HCT Assessment Inventory

Helping Churches Thrive is a congregational enrichment initiative developed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. In this process, a selected group of churches associated with CBFNC will participate in a guided series of cohort retreats, worship emphases, church-wide conversations, small group discussions, and monthly cohort calls. These activities will concentrate on congregational assessment and strategic planning.

In each participating church, the pastor and a team of church leaders (the HCT Team) will facilitate this process of learning activities and conversations. In each church, all members and regular attenders will be invited to participate in a number of the worship emphases, conversations, and discussions.

One of the tools used in this process is the following assessment inventory and strategic planning guide. As a pastor, staff member, lay leader, church member, or regular attender in your congregation, you are encouraged to complete the inventory. The results of the inventory will be compiled and analyzed by the HCT Team. Their findings will be shared with the church. Then, the HCT Team, in conversation with the church family, will use the results of the assessment to identify activities, programs, and/or ministries which might enrich congregational life, ministry, and mission.

Name *

First NameLast Name

Congregation Name*

Using this assessment inventory, you will respond to a number of statements describing various quantifiable features of your congregation, sharing your own personal opinions about the character of your congregation, and identifying your own involvement in specific activities in the congregational context. The inventory consists of seventy-two (72) statements. As you read each item, decide to what degree you agree or disagree with the statement, that is, at what level is this statement descriptive of your church. As you assess each item, think about your current views at this time, not as you wish your church might be. Use the following five (5) point scale to make your assessment:

5 - I strongly agree with this statement.

4 - I agree with this statement.

3 - I disagree with this statement.

2 - I strongly disagree with this statement.

1 - I do not have enough information to form an opinion about this statement.

Section 1

	5	4	3	2	1
1. Our congregation is diverse racially.
2. If an individual member or a group of members identifies a specific need in the church or in the surrounding community, the congregation can quickly assess and address this need.
3. In the past twelve months, our congregation has partnered with another Christian congregation or organization to conduct at least one ministry project.
4. Our congregation provides a variety of different contexts and/or events in which all members can share their dreams and visions for the future of the church.
5. Our congregation provides a number of different contexts and/or events in which all members can share their personal faith experiences (i.e. all age groups engaged in the same event or experience).
6. The leaders of our congregation understand the diverse spiritual needs and spiritual formation processes associated with each generational cohort represented in the congregation..
7. Our congregation is diverse socio-economically.
8. Leaders and members of our congregation understand the cultural trends and shifts at work in the surrounding community.
9. In the past twelve months, our congregation has partnered with a non-Christian faith community to conduct at least one ministry project.
10. Individuals representing a variety of generational cohorts (i.e. Builders, Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, and/or Gen Z) currently serve as leaders in our congregation.

Section 2

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11. A variety of generational cohorts (i.e. Silent, Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z) are represented in our congregation.
12. Our congregation offers a numbers of classes, small group experiences, programs and/or ministries to facilitate lifelong learning for all age groups.
13. Our church is diverse generationally.
14. Our congregation is readily able to adapt to the changing needs of the community.
15. In the past twelve months, our congregation has partnered with a secular agency or organization in the surrounding community to conduct at least one ministry project.
16. Current congregational leaders actively mentor potential and future leaders of the church.
17. The leaders of our congregation understand the diverse ministry needs associated with each generational cohort represented in the congregation.
18. In our congregation, parents, grandparents, and teachers are provided with a variety of resources to facilitate faith conversations with their children, grandchildren, and students.
19. Our congregation embodies unconditional love and acceptance to all members, regular attenders, and visitors.
20. The capacity to learn from mistakes and failures is a natural part of the process of making needed changes within our congregation.

Section 3

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21. In the past twelve months, our congregation has partnered with another Christian congregation to participate in some form of ecumenical dialogue.
22. Clergy and current lay leaders intentionally share leadership responsibilities and tasks with other members of our congregation.
23. In addition to worship services, our congregation provides opportunities for intergenerational interactions (i.e. all age groups engaged in one event or experience).
24. Our congregation provides a number of small group experiences in which members can study the Bible and pray together.
25. Enriching and expanding relationships among members of the church family is a priority for our congregation.
26. In the past twelve months, our congregation implemented at least one new ministry initiative designed to address a need in the surrounding community.
27. In the past twelve months, our congregation has partnered with a non-Christian faith community to participate in some form of interfaith dialogue.
28. Our congregation has a specific process or program designed to discover, affirm, and utilize the personal interests and gifts of all church members.
29. In the past twelve months, our congregation has hosted at least one intergenerational learning program and/or event (i.e. all age groups engaged in one learning experience).
30. In the past twelve months, our congregation has conducted a small group experience or retreat designed to encourage the spiritual formation of participants.

