How do we measure the success of our churches? Usually by tracking attendance, baptisms, and giving.
They're nice because they’re easy to measure. However, some have pointed out that they don't tell the whole story - Reggie McNeal, has suggested that the missional church needs a new score card to determine its effectiveness.
The number of cigarette butts in the church parking lot.
The number of former convicted felons serving in the church.
The number of phone calls from community leaders asking the church’s advice.
The number of emergency finance meetings that take place to reroute money to community ministry.
The amount of dollars saved by the local schools because the church has painted the walls.
How might you measure the missional initiative you’re working on?
I get what he is getting at, and I think that we need to hev more 'different' people coming to church, not just the same old people in the same social circles, but truly.....
is this bloke kidding, these are not biblical measurements by any stretch of the imagination. For example, if you have a convicted felon as an elder, isnt that disobeying the Scriptures where it says that they must be above reporach?
I agree its not giving, and its not attendance. It could be baptism and confirmation if taken seriously and properly, but ultimatley thats what makes this job hard, it is identifying sanctification and justification in a person, and seeing progressive sanctification in a person.
Not sexy I know, but.....
Posted by: Steve | February 13, 2009 at 03:37 PM
yeah I agree with what you are saying.
With the felon bit though at what point does renewal come into play? notice i very specifically put "former" teh follow up question to that is at what point do we allow sinners to lead?
Posted by: Josh | February 13, 2009 at 03:43 PM
agreed, it certainly depends on what they have done i guess, and the public nature of it, but yeah point taken, certainly not sex offendors etc i would have thought
Posted by: Steve | February 13, 2009 at 08:53 PM
doesn't it come down to the trajectory people are on? I don't know it is an interesting question to be thinking through. Especially since there is one person i would never let into SMAS. but if we are to be a community of Grace, what are the implications, how do we draw the line, who are we to draw the line, especially because if all leaders sins were of a public nature none probably would be worthy of being in ministry. As someone somewhere once said "Christians are just better at hiding their sins"
Posted by: Josh | February 16, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Have been away from here for some time and have a moment to catch up - so of course I start at the bottom of the screen.
The question asked is... "The number of former convicted felons serving in the church"
Why do we assume that "serving" means leadership? There is no mention in the question of being a church elder or leading a service.
I don't have a problem if they do come to Christ, recognise where they went wrong and use that for the good of the kingdom and as an example to others, wow what a testimony.
We ask people to serve in so many ways, like "the cleaning roster"... as I read this post serving does not assume leadership in my book...
Posted by: Dave | February 24, 2009 at 10:08 PM
yeah true I think you are right. hanging out at Gateway has been interesting to help me think throguh this, serving in a church is not the same as leadership. I think you are right
Posted by: josh | February 25, 2009 at 02:20 AM