Assessment Tool for Ministry and Social Issues

Introduction

This quiz is designed to help ministers and congregations assess their level of risk, vulnerability, and capacity to receive sermons about social issues. This tool can help you gauge how comfortable your congregation might be with a sermon, educational event, or direct action regarding an issue of public concern. This, in turn, can help you decide what what approach to take with your ministry: Gentle, Invitational, Robust.

Note that this assessment instrument is for your own personal use. You are not required to share this with others or disclose your assessment to anyone.

All results will be collected but remain anonymous to the researcher, The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. You can contact her at: lschade@lextheo.edu. Check out Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice to learn more.

Question Title

1. Are you a minister or a congregation member?

Minister/student minister/lay minister who preaches

Congregation member

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. What is the gender of the congregation's lead minister?

Male

Female

Gender fluid/nonbinary/trans

Question Title

3. What is the minister's sexual orientation?

Heterosexual

LGBTQIA+

Unknown

Question Title

4. What is the minister's race/ethnicity/culture?

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Asian or Asian American

American Indian, Native American, or Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Another race or two or more races/ethnicities/cultures

White

Question Title

5. What is the minister's age?

18-29

30-49

50-69

70+

Question Title

6. How long has the minister served this congregation?

Less than three years

3-5 years

6+ years

Question Title

7. How long has the minister been in ministry overall?

Less than a year

1-5 years

6-10 years

11+ years

Unknown

Question Title

8. What is the pastoral configuration of the church?

Senior or co-pastor with multiple staff

Solo pastor

Interim pastor

Lay minister

Seminarian or student pastor

Question Title

9. What has been the church's relationship with conflict?

Learned healthy ways to deal with it

Somewhat unhealthy or counterproductive

Not healthy at all

Unable to assess

Question Title

10. How would you assess the level of support the minister receives, such as from congregational leaders, ministry colleagues, denominational leaders, friends, family, a counselor/therapist, or others?

Solid support

Moderate support

Little support

Unknown

Question Title

11. How would you gauge the minister's current level of energy for ministry?

Fully energized

Moderate energy

Very little energy

Unable to assess

Question Title

12. How many regularly attend worship services (both online and onsite)?

>300

100-299

50-99

<50

Question Title

13. What is the net loss or gain of church membership over the past 12 months when taking account of births, baptisms, new members and deaths, moving away, or withdrawing membership?

Growing

Stable

Loss of a few members

Loss of many members

Question Title

14. How long can the church financially sustain its ministry given the current level of giving from the congregation (excluding outside sources of revenue)?

10+ years

5-9 years

2-4 years

Less than two years

Unable to assess

Question Title

15. What percentage of the congregation is made up of children, youth, and/or young adults?

20% or greater

5-19%

Less than 5%

Question Title

16. What is the setting of the congregation?

Large metro area or suburb

Small or midsize city or suburb

Rural or small town

Question Title

17. How diverse is the congregation in terms of race, culture, language, and LGBTQIA+?

At least 25% diversity

5-24% diversity

Less than 5% diversity

Question Title

18. To what degree is the church a center for intellectual, artistic, cultural, musical, service-oriented, advocacy, or activism in the community?

Hosts several outside groups; vibrant, active member of community

Hosts one or two outside groups; sometimes engages with community

Hosts no outside groups; little outreach or engagement in community

Question Title

19. What is the congregation’s level of participation in faith formation (Christian education, adult forums, Bible studies, book studies, children’s education, speaker series, etc.)?

More than half engaged

About one-third engaged

Very few engaged

Question Title

20. What is the role of women in ordained leadership within the church?

Women can be ordained; church has had more than one female minister in its history

Women can be ordained; church has only had one female minister, or current female minister is the first

Women can be ordained; church has had no female ministers

Women cannot be ordained

Question Title

21. How open, affirming, and inclusive is the congregation of people who are LGBTQIA+ (allowed to be married and lead a congregation)?

Fully open, affirming, and inclusive

Beginning or mild interest in becoming open, affirming, and inclusive

Resistant to becoming open, affirming, and inclusive

Question Title

22. How willing is the congregation to learn about, discuss, and confront racism both on a personal and systemic level?

Significant steps undertaken, or, racism is the lived experience of most in the congregation

Beginning or mild interest in addressing racism

Resistance to addressing racism

Question Title

23. How many signs of strain do you observe that indicate congregational stress (i.e., members lashing out, overreacting, arguing, passive-aggressiveness, displaying intense emotion, or withdrawing)?

