Health, trust, listening, and conversations. These key words rang loudly in my ears recently as I had opportunity to grow in understanding of the Church Health Assessment, an instrument the Siburt Institute implements in partnership with churches looking hopefully toward the future.

Grady King, Hope Network consultant and facilitator of the Church Health Assessment, emphasized, “Sometimes churches need to stop, take inventory, and listen to their members.” To date, the Church Health Assessment has provided 28 congregations with not only anecdotal information but also measurable data pointing toward nine factors of church health. “The word health is so important,” he said. “It’s like going to the doctor and getting a checkup.” The Church Health Assessment functions much the same way. After gathering data, conversations ensue with pastorally gifted consultants trained in the use of this instrument and experienced in facilitating conversations aimed at improving overall church health.

Churches alongside trusted advisors view their data on an easy-to-read graph, with the red, yellow, and green fields resembling a traffic light. Green areas are perceived strengths. Yellow communicates areas to pay special attention, to open conversation, ask questions, and continue to listen. Red indicates an immediate outcry for attention.

It’s good to get “green” news. Rarely can we clearly see what is going well, so it’s helpful and encouraging to have it concretized with data. “Yellow” information allows topics to surface so leaders can further explore them before they develop into “red” issues. It’s okay to see “red” things. All of our churches have them and this tool provides a snapshot, a dashboard, a picture of a moment in time. Data do not determine the future of a church, but data points do allow leaders and decision-makers to see and make choices, and to engage in conversations that matter for the future.

The Church Health Assessment provides proper data to facilitate engagement and a concrete opportunity to listen, which is a vital component. Just like at the doctor’s office, knowledge provides opportunity to choose areas in which we desire greater health, where growth is possible and ministries can become more robust. Churches may even choose to do this more than once, to have multiple checkups. Important are the conversations that happen in between. Survey without conversation only increases frustration; data quietly ignored is an exercise in futility. However, combining good data with guided conversations increases engagement and hope.

Buster Williams, an elder at Burleson Church of Christ, recently participated in the Church Health Assessment. Describing the thoughts of the leadership in anticipation of transition in Burleson’s ministry staff, he said, “We needed a trusted advisor.” After looking through the possible selections, “Dr. Reed won our trust and was able to breathe a kind of flavor of what Burleson is.” The survey facilitates understanding in those experienced ministers and consultants trusted with its contents. All are able to appreciate and intentionally grow the good.

Burleson Church of Christ had an astoundingly positive experience, one that can be replicated by any congregation of any size through the online assessment. According to Williams, the pastoral ministry team not only received helpful information; the experience itself left “a good taste in the mouths of the congregation because we were trying to be proactive.” People like to be asked, considered. We all like to know our leaders are looking intentionally and directionally toward the future.

In this age of church transition, we don’t have to go it alone. The Spirit of Christ accompanies the body of Christ and each congregation, as evidenced in this one tool, the Church Health Assessment, which offers hope. Let’s be about listening.