Seven Ways to Check for a Clear Vision

by Reba Collins

I’ve always believed that one way to tell a good church is to check its vision. But I don’t mean its vision statement. Most churches have one of those, and it’s usually stuck on a wall, featured on their Website somewhere, and then ignored. The important test is whether or not you can see how they live out their vision. Is their preferred view of the future an active and integrated force behind how they live, give, serve, and treat others? Do they truly know what their faith community could and should be doing? Does their walk match their talk

Hard to tell, you say. It can be, and that’s why I like church researcher Tom Rainer’s practical, measurable insights on how to distinguish between “Fragmented” and “Unified” churches. Good churches feel unified in accomplishing their visions, and church searchers can sense it long before they can see it.

Rainer’s recent blog*, 7 Factors that Drive Church Unity, helps searchers perform a simple, effective vision check. Here is my synopsis of his seven easy to spot signs of a unified church…

1.  No revolving door for pastors.

Unified Church: Pastors in unified churches stay almost four times longer (average 8.2 years) than pastors in fragmented churches.

Fragmented Church: When a church experiences several new pastors within a five-year window, there usually are some internal conflicts over purpose and church direction.

2.  Not a lot of meetings about the “business” of the church. 

Unified Church: Unified churches tend to need only quarterly or annual business meetings.

Fragmented Church: Fragmented churches tend to do business in the moment. They allocate resources and energy for ministries monthly and the “next best thing” has more influence than a common vision. 

3.  Ministries include both insiders and outsiders.

Unified Church: Unified churches envision ministries that are bigger than themselves and reach both insiders and outsiders.

Fragmented Church: A group’s vision seems trapped inside the church walls and the ministries are for members only. (Check out our related blog Five Telltale Signs a Church is for “Members Only for details -- www.rebathechurchguide.blogspot.com/2013/03/five-telltale-signs-church-is-for.html)

4.  New Christians trump bigger programs. 

Unified Church: The church celebrates lives changed by accepting Christ. People clearly drive a unified church’s discipleship success stories. 

Fragmented Church: The church celebrates the people attending its programs, and more is always better.

5.  Growing in groups emphasized.  

Unified Church: Unified churches encourage and enable people to become part of a group – whether it’s a Sunday School class or other small group with equipped leaders.

Fragmented Church: Fragmented churches usually have groups for spiritual growth, but they usually are one of many options for involvement.

6.  Prayer is everyone’s business.

Unified Church: In unified churches, members pray with and for each other as a regular practice throughout the week. They pray together when they meet, when they eat, and when they need God’s guidance.

Fragmented Church: In fragmented churches, prayer is reserved for worship services and usually is led by “officials” of the church.  

7.  Volunteers are leaders.

Unified Church: Capable, gifted, equipped laypersons serve as point leaders for most ministries, even the largest and most important.

Fragmented Church: Ministry staff leaders are typically called upon to lead volunteers in ministries.

Each of these factors is observable and measurable. Ask questions, scan Websites, and read church announcements looking and listening for them.  A unified vision creates a unified church, and that’s a good church no matter how you see it.

The Church Guide Website and blog offers more helpful tips, tools, and strategies for assessing a group’s vision and making a good church choice.

* www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/167440-thom-rainer-drive-church-unity.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=clnewsletter&utm_content=CL+Daily+20130518