When Better Isn't Enough
Subtitle: Evaluation Tools for the 21St-Century Church
Publisher: Alban Institute
Published: February 2004
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 170
ISBN-13: 9781566992893
Subjects: Religion - Church Administration; Reference; Clergy; Religion; Religion - Ministry & Pastoral Resources; Rating of; Christian Ministry - Pastoral Resources; Church officers; Institutions & Organizations
First sentence: A PLEASANTVILLE SUNDAY.
Description: Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition -- from the modern era to the postmodern. Whenever a shift of this magnitude occurs, it leaves all of life, including the church, in flux. We instinctively strive to stabilize the situation by re-establishing what has worked in the past. Increasingly, however, congregations are finding that the same old things done harder or better don't seem to make a difference. Author Jill Hudson argues, "We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them." Approaching the postmodern era as a tremendous opportunity, Hudson identifies 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry for the early 21st century. Based on those 12 criteria, Hudson has created evaluation tools, "an early measuring stick," to help congregations evaluate their work in this new era. Not everything of the past is ineffective and best discarded, she says, nor will everything we try in the future be successful. But by faithfully listening for God's guidance and carefully evaluating progress using Hudson's tools, looking at the ministry of the whole people of God as well as that of the professional staff, congregations can improve their ministry, help members and staff grow in effectiveness, deepen a sense of partnership, and add new richness to the dialogue about the congregation's future.