few weeks ago a minister asked me, “What is a listening class?” I thought that it was self explanatory but it was not to this man. 

It is good to set a goal for fellowship, but we then must actually teach people the practical skills of caring relationships. Spiritual fellowship is unnatural and requires some effort. The bar needs to be high and well understood and then taught.

Oh, come on guys… this isn’t a call for church consumerism… it’s not a call for changing doctrine to increase approval ratings; and it’s not saying that we need to please people all the time.  You all should know me well enough to know that.

It IS about doing our best; and not letting things slip through the cracks; it IS about not losing people because we don’t care enough to follow through on the details.

Todd

I have always pastored the smaller church.  At my current location, the bar had been set low by the deeds and moral failures of two previous pastors back to back.  My “job” was to clean up the mess left behind.  Distrust, (particularly of pastors) was at an all -time high.  The gossip mill was running at full speed in the church and the community.  I took it upon myself to preach for almost a year that we must focus on Christ and forgiveness, and set our goals on the future.  Talk about opening a can of worms.  Then someone suggested a survey for the attendees that would give us some direction.....BOOM.  Most who completed it took it as a opportunity to blast my efforts as the pastor.  I read them outloud during a special meeting.  People were shocked at some of the things that were said.  Then revival happened, four got saved, three sanctified holy, and God then began to work a miracle in our little church.  The people have now set the bar high and I have had very little to do with it.  The attendance is up, and God is blessing.  While I will never compare the church to Mc.Donalds way of doing things, if this keeps up I may have to treat the entire congregation to a Big Mac....while letting God have it His way.

A bit touchy today are we Todd?

Your post can only raise the obvious question about ecclesiology.  The root of our belief about why churches exist fuels our development of programs, liturgy etc. I don’t think it is wrong to raise the issue of what our commenters believe about why we create programs.  If your ecclesiology revolves around people’s needs, then it is a major concern to know about how they feel about the programs you create.

If we are going to create a ministry program, then obviously we should strive to do it with excellence.  But our motive for why we developed the program in the first place is at the center of this particular discussion.

Peace

This is an interesting take from the non-God World View.  I appreciate the comment infering that what you Test (measure) is what you get. Coming from a public school background there is a follow-up to that thought.  Stored throughout the USA are mounds of data that were never used. and Yes, many schools think a 78% proficiency is acceptable. Then we complain (like at our house right now) that the repairman can’t get our dryer to dry clothes. Maybe, just maybe, he has an 80% success rate. .

Finally, I hear that only 14% of the families where I live attend church and our pastor has indicated that only 40% of our attendees actually give to the church on a regular basis. ($5 at Christmas and Easter excluded I hope, because that also is regular giving)

Considering the last paragraph, McDonalds is excellent. (transfats excluded)

Have a most blessed Thanksgiving, and don’t ever think you are the Turkey!  haha

I believe that we must strive for excellence in everything that we are doing. I agree with Todd 0.  This is not about changing our doctrine but it is letting people know that we care enough about what we believe to make it excellent in the way we communicate it, the way we treat people and seeing if we are actually doing what the scripture tells and that is to win the lost. Also I hope that my wife would tell me if I am not doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing because I am to love her as Christ loved the church. That is a pretty high expectation that God put on me. I want to make sure that I am doing it and if I am letting her down then I want to know. And it works the other way too. That is how we become better. I believe if you can’t hear what you need to improve then maybe you don’t want to improve.

Josh

I believe that Ed Young Jr. said it best when he said we should “ask the right questions to the right people to get the right answers”. I would like to know if any of you have tried to ask questions to the right people to find the right answers about yourselves and your churches. If so what have you found out about those two things?

I think Todd is merely asking us for an honest self evaluation; he is not making a case to humor the consumeristic masses.  Are we fulfilling the great commission, are we showing love to the community, is the body healthy relationally, and where are we tolerating failure in these areas that we really shouldn’t be?  I think that if we are all honest, we have all looked at a program or ministry or Sunday morning service and evaluated its effectiveness or lack thereof.  The criteria we use may be different, but evaluation in and of itself is not evil, whether or not one actually uses a survey.

When I read the post, I was not convicted about consumerism, numbers or church growth. I was reminded about the times that I have said that’s good enough or I will work on it Saturday night. If we focus on our personal responsibility, and not on the church as a whole, I believe we will find more culpability. I know that I don’t want to be guilty of doing less than my best for my Lord, but I know that I have failed Him in this area. My prayer is that we as ministers strive to serve God to the best of our ability. If we do, the numbers and everything else will fall into place, or maybe not. Either way, I want to be able to stand before God unashamed. As a Children’s Pastor, I want to make the most of the precious few minutes I have to share the unsearchable riches of Christ with my “little flock”. I would hope we could all say the same.

first time to post:  Todd, you finally lured me in! 

As someone who sets their own personal standards fairly high, I’d be extremely disatisfied with only an “82%”.  And that’s been one of the most difficult adjustments for me to make as a pastor.  After nine years, I think there are some in the church who will never be satisfied. These “professional critics” (often self-appointed) seem to always keep their satisfaction bar one or two notches beyond the current reality.  Meeting their expectations doesn’t appear to bring them any satisfaction.  I’m sure these folks also eat fast food.  I don’t how what percentage of the population they represent, but to acheive 82% satisfaction might be an incredible success for McD’s--perhaps for a church as well. 

One phenomenon we’ve observed repeatedly:  satisfying some means disatisfying others.  So disatisfaction doesn’t always mean something’s wrong.  It may not even mean something can be improved.  It might mean something has been improved. 

Third factor: if the work of the church is to train people for ministry, it means our performance is the sum of all of our parts--including the contributions of those who are not very good yet at their efforts to serve.  Yes, they need evaluation, accountability, and correction.  However, I have found that criticism is a poor way to improve and satisfaction is a poor way to measure performance.

For me, personally, I have had to learn to ignore the 18%.  If I don’t, I will have to leave the ministry.  I honestly shouldn’t give anymore than I do.  If that means some are disatisfied, so be it.  There is only One I must please. 

In reading articles online and in the mail about being a pastor, I’ve noticed many broad statements about how pastors and churches are failing.  I’ve seen lots of various “solutions”.  If only pastors were more [fill in the blank], then multitudes will be saved; they will act like true followers of Jesus; people will find church to be relevant, attractive and “satisfying.” I doubt it.  Most of the conventional wisdom about pastoring seems to have a lot more in common with complaining than it does with encouragement.  Speaking for myself, I think the complicated task of leading a church is far too often oversimplified into a performance formula. 

Todd, you have created a great resource here and I really appreciate your work.  I’m AT LEAST 82% satisfied!

I do what I do the best I can because “excellence honors God and inspires people.” That’s it. I measure how I’m doing, supervising a worship arts ministry, in a couple ways.

1. Are people who I work with growing closer to Christ?

2. Are people who I work with learning more and more how to do what they do excellently, with passion, and with authenticity?

If I can answer yes, then the Kingdom, at least the part assigned to me, is being built. If the music stinks, people aren’t learning to do what they do with excellence, if people aren’t growing closer to Christ, everything else falls apart.