Surveys help churches build momentum

By Jim Ozier
Director, Center for Church Transformation

John Maxwell, in his best selling 21 Laws of Leadership, calls momentum “a leader’s best friend. … When you have momentum on your side, the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and trouble seems temporary.”

Here’s the good news: We learn from books such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point that once an organization starts taking small strides forward—measurable movement forward—it can lead to incredible momentum for the future.

That’s why, the North Texas Conference committed to a “Three Year Transformation Process” in 2009 in which we identified 13 key variables that we would track. We want our churches to actually see the connections between “measurement” and “momentum.” We entered into this commitment together, because of our connection and covenant, so it’s only fair to ask and expect each church to participate so as a conference we can move forward together.

The reason we ask each church to keep track of these 13 objective variables is not so we can compare one church to another. Rather, it is to equip our churches with the tools to generate momentum within the congregation.

Each year, for three years, every church in the Conference is expected to complete the brief Congregational Transformation Survey. It takes about an hour and is designed to compare a church’s progress relative to the previous year, not against other churches.

And it’s great to be able to report to your congregation that, for example, on nine of the 13 variables, you made progress over the previous year. Not only does it put measurable objectives in front of your people, but it also starts to build good momentum.

Here’s the reality: Sometimes clergy are resistant to measurements. They fear measurement as something artificial or imposed and therefore threatening rather than seeing it as way to build momentum. 

In 2009, more than 90 percent of our churches completed the survey. That has dropped off this year. (My thanks to the 186 churches who have completed it, but we still need the remaining 134!)

If you haven’t sent your completed survey to your district office (and copied my office), please do so. If you’ve misplaced your survey, contact your District Office and a survey will be e-mailed to you immediately.

The ticks on the yardstick
Here is what the Church Transformation Survey measures to get a fix on where you’ve been and where you’re going.
Worship attendance
Professions of faith
Apportionments
Small groups
Advertising and outreach
Training and leadership development
Rotation of leadership
Hospitality
Guest follow-up
First-time guests
Mission ministries
Youth and children’s ministries
Young adults