Growing Healthy Churches

These characteristics of a healthy church are based on the "Growing Healthy Churches" leaflet by Canon Robert Warren and Dr Janet Hodgson, and published by Springboard - the Archbishops' Initiative for Evangelism.

an energising faith

• Christ-centred rather than having another focus
• talking about God rather than just church
• coming as worshippers rather than coming as attendees

an outward looking focus

• a 'whole life focus' rather than a 'church life focus'
• working for personal and social change rather than resisting change
• helping people live the faith more than using people to run the church
• sharing its faith widely rather than being embarrassed to talk about faith

finding out what God wants

• prays about priorities more than fights about them
• discerns what to do more than votes about what to do

facing the cost of growth and change

• addressing the need for change rather than avoiding issues of change
• hoping for future gains rather than fearing loss of the past
• embracing sacrifice rather than staying as we are
• welcoming creative new ventures rather than being fearful of change

practising an enabling style of leadership

• seeing leadership as service rather than seeing it as power and control
• working collaboratively rather than being the boss
• permission-giving rather than permission-withholding

having a participative laity

• leaders welcome everyone's contribution rather than leaders needing to control everything
• involving lots of people rather than being run by a small clique
• church members eager for action rather than being a passive congregation

being a loving community

• operating as a faith community more than a religious organisation
• celebrating diversity rather than concerned for conformity
• values people for who they are above what they do
• has real, sometimes sharp, conversation rather than being bland and nice

seeing faith as a life-long journey

• helping newcomers discover the faith rather than just 'joining the church'
• seeing themselves as disciples on a journey rather than members who have arrived
• helping people to be holy rather than just keeping them happy

practises what it preaches

• seeking to be a sign of the kingdom rather than a reminder of the good old days
• seeking to let the gospel shape the church more than the culture shape the church
• is not afraid to be distinctive rather than conforming to social norms
• fitting (flexible) structures around people rather than squeezing people into structures

doing a few things - well

• has a clear set of priorities rather than tries to do everything
• can cope with not doing everything rather than always needs to be doing things
• is relaxed yet focused rather than frantic and unfocused activity

Return to Vision Statement

Return to home