Introducing the Church Health Check

Growing Healthy Churches Agenda for the session Introduction to the Church Health Check Rationale and purpose Values and ethos Overview of the process What happens at a Health Check Planning and practicalities Promoting the event

Growing Healthy Churches Church Health Check What is it? A response to the needs of the Church: Remit from the 2007 Synod Review –to enable every church to develop a credible mission strategy After District Pastoral Consultations –a new way of exercising oversight by the wider church is required

Growing Healthy Churches Purpose Maintenance: to check the health of the local church as a body or organisation ready to represent God in the world Ministry & Mission to encourage and enable the local church to develop its understanding of, and participation in, the work of God in the world Both are pastoral work

Growing Healthy Churches Church Health Check Basis Healthy Churches Handbook a health-check for the body based on research among growing churches changed thinking Its emphasis: changed thinking from Church = Building + Minister + Sunday services to CHURCH = COMMUNITY + FAITH + ACTION

Growing Healthy Churches Values Context of prayerful reflection –What is the Spirit saying to my church? Church self-appraisal –not inspection by outsiders Facilitators enable a process to happen –not there to impose their own views Church reports on its own life & health –Facilitators do not make judgements Church makes its own decisions about the way forward Facilitators respect confidences

Growing Healthy Churches Summary In the Church Health Check the local church conducts a self-appraisal led by outside facilitators as part of the pastoral responsibility of the wider church

Growing Healthy Churches Overview of the Process 1. Identification of the church – SPAs 2. Elders Preparation – Facilitator team ldr 3. Church Health Check – Facilitators Bible study Logical & creative exercises Action planning 4. Report by the church – to their SPA 5. Follow-up

Growing Healthy Churches Overview of the Church Health Check Four different strands: Bible exposition Church Profile Exercise & related exercises Angel of the Church exercises Video material

Growing Healthy Churches Overview of the Church Health Check Church Profile Exercise −church self-appraisal using 7 signs as criteria −suits the more logical personality −leads to action planning Bible exposition −offers biblical basis of church review −introduces the concept of the Angel of the Church (in Revelation 1-3) −promotes worshipful attitude to whole event

Growing Healthy Churches Church Health Check Criteria of health in Church Profile Exercise: Energised by faith Outward-looking focus Seeks to find out what God wants Faces the cost of change and growth Operates as a community Makes room for all Does a few things and does them well

Growing Healthy Churches Video material −stimulates imagination about mission −encourages thinking ‘outside the box’ −provides relief from us talking! Angel of the Church exercises −view church as single personality −suits the more creative personality −invoke church-God relationship Overview of the Church Health Check

Growing Healthy Churches Reporting Proforma report sheet supplied for self-reporting after the event Page 1: what did the church decide about itself ?

Growing Healthy Churches Reporting Page 2: what does the church intend to do ?

Growing Healthy Churches Overview of the Process 1. Identification of the church – SPAs 2. Elders Preparation – Facilitator team ldr 3. Church Health Check – Facilitators Bible study Logical & creative exercises Action planning 4. Report by the church 5. Follow-up – SPAs have watching brief

Growing Healthy Churches Pattern A Friday 7:30Introductions Opening prayer 7:45CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church 8:30Angel of the Church introductory exercise (CPE - Creating the profile) 8:50CPE - Reflecting on the profile 9:30Close Saturday 10:00Opening worship, including Bible study 10:45Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise 11:15Coffee break Fresh Expressions DVD 12:00Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise 12:30Lunch 1:30CPE - What needs working on? - Generate action lists 2:00Angel of the Church letter writing 2:45Tea break (CPE - Collating action lists from 1:30 session) 3:15CPE - Action planning 4:15Closing worship

Growing Healthy Churches Pattern B Saturday 9:45Opening worship, extending Bible study 10:15CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church 11:00Coffee break (CPE - completing the profile) 11:30Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise 12:00CPE - Reflecting on the profile 12:45Lunch Fresh Expressions DVD 1:45Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise 2:15CPE - What needs working on? - Generate action lists 2:45Angel of the Church letter writing exercise (CPE - Collating action lists from 2:15 session) 3:25Brief tea break 3:30CPE - Action planning 4:15Closing worship Sunday worship Theme talk: Angel of the Church introductory exercise Sermon using most Bible study material

Growing Healthy Churches Pattern C Collating Sunday 2 Theme talkAngel of the Church resumé exercise Sermon Extends Bible study from Sunday 1 12:30Lunch Fresh Expressions DVD 1:30CPE - What needs working on? 2:00Angel of the Church letter writing exercise 2:40Tea break 3:00CPE - Action planning 3:45Closing worship Collating Sunday 1 Theme talkAngel of the Church introductory exercise SermonUses most Bible study material 12:30Lunch 1:30CPE - The seven signs of a healthy church 2:15Angel of the Church ‘personality’ exercise 2:45CPE - Reflecting on the profile 3:25Angel of the Church ‘vocation’ exercise 4:00Close

A word about language ‘Mission strategy’ can be misunderstood as Vocation’ or ‘Calling’ may be understood as something others do (perhaps overseas) what my church pursues a duty a natural (joyful) outworking of church life (if church is healthy) all about giving (eg. to M&M) what we do something we’ve done already an ongoing journey of faith something we decide upon (eg. because Synod tells us to) a response to God’s call

Growing Healthy Churches To decide What venue to use? we need one room big enough for group work we need plenty of display space What arrangements need to be made for Saturday/Sunday lunch and refreshments? people may welcome a provided lunch but preparing it may compromise involvement Provision for children and young people older teenagers can do the Health Check

Growing Healthy Churches Promotion Why? More people to discern what God is saying –Reformed principle: God’s gathered people best discern what God is saying Maximum involvement gives confidence to decisions made as a result How? Pray for God’s assistance

Growing Healthy Churches Promotion How? Adequate notice - give out date early Clear information Enthusiastic support of the leadership team Personal invitation - proforma letter supplied Get people to sign up Pray for God’s assistance