What makes a congregation strong?

By Deborah Bruce

Our answer to that question exposes much about our assumptions regarding congregations—what is a congregation and what is its purpose or mission? We believe that congregations are complex organizations with multiple purposes. Their mission tends to be multi-layered. Strong and vital congregations have a host of qualities that make them excellent.

We identified ten areas of strength in congregations across the country:

1. Helping worshipers grow spiritually.
2. Providing meaningful worship services
3. Involving worshipers in many ways in the life of the congregation.
4. Providing worshipers with a sense of belonging to the congregation.
5. Caring for children and youth in the congregation.
6. Providing opportunities for worshipers to be involved in the local community.
7. Helping worshipers share their faith with others.
8. Welcoming new people to the congregation.
9. Empowering all worshipers to contribute to the leadership of the congregation.
10. Developing a clear vision for the congregation's future.

Each congregation has a unique profile built on these strengths. Some embrace one or two and make them cornerstones of the congregation's identity. Others have a broader mix of strengths. But every congregation has strengths! And all congregations require multiple strengths to be effective in this complex and rapidly changing society. A congregation that has excellent community service programs, but lacks any other strength may be little more than a social service agency. A congregation that provides a strong sense of belonging, but lacks other strengths may be little more than a social club. Congregations must focus on multiple strengths to do all that is required of a people of faith.

The challenge is to discover your congregation's strengths and to use those strengths to become stronger in other areas, to focus on your mission, and to do what God is calling your congregation to do and be.