Local Church Initiative - Questionnaire

7 Vitals - A questionnaire for small churches

Fill out this questionnaire, and a member of our team will be in touch soon! To request a pdf copy of this survey, email jim.hardy@calvary.ch.
What is your full name? *

First Name Last Name
What is your email address? *
Phone Number *
Human bodies and church bodies share a lot of similarities. To name a few:
1. Our parts are many, varied, and interconnected
2. We can accomplish amazing things
3. We function best when we’re healthy
When your body is less than healthy, you make an appointment with someone you trust to identify the problem and find a treatment to get you firing on all cylinders again. They check a shortlist of “vital” signs (temperature, weight, blood pressure, etc.) to gain insight into your condition and diagnose a solution.

This questionnaire is designed to accomplish the same thing for the church body. As you answer each question as honestly, accurately, and briefly as possible, we will check basic vitals and evaluate the condition of your church body. Thank you for the chance to work together and improve the health of your church.

Consider the following questions with regard to your church. Please give some specific details to clarify your answer.

Outreach

A strategy that equips and challenges the church family to connect people with Jesus.
1. Who is responsible for the outreach strategy at your church? *
2. What does healthy and active evangelism look like? *
3. How much was spent in the past year for your church’s outreach efforts? *
4. Does your church feel inviting, making extra effort to make guests feel welcome? *
5. Is the Gospel demonstrated and shared in a way that is easily seen and understood? *
6. Is your church involved in the community? If so, how? *
7. How would you rate the outreach efforts at your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer *

Discipleship

A system that matures the knowledge and the faith of the church family.
1. Who is responsible for the discipleship strategy at your church? *
2. Would you say that discipleship in your church is intentional and well programmed? *
3. Would you say the emphasis at your church is more on spiritual maturity or numerical growth? What percentage of your church is involved in the discipleship program? *
4. What opportunities does the church provide for Bible education and spiritual development? *
5. Describe the training provided by your church to help guide and grow new believers? *
6. Are there Bible studies or small groups at various levels of spiritual maturity? How are new members welcomed to those small groups? *
7. How would you rate the discipleship efforts at your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Worship

Coordinating weekly worship experiences that are attractive, inspiring and relevant.
1. Who is most responsible for your church’s worship experience? *
2. How would you describe your worship services when they are at their best? *
3. In what ways do you sense the presence of God in your overall worship experience? *
4. Is your worship service geared more for your members or your guests? Explain your answer: *
5. How much time is spent each Sunday on the following worship service elements: message, singing, communion, prayer, offering, fellowship? *
6. What specific needs can you identify that would make your church’s worship service to be better? *
7. How would you rate the worship experience in your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Generosity

The act of consistently sacrificing time and money to benefit others.
1. Who is most responsible for encouraging generosity in your church? *
2. Does your church budget reflect an attitude of generosity? Explain your answer: *
3. Describe the financial condition of your church in the following way:
Current Debt *
Per capita giving *
Average weekly offering divided by average attendance
Rough percentage for annual expenses for personnel *
Rough percentage for annual expenses for facilities *
Rough percentage for annual expenses for programming *
4. What is the main focus of giving in your church (both with finances & time)? *
5. What percentage of your annual budget is allocated toward mission support? *
6. What is your church doing to encourage Biblical stewardship and generosity? *
7. How would you rate the generosity of your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Service

Love expressing itself tangibly by helping people in the church family and community.
1. Who is most responsible for promoting service within your church? *
2. How does your church emphasize service projects within your community? Give two examples: *
3. How does your church serve the needs of its members? *
4. Is the idea of service included in your church’s overall vision? Explain: *
5. Is counseling or emotional support openly encouraged and available? *
6. What would your church need (i.e. volunteers, staff, finances) to help to meet needs in your community? *
7. How would you rate the service aspect of your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Fellowship

The church family demonstrating love for each other in meaningful ways.
1. Who is responsible for the fellowship aspects of your church? *
2. Do people often linger after services to visit, encourage, and pray together? *
3. Do they get together outside of church for social functions? *
4. Are there overshadowing conflicts or difficulties that hinder true fellowship? *
5. How does your church leadership address and handle problems and conflict? *
6. How does your church actively plan for church-wide fellowship events? *
7. How would you rate the fellowship in your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Leadership

Selected leaders guiding the church family to accomplish its mission.
1. Describe your current leadership structure and how it operates. How are leaders trained, developed, and mentored? *
2. Would you say that your leaders take their responsibilities seriously, hold themselves accountable, and exercise integrity? What is the gauge for your answer? *
3. Are the expectations and roles for the pastors, staff, ministry teams, board, and congregation clearly stated and understood? *
4. How do your leaders listen to the needs of the church? Explain: *
5. How does your leadership face the challenge of change in your church? *
6. How are leaders supported and encouraged in the church? *
7. How would you rate the leadership of your church? (1 low - 5 high) Explain your answer: *

Additional questions:
1. Thinking back to the ratings you gave at the end of each section, which vital area(s) do you feel are the primary concern and should be addressed first? *

Outreach Discipleship Worship Generosity Service Fellowship Leadership
2. What are you hoping for from our time together? *
3. What issues concern you most when you consider the future of your church? *
Should be Empty:

7 Vitals - A questionnaire for small churches