How do we measure?
A little while ago, Dan was speaking about how the leaders of two congregations (Tangent and Jeebus) will be retreating, as we do each year, to reflect and assess how we are going as congregations. What do you think of this quote as helping us reflect on our congregational health?
Bill Easum writes:
“how do we ultimately measure the faithfulness of a congregation? Not by how well it supports the denomination, or how long it can survive, or how many new members it receives, or whether it is healthy, or even how harmonious it is. Rather we gauge faithfulness by a congregation’s willingness to follow Jesus into the mission field.”
(Easum B, Unfreezing moves: Following Jesus into the Mission Field (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2001), p27)
July 31st, 2005 at 8:47 pm
That is a great quote!!
If no one attends a service/event because everyone is out, engaging with their community - being a representative of Jesus in whatever it is that they are doing, then I think your congregation is a sucess. Maybe a measure of a church, should be how many people aren’t there each week, because they are busy out doing and being in their communities.
Just some thoughts…