What is church consultation?
Church consultation is the process where a person or team provide insights and recommendations to improve the overall health of a church, or to help in a specific area of church need.
Why (and when) do churches consider using an outside church consultant?
In general, church leaders are often so close to their church that it becomes difficult to see with clarity its opportunities and barriers to growth.
An experienced outside consultant can help discern and act on the church's growth opportunities and issues more clearly and more quickly than it could without outside assistance. Following are the top reasons churches contact a church health consultant. Notice which reasons are reactive and which are proactive.
1. There is a specific issue (or issues) church leadership feels is symptomatic of deeper problems within the life and health of the church. These symptoms are most often, but not exclusively, numbers-oriented since they are easily and quickly observed. These reasons include attendance is plateauing or declining; planned giving and/or offerings are declining; visitors do not return or join the church; there is conflict within the church, specifically between pastoral leadership and lay leadership, or between groups of laity
2. The church does not have a plan for ensuring its growth in the short or long terms, and wants to have a plan.
3. The church is planning a major effort in its life and ministry - for example, a building expansion, mission effort, capital campaign, etc.
4. The church is doing "OK" but is not sure what its strengths and weakness are ... at this moment in its life.
5. The church wants to assess its health and address any issues (listed above) more quickly than it could by relying on its own staff.
What do church consultants do?
Church consultants engage in a number of activities that vary according to project goals and stages. Here are the types of activities you can expect a church consultant to engage in at the request and approval of church leadership: Listen Investigate Analyze Recommend Encourage change Help implement change, when needed and asked Follow-up
What areas are covered in a comprehensive church consultation?
Please note that not all church consultations are comprehensive. Indeed, the majority are focused on specific areas of church health. If you feel a comprehensive consultation is needed, the following lists what you can expect it to cover:
A. Finance
B. Planning/goal setting
C. Growth barriers
D. Outreach/evangelistic approaches
E. Community analysis
F. Mission/vision
G. Assimilation effectiveness
H. Perceptions/attitudes toward the church among attendees others in the community
I. Data and statistical analysis
J. Small group/Sunday School
K. Worship issues
L. Leadership effectiveness
M. Prayer emphasis
N. Missions
O. Personnel issues
P. Programming/ministries analysis
Q. Facilities analysis
R. Denominational issues
S. Ministry staff alignment
What are the steps involved in a church consultation?
While not all consultants use the same process or steps in a church consultation, the process used by the most effective church consultants typically includes the following (in order):
- Consultation request
- Initial interview
- Proposal to church leadership
- Acceptance
- Consultation work
- Initial verbal report to leadership
- Written report
- Draft - presented to the senior pastor first
- Final report
- Presentation to church leadership
- If needed, proposal for future action
- Follow-up
When selecting a church consultant, what criteria should we use to evaluate consultant candidates?
When exploring church consultation, church leadership should discuss the experience and qualities the consultant, or his/her consulting organization, might need to ensure their effectiveness. Here are some questions to ask that will help guide you in this process:
- What types and levels of ministry experience does each consultant candidate offer?
- Does the consultant have experience with our particular denomination? (Please note many consultants do work across denominational lines with great effectiveness.)
- To what degree does the consultant have experience with churches of our size and life stage?
- What has the consultant accomplished during his ministry? In other words, what fruit has their ministry born as part of a church organizations and as a consultant?
- Does the consultant show genuine interest and enthusiasm for working with my church?
- Does the consultant demonstrate the maturity and attitude needed to effectively work with our leaders? The most effective church consultants are confident, but humble; straightforward but diplomatic. (Ask for references, too.)
- How effectively does this consultant communicate verbally and in writing? Assess both the organization, content and style of the consultant's communication.
Is there a code of ethics for church consultants?
This is the code followed by the Society's certified consultants:
- Work under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and hold to the authority of the Bible.
- Be honest and not knowingly misrepresent facts.
- Divulge any potential conflicts of interest as soon as they are known.
- Only accept projects which can be completed in a professional and timely manner.
- Safeguard any confidential information or documents.
- Do not divulge any confidential information without the consent of the church/client.
- Abide by all laws in the jurisdictions where they work.
- Report all time worked and expenses incurred accurately and honestly.
- Meet all requirements to maintain integrity as a certified consultant.