Very few signs of congregational stress

Several signs of congregational stress

Many signs of congregational stress

Question Title

24. To the best of your knowledge, how recently and to what degree is/was the congregation engaged in significant conflict?

More than 3 years ago, fully resolved

More than 3 years ago, not fully resolved

Currently engaged in conflict or engaged within last 3 years

Unknown or unable to assess

Question Title

25. What is the level of unhealthy “secret-keeping” in the congregation regarding past or current church leadership (e.g., skeletons in the closet regarding misconduct or abuse, substance abuse, infidelity, domestic violence, etc.)?

No secrets; open and transparent

Moderate level of secret-keeping

Damaging secrets that are harming congregation

Unknown or unable to assess

Question Title

26. How functional is the governing body of the congregation

Fully functional, high level of trust, good relationships

In the midst of flux or not functioning at its best

Mostly dysfunctional

Unknown

Question Title

27. What is the congregation’s level of comfort with each other (i.e., how often does the congregation laugh together, tease each other good-naturedly, and engage in fun fellowship activities)?

High level of comfort, frequent opportunities for fun

Medium level of comfort, occasional opportunities for fun

Low level of comfort, rare opportunities for fun

Question Title

28. How often does the congregation host opportunities for healthy dialogue or discussion about contemporary issues?

6 or more times a year

1-5 times a year

Rarely or does not yet engage in such discussions

Question Title

29. What percentage of the congregation regularly volunteers in the congregation’s infrastructure (committees, worship and music, education, planning/hosting fellowship events, governing board, etc.)?

More than 50%

25-50%

10-24%

Less than 10%

Question Title

30. Congregation’s level of participation in serving the local community (volunteering for charities, advocacy/activism, working with other congregations on projects, ministry outreach programs, etc.)?

Many are engaged

Some are engaged

Very few are engaged

Question Title

31. How close are the political orientations between the minister and the congregation?

Closely aligned on most issues

Aligned on some issues but not others

Not aligned on most issues

Unknown

Question Title

32. How would you assess the level of trust between the minister and the congregation?

High level of trust

Medium level of trust

Low level of trust

Not able to assess at this time

Page1 / 1

100% of survey complete.

Assessment Tool for Ministry and Social Issues

Introduction

Question Title

* 1. Are you a minister or a congregation member?

Question Title

* 2. What is the gender of the congregation's lead minister?

Question Title

* 3. What is the minister's sexual orientation?

Question Title

* 4. What is the minister's race/ethnicity/culture?

Question Title

* 5. What is the minister's age?

Question Title

* 6. How long has the minister served this congregation?

Question Title

* 7. How long has the minister been in ministry overall?

Question Title

* 8. What is the pastoral configuration of the church?

Question Title

* 9. What has been the church's relationship with conflict?

Question Title

* 10. How would you assess the level of support the minister receives, such as from congregational leaders, ministry colleagues, denominational leaders, friends, family, a counselor/therapist, or others?

Question Title

* 11. How would you gauge the minister's current level of energy for ministry?

Question Title

* 12. How many regularly attend worship services (both online and onsite)?

Question Title

* 13. What is the net loss or gain of church membership over the past 12 months when taking account of births, baptisms, new members and deaths, moving away, or withdrawing membership?

Question Title

* 14. How long can the church financially sustain its ministry given the current level of giving from the congregation (excluding outside sources of revenue)?

Question Title

* 15. What percentage of the congregation is made up of children, youth, and/or young adults?

Question Title

* 16. What is the setting of the congregation?

Question Title

* 17. How diverse is the congregation in terms of race, culture, language, and LGBTQIA+?

Question Title

* 18. To what degree is the church a center for intellectual, artistic, cultural, musical, service-oriented, advocacy, or activism in the community?

Question Title

* 19. What is the congregation’s level of participation in faith formation (Christian education, adult forums, Bible studies, book studies, children’s education, speaker series, etc.)?

Question Title

* 20. What is the role of women in ordained leadership within the church?

Question Title

* 21. How open, affirming, and inclusive is the congregation of people who are LGBTQIA+ (allowed to be married and lead a congregation)?

