Congregational Vitality Survey

The Congregational Vitality Survey is a tool to help congregational participants assess where they see themselves as a congregation. It uses 36 questions to gain insights into 36 ways to look at a local congregation’s ministry. Participants take the survey using an online link. A separate link is generated for leaders (most often congregation council and staff) and for members (usually everyone else who is active in the congregation). This gives the congregation an overall score in each area. Having two links also provides a chance to see if congregation leaders and the people in the pew are on the same page for each issue. Although aggregate scores are provided for both groups – all input is anonymous and people can share freely and without external pressure.

Because the survey uses a three-point system (all questions have three defined answers from which to choose), the responses should be useful for both gaining insights about current reality and also for generating good conversation about the ministry. In addition, a congregation should be able to take the survey at a later date and compare results and discuss where changes have happened and what impact they have had.

It is helpful to remember that the survey will give a good idea about what people think is happening. At the same time, it may also be important to check their perceptions with actual reality (for example: respondents can share their impressions of worship attendance and trends, but you should also be able to check attendance records and compare that data to the respondent’s answers). You may discover people have misconceptions about some of the realities facing their situation.

Usually a survey is open for responses for multiple weeks. A common pattern is to open the survey on a Sunday, keep it open for two full weeks, and the close it on the final Sunday – a 2-week and 3-Sunday window. Once the deadline is completed, the Director for Evangelical Mission, Tera Kossow, or another key staff person will download the results, add some comments to help start a meaningful discussion, and send them for congregational leaders to see.

The main benefit of using this tool is to gain insights that can begin a conversation on what people are thinking about the ministry. Processing the results is not about simply receiving them, but taking the time to discuss them, prayerfully digging deeper into some areas that seem to rise to the top, and making plans for action steps to move the ministry forward in ways that advance God’s desires for the ministry. It is a tool to begin a conversation and new ways of working together to strengthen the whole church and participate in the mission of God to love and bless the world.

If you are interested in utilizing this helpful tool, please email DEM, Tera Kossow, or contact the synod office and ask to speak with Tera, who can give you more information, begin a dialog with you about it and get you started.