Take Your Pulse

Author's Note: This is the first of three installments regarding vital congregations. 

Historically, two of the most popular measurements used to determine the vitality of a faith community have been how many people are in the pews and how much money is in the bank. Thankfully, the Church has come to understand that while these numbers can help provide insight into the health of a faith community they are not the whole story. The story of a congregation’s effectiveness in accomplishing its mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and building the kingdom of God includes how it forms disciples, serves the poor of its community, and practices mission. These are the indicators that don’t always make it onto parochial reports. 

But ministries do not run on their own. Ministries are led and staffed by faithful clergy, lay leaders, and volunteers who give tirelessly of their time, talent, and treasure towards the mission and vision of their faith community. That’s why if the Church truly wants to understand how to revitalize congregations it is going to have to start with recognizing how the people who serve in those congregations need renewal. It will have to use the health of those who serve as a metric for overall congregational health. And measuring that health should take into account areas of psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual vitality. 

"It may sound like a cliche but many faith communities still operate on the 80/20 or 90/10 model, a small percentage of people do the bulk of the heavy lifting of planning and implementing ministry."

It may sound like a cliche but many faith communities still operate on the 80/20 or 90/10 model, a small percentage of people do the bulk of the heavy lifting of planning and implementing ministry. This can be for any number of reasons. In some cases it is because the leadership of the congregation has not empowered more volunteers to take their place as leaders and workers. In other cases it may be because there is not a large enough base of volunteers with the time or energy to share in the ministries of the Church. 

No matter the reason, the “few hands” model is not a viable one. Look closely in your faith community at the people who always seem to be everywhere at once, who are volunteering for every committee, and always ready to lend a hand. They are dedicated but often exhausted, they are faithful but on the verge of burnout. A health faith community is one in which every person is empowered to recognize and use their spiritual gifts. It reminds people that the bearing fruit for the kingdom of God begins with everyone finding their role in clearing and plowing the field, planting the seeds, and gathering the harvest. In the parishes where I have worked my saying has always been “none of us can do everything, but all of us can do something”. 

Churches that are in decline and/or in need of renewal often have leaders and volunteers who may have experienced or may be experiencing trauma, stress, fatigue, brokenness, depression, health crisis or loss. While they have served faithfully and want to keep going they don’t see an opportunity to step away and let others live into how God has called them to serve. It may be the week in week out grind of parish life or the sudden shock of a natural disaster. The result is the same: the very people who are tasked with leading the effort of renewal are in need of renewal themselves. They are trying to give to others from an empty cup. 

"The result is the same: the very people who are tasked with leading the effort of renewal are in need of renewal themselves. They are trying to give to others from an empty cup."

Because vital congregations are built by vital people, the Church should be asking the following questions. 

1. How healthy are the people serving in our faith communities? 

2. How am I listening to the needs of the leaders and volunteers with whom I serve or whom I lead?

3. Am I conscious of my own need for renewal in mind, body, and spirit?

The good news is that we as the Church are starting to pay attention to these indicators but there is still a great deal of work to be done. And the work must begin with each of us at the individual level. As a priest who is trying to live an intentional Rule of Life( a pattern of healthy living that incorporates prayer, work, study, fellowship, and sabbath) I struggle with how to maintain balance. I need to be conscious of my own health and reach out to ask for health when I see that something is out of balance. Modeling this practice helps me to lead others to do the same. I can speak with authority and sincerity to those whom I lead when I ask them how they are feeling and that if they are feeling overwhelmed or are suddenly finding themselves swimming all alone that it's okay for them to reach out as well. Vital congregations are composed of vital people and vital people are a reflection of a healthy awareness that “no can do everything, but everyone can do something”.