CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

1. Identify trends you envision in your church in the next five years:

2. Planning:

a. All churches do planning. How would you characterize the way planning is done in your church?

b. What expectations do you have of the person you are seeking in relation to the planning that takes place?

3. Reflection on Congregational Life:

a. Identify the three most important events in the history of your church and the year:

b. Identify the most challenging event in the life of your church in the last three years and what the church learned from it:

c. Identify what the congregation intends to accomplish during the next three years:

d. Describe how the church expects the person you are seeking to help your church reach these goals: (see "Pastoral Support" listed under each of the 8 goals, combined with c. above.)

e. Choose the statement that most accurately describes the theological/faith stance of your church: You may check more that one.

We tend to be theologically conservative.
We tend to be theologically moderate to conservative.
We tend to be theologically moderate.
We tend to be theologically moderate to liberal.
We tend to be theologically liberal.
We tend to be quite diverse theologically.
Other

f. Describe the educational program of your church:

g. Describe how the church expects the person you are seeking to participate in the congregation's educational programs:

h. Describe how programs or ministries of your church are evaluated:

i. Describe the strengths or positive qualities of your church:

4. Conflict:

Most churches experience conflict at various times. Characterize your church's experience with conflict given the following possibilities. Indicate the extent to which each statement describes your church:

as a church, we respect and listen to each other and work things through without generating divisiveness	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
as a church, we try to respect and listen to each other, but it is not uncommon for differences of opinion to be a problem and for some people to choose sides	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
some have left our church because of conflict	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
conflict hurts our sense of unity, but we tend not to talk about it	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
painful experience with conflict has been present, but it has been worked through, and we have learned from the experience	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
we have had some painful experiences with conflict, and they linger in the background	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all
open conflict is present, and we need a minister who can help us deal with it	Select One Closely Somewhat Not at all

other: Specify:

Other Comments/Suggestions for the Search Committee: