Convergence offers comprehensive, research-based assessments any church can afford.
It’s hard to know what to measure anymore. Are we measuring church attendance? Baptisms? Attendance at Sunday School classes? Full church membership? Giving on a Sunday? The challenge is that some of these numbers matter some of the time and in some settings. But not all.
What if the more interesting story was found in the difference your church was making in the community? What if your metrics for success included some of those listed above, but you also consider the crime rates in your community, and the graduation rates and the employment rates? We believe that a vital church is one that is making a difference in the world and looks a lot like what Jesus might have done in his time. A vital church cares for the poor, defends the vulnerable, protects the children and inspires the hopeless.
We can actually measure these things...and we believe these measurements help your congregation see the difference it is making as the Body of Christ.
Types of Assessments
Congregational
Quick Congregational Assessment
Are you concerned about your congregational health? Will you need to make a decision soon about closure, merger, or moving from your building? We can help your congregation discern by providing a snapshot of your current situation and recommendations about your best way forward. This assessment includes two short surveys, one for the congregational leader and one for participants, and measures participation trends, financial and facility sustainability, participant outlook, conflict levels, and change skills.
Healthy Communication/Conflict Skills
Do you feel that your congregation is struggling with communications and conflict? This short survey for participants and leaders will capture your current conflict situation and your congregation’s grasp of healthy communications. Your report will include recommendations for how to improve your communications and conflict skills based on that data.
Conflict Style
Would you like to know why differences of opinion simmer under the surface or erupt in your congregational life? We partner with Riverhouse on this tool that will help each member of your congregation and/or leadership team better understand their own style in conflict situations, how their individual conflict style can be an asset, and how to better understand the conflict styles of others.
Change Readiness
Is your congregation facing big changes, as so many are these days? Have your people struggled with change in the past? Get a snapshot of your participants’ change readiness, along with recommendations for how to improve your skills for navigating change.
Community/Neighborhood Needs
Would you like to know more about your congregation’s neighbors? We partner with MissionInsite to provide comprehensive reports about those in your neighborhood along with our custom recommendations on how to maximize your community impact and address their most pressing needs. [Optional add-ons include detailed analysis of community member/leader interviews conducted by your lay leaders or our team.]
Convergence Vitality Assessment
This assessment measures all aspects of congregational life and health. We collect data on all of the areas mentioned above, and many more, to provide a detailed picture of your congregation’s current situation, including any areas that place your congregation at risk for crisis, decline and/or closure. We pair these insights with practical and data-driven recommendations for your future in a 20+ page report, group presentation via Zoom, and coaching call to help your leader(s) discern next steps.
Leaders
Conflict Style
We partner with Riverhouse on this tool that will help each member of your congregation and/or leadership team better understand their own style in conflict situations, how their individual conflict style can be an asset, and how to better understand the conflict styles of others.
Organizations
Change Readiness
Is your congregation facing big changes, as so many are these days? Have your people struggled with change in the past? Get a snapshot of your participants’ change readiness, along with recommendations for how to improve your skills for navigating change.
Healthy Communication/Conflict Skills
Do you feel that your congregation is struggling with communications and conflict? This short survey for participants and leaders will capture your current conflict situation and your congregation’s grasp of healthy communications. Your report will include recommendations for how to improve your communications and conflict skills based on that data.
Organizational Vitality Assessment
This assessment measures all aspects of congregational life and health. We collect data on all of the areas mentioned above, and many more, to provide a detailed picture of your congregation’s current situation, including any areas that place your congregation at risk for crisis, decline and/or closure. We pair these insights with practical and data-driven recommendations for your future in a 20+ page report, group presentation via Zoom, and coaching call to help your leader(s) discern next steps.
Contact us to learn more about our assessment options:
Anna Hall
Director of Research & Development
Email Anna