Section 4

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31. The congregation practices biblical hospitality, extending welcome and care to members, regular attenders, and guests.
32. In the past twelve months, our congregation implemented at least one new ministry initiative designed to address a specific need in the congregation.
33. Leaders and members of our congregation understand the social justice issues at work in the surrounding community.
34. In the past twelve months, our congregation has systematically evaluated and/or revised its current leadership structures and/or practices.
35. The leaders of the congregation have training for and experience in the dynamics of intergenerational learning.
36. In the past twelve months, our congregation has conducted a small group experience or retreat designed to explore one or more spiritual disciplines (other than Bible study or prayer).
37. Members of our congregation actively recognize and celebrate significant life events in the lives of fellow church members.
38. New ministry initiatives are affirmed and supported by our congregation.
39. Leaders and members of our congregation understand the racial dynamics at work in the surrounding community.
40. Our congregation has a mission statement/vision statement that defines the life and work of the congregation.

Section 5

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41. The congregation develops intentional mentoring relationships among members of various age groups.
42. Members of the congregation are encouraged to have faith conversations (i.e. sharing stories about their own spiritual formation) with other church members.
43.Members of the congregation respectfully and compassionately support one another in times of personal crisis and trauma.
44. Our congregation is willing to streamline or eliminate existing processes and strategies in order to address new needs and to develop new ministries.
45. Our congregation has participated in faith-based conversations, worship experiences, and/or ministry projects with a congregation that is primarily another race.
46. Current church leaders clearly understand how their work relates to the church’s mission statement/vision statement.
47. The leaders of the congregation have an in-depth knowledge of the characteristics, values, and experiences of each generational cohort represented in the congregation.
48. Members of the congregation are encouraged to regularly participate in individual Bible study, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines.
49. The members of our church know one another well and enjoy one another’s company.
50. Cultural trends and shifts are viewed, not as threats to the faith and the church, but as opportunities for new ministry initiatives.

Section 6

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51. Our congregation has a number of productive working relationships with statewide, national, and/or global religious groups. These relationships have led to specific ministry opportunities based on common ministry interests.
52. Our congregation has a specific process or program designed to identify and/or train new church leaders.
53. The energy, experiences, and wisdom embodied in persons from each generational cohort are shared, valued, and celebrated in our congregation.
54. Each member of the church is challenged to cultivate an intimate and growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ that leads to acts of mission and ministry.

Committed to Authentic Community

Are Flexible

Collaborate as Partners Locally & Globally

Cultivate Leaders

Are Intergenerational

Are Being Formed

Interpreting the Results of The Assessment Instrument

In this process of congregational assessment and evaluation, a thriving church exists when six (6) specific characteristics are demonstrated in the life of a congregation. These characteristics are:

Committed to Authentic Community. Beyond participation in worship, spiritual formation and service, thriving congregations are in the ongoing process of cultivating healthy and vibrant relationships within the church community. An authentic congregational community is equitable, empathetic, hospitable, and diverse.
Are Flexible. Thriving congregations aim to be adaptable, responsive and relevant so that they may act quickly and effectively as new needs and ministry opportunities arise.
Collaborate as Partners Locally and Globally. Thriving congregations work for transformation in their communities and the world, which requires dynamic connections with other individuals, congregations (especially racially diverse churches), organizations and institutions actively working together to pursue a common mission.
Cultivate Leaders. Thriving congregations embrace the myriad of gifts, strengths, experiences and wisdom of all generations within their church, and empower all individuals to share their best selves for the fulfillment of its mission and vision.
Are Intergenerational. Thriving congregations recognize the equity of all generations. An intergenerational church listens, empathizes and incorporates a diversity of needs, values, experiences, and wisdom for every generation.
Are Being Formed. Thriving congregations embrace the ongoing process of spiritual formation/discipleship through the practice of prayer and other disciplines, along with a commitment to higher education and lifelong learning to equip all believers for mission and ministry.

These six (6) characteristics were used in the development of this assessment inventory. Each statement used in the inventory is associated with one of the six (6) characteristics. Further, the numbers recorded in the bottom row of each column of the table on the previous page indicate your personal assessment of the extent to which your church embodies each of the characteristics.

Framing the Results

The following framework can be used to interpret the results of your personal assessment. In each case:

If the total is between 40 and 45, your congregation very effectively demonstrates that particular characteristic of a thriving church.
If the total is between 34 and 39, your congregation effectively addresses that particular characteristic of a thriving church.
If the total is between 28 and 33, your congregation may choose to explore additional strategies to further develop this characteristic of a thriving church.
If the total is below 28, your congregation may choose to identify, discuss, and address any aspects of church life which are impediments to fostering this characteristic in your congregation.

Please check one of the following categories that best describes your relationship with your congregation:*

I am an active member of the church.I am an active leader in the church.I am a regular attender of the church, but not a member.I am a member of the ministry staff.I am the pastor/senior minister of the church.

What is your generation?*

The Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945)Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980)Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996)Generation Y (born in 1997 to the present)

Please check one of the following statements that best reflects your personal assessment of your congregation:*

I believe that my church is doing very effective ministry; it is thriving.I believe that my church is doing effective ministry, but there is room for improvement.I believe that my church is ineffective in its ministry.

Would you like to receive your results? Please provide your email address:

example@example.com