By Perry Chang
Congregations examining their U.S. Congregational Life
Survey results should keep in mind the three Cs: critical analysis, celebration, and
context. The experiences of a couple of
participating congregations underline the importance of the three Cs.
Critical analysis
At a meeting at a New England congregation that participated
in the survey, congregational leaders combed quickly through the reports. Leaders were tough on a couple of the
reports’ features. One leader noticed
that whether worshipers had many close friends who were part of the
congregation formed part of the calculations for the Strengths Report’s “Sense
of Belonging” measure. The leader
objected to this factor, saying the fact that she had a mix of friends inside
and outside of the congregation didn’t personally affect her strong sense of
belonging.
We have tested the survey thoroughly. Interpreting the results, however, is an
activity that folks in your congregation should undertake using the suggestions
and resources we have supplied along with what they already know about your
congregation. Instead of simply taking
the results at face value, ask tough questions, compare the results and your
own perceptions, and do a critical analysis.
You’ll end up with a better interpretation of the results.
Celebration
At a gospel concert later that weekend at the same New
England congregation, church leaders celebrated their congregation’s
strengths. They said: “According to the survey that the church took
a couple of months ago, 91% of you feel the presence of God in our worship
services. Well, tonight we want to work
on that other 9%.”
Congregations may look at its scores on all 10 strengths and
may eventually work on some challenging areas.
Because the typical congregation has one to three strengths, we strongly
encourage you to start with celebrating and building on those strengths. Like this congregation, celebrate your
strengths and then ask yourselves: how
can we do even better?
Context
The New England congregation and a Deep South congregation
that also participated in the survey faced similar opportunities and
challenges: proximity to struggling
inner-city neighborhoods and recent internal conflict. The Southern congregation had expanded its
ministry to homeless and hungry people, but this ministry had made some people
in the community nervous about traveling to the area around the church.
Other congregations participate in the survey soon after a
beloved pastor or a perhaps a controversial pastor has left, and those
situations can color results. Are worshipers still longing for the “good old
days” when the former pastor was there each week? Or are they breathing a temporary sigh of
relief?
Congregational leaders must keep their context and unique
circumstances in mind. A congregation’s
location, recent history, or involvement in a pastoral transition may position
the congregation in ways that the congregation or its leaders cannot simply wish
away. The pastor of the Southern congregation had recently been involved in a
conflict with members of the congregation’s governing board. That fact no doubt affected how worshipers on
different sides of that conflict responded to questions about pastoral
leadership.
As you look over your congregation’s survey results, don’t
forget your particular context. A result
that may look one way in the abstract may look entirely different in light of
what you know about your context.
In short: when
interpreting your congregation’s results, do a critical analysis, celebrate,
and consider the context.
