Notice that this is a qualitative definition as opposed to a quantitative one. We focus on who the community understands itself to be and how it exhibits that understanding in its shared life. Rather than looking at how much a church is doing or what it has accomplished, we look instead at how much that church follows in the way of Jesus.
- A healthy church understands that its most fundamental call is to be a community of Jesus followers. This understanding turns us away from institutional concerns and toward discipleship commitments. Such a church is clear that its core purpose is to incarnate Christ’s healing and saving ministry in a hurting world, joining God in God’s work in that world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- A healthy church has a shared vision that all its members seek to embody. When a church’s vision is fractured, its ministry’s impact weakens, both in its members’ lives and in the community, God has given it to serve. Having a clear and focused vision invites us joyfully to align all our resources—spiritual, mental/emotional, physical, financial, and structural—toward shared Kingdom work.
- A healthy church has a thriving ministry. There is a sense of excitement and passion among its members. People experience meaning and purpose as they are given the opportunity to share their gifts. They experience God’s deep generosity and grace and are glad to give of themselves and their resources. They understand that their church has all it needs to accomplish the mission God has given it.
- A healthy church has trusted leadership—both clergy and lay. A congregation that deeply trusts its leaders can face any adaptive challenge, respond with enthusiasm to any new call, and work faithfully through any conflict that may arise. Clear communication and encouraging words and actions by leaders embolden the congregation to step out in faith.
This way of thinking about a “healthy church” reminds us of Paul’s metaphor of the church as a healthy body in Ephesians 4: “(W)e must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love” (v. 15).
Far too many churches are more concerned with the symptoms of their unhealthy church than they are willing to address the root causes of poor health. Like an individual who seeks shortcuts to physical health, churches are often lured toward easy or surface fixes. Such an approach seldom produces long-lasting health and vitality.
The path toward a healthier future starts with refocusing the church’s attention on the life and ministry of Jesus. One of our assessment tools seeks to discover what is at the “center” of a congregation. We frequently see churches that are pastor-centric, staff-centric, number-centric, doctrine-centric, denomination-centric, building-centric, program-centric, history-centric, and so forth. Whenever the organizing center of a church is anything other than Jesus, we know that our first task is to refocus their attention upon the call and commission that Jesus brought to his followers. It’s no surprise that such an invitation often creates something of an identity crisis. While Jesus is certainly talked about a great deal in many churches, prioritizing his commandments and commissions will mean putting aside lesser agendas that have encroached upon the unified, thriving, and high-trust community Jesus envisioned.
One pastor was reflecting upon the impact such a pivot would have upon their congregation. Their insightful comment was: “You know, Jesus really makes us nervous, and putting him at the center of all we say and do is going to push us far outside our traditions and comfort zones.”
That pastor was right. Getting and staying healthy is no easy matter. For a human body, organization, or a church to be healthy will require sacrifice and discipline. It will probably mean discomfort and rethinking of priorities and practices. Some will prefer the old ways of unhealthy relationships and misplaced priorities. Others, however, will welcome the idea that congregational life can be healthy in a way that not much else in their world is right now.
Health is always a choice, and we believe the churches that will thrive in the 21st century will be those who deliberately embrace a healthy lifestyle built around the centrality of Christ, the shared leadership of the Spirit, the joy of ministry and the trust that marks genuine fellowship.