Question Title

* 22. How willing is the congregation to learn about, discuss, and confront racism both on a personal and systemic level?

Question Title

* 23. How many signs of strain do you observe that indicate congregational stress (i.e., members lashing out, overreacting, arguing, passive-aggressiveness, displaying intense emotion, or withdrawing)?

Question Title

* 24. To the best of your knowledge, how recently and to what degree is/was the congregation engaged in significant conflict?

Question Title

* 25. What is the level of unhealthy “secret-keeping” in the congregation regarding past or current church leadership (e.g., skeletons in the closet regarding misconduct or abuse, substance abuse, infidelity, domestic violence, etc.)?

Question Title

* 26. How functional is the governing body of the congregation

Question Title

* 27. What is the congregation’s level of comfort with each other (i.e., how often does the congregation laugh together, tease each other good-naturedly, and engage in fun fellowship activities)?

Question Title

* 28. How often does the congregation host opportunities for healthy dialogue or discussion about contemporary issues?

Question Title

* 29. What percentage of the congregation regularly volunteers in the congregation’s infrastructure (committees, worship and music, education, planning/hosting fellowship events, governing board, etc.)?

Question Title

* 30. Congregation’s level of participation in serving the local community (volunteering for charities, advocacy/activism, working with other congregations on projects, ministry outreach programs, etc.)?

Question Title

* 31. How close are the political orientations between the minister and the congregation?

Question Title

* 32. How would you assess the level of trust between the minister and the congregation?

1. Are you a minister or a congregation member?

2. What is the gender of the congregation's lead minister?

3. What is the minister's sexual orientation?

4. What is the minister's race/ethnicity/culture?

5. What is the minister's age?

6. How long has the minister served this congregation?

7. How long has the minister been in ministry overall?

8. What is the pastoral configuration of the church?

9. What has been the church's relationship with conflict?

10. How would you assess the level of support the minister receives, such as from congregational leaders, ministry colleagues, denominational leaders, friends, family, a counselor/therapist, or others?

11. How would you gauge the minister's current level of energy for ministry?

12. How many regularly attend worship services (both online and onsite)?

13. What is the net loss or gain of church membership over the past 12 months when taking account of births, baptisms, new members and deaths, moving away, or withdrawing membership?

14. How long can the church financially sustain its ministry given the current level of giving from the congregation (excluding outside sources of revenue)?

15. What percentage of the congregation is made up of children, youth, and/or young adults?

16. What is the setting of the congregation?

17. How diverse is the congregation in terms of race, culture, language, and LGBTQIA+?

18. To what degree is the church a center for intellectual, artistic, cultural, musical, service-oriented, advocacy, or activism in the community?

19. What is the congregation’s level of participation in faith formation (Christian education, adult forums, Bible studies, book studies, children’s education, speaker series, etc.)?

20. What is the role of women in ordained leadership within the church?

21. How open, affirming, and inclusive is the congregation of people who are LGBTQIA+ (allowed to be married and lead a congregation)?

22. How willing is the congregation to learn about, discuss, and confront racism both on a personal and systemic level?

23. How many signs of strain do you observe that indicate congregational stress (i.e., members lashing out, overreacting, arguing, passive-aggressiveness, displaying intense emotion, or withdrawing)?

24. To the best of your knowledge, how recently and to what degree is/was the congregation engaged in significant conflict?

25. What is the level of unhealthy “secret-keeping” in the congregation regarding past or current church leadership (e.g., skeletons in the closet regarding misconduct or abuse, substance abuse, infidelity, domestic violence, etc.)?

26. How functional is the governing body of the congregation

27. What is the congregation’s level of comfort with each other (i.e., how often does the congregation laugh together, tease each other good-naturedly, and engage in fun fellowship activities)?

28. How often does the congregation host opportunities for healthy dialogue or discussion about contemporary issues?

29. What percentage of the congregation regularly volunteers in the congregation’s infrastructure (committees, worship and music, education, planning/hosting fellowship events, governing board, etc.)?

30. Congregation’s level of participation in serving the local community (volunteering for charities, advocacy/activism, working with other congregations on projects, ministry outreach programs, etc.)?

31. How close are the political orientations between the minister and the congregation?

32. How would you assess the level of trust between the minister and the congregation?