Church Vitality Indicator
Congregational Survey

Community of Faith

Identity & Purpose

1.	The leaders of our congregation share a common understanding of who God calls us to be.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

2.	Every participant in this congregation can articulate and explain our mission and vision for ministry.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

3.	Leaders in our congregation are passionate about their ministry and service.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Steward Formation

4.	Our congregation teaches participants to manage their gifts, time, talent, relationships and material resources wisely.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

5.	Participants are trained and equipped to live their faith and ministry daily.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

6.	Our congregation provides stewardship education and training to all age levels.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Practice of Spiritual Disciplines

7.	All participants are trained to engage in personal devotional practices and spiritual disciplines.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

8.	All participants are expected to practice the means of grace (corporate spiritual practices) in small groups.

     Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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9. Our congregation monitors and evaluates the spiritual development of participants through their practice of spiritual disciplines.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Disciple-Making

1O.Our congregation has an intentional plan for equipping newcomers to grow in discipleship to become members of the body of Christ.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

11.  Our congregation has clear standards to measure spiritual growth and development.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

12.   We hold one another responsible for and accountable to our congregation’s vision of    discipleship.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Faith Sharing

13.Our congregation teaches us how to share the Christian faith with others.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

14.Sharing our faith in our community and world is a high value and priority of our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

15.	People are given numerous opportunities to share faith stories and experiences in our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Experiential Worship

16.	Our congregation provides meaningful worship to a wide variety of people.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

17.	Participants experience the presence of God in our worship services.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

18.Our congregation monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of worship with participants regularly.

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Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Living The Faith - Believing

Biblical Literacy

19. Participants in our church have a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

20. Participants in our church are expected to engage in group Bible study.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

21.We provide a process for Biblical study and reflection for every age group.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Theological Maturity

22. Participants in our congregation understand the history and theology of the Christian faith.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

23. Participants in our congregation understand the history and theology of the United Methodist.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

24.	Our congregation equips people to apply their understanding of God to shape their daily living.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Evaluation System

25.Our congregation has a clear process to evaluate the effectiveness of its ministries and programs.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

26.	Participants in our church have clear guidelines and measures to monitor spiritual growth and development.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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27.We continuously align the ministry we offer with the vision and values of the congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Individual Commitment

28.Growlng as Christian disciples is a high priority for participants in our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

29.	Participants in our congregation are deeply committed to learning how to live their faith in the world.

Totally Disagree   Stongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly  disagree   Mildly Agree   Agree  Srongly  agree  Totally agree

30.	Regular participants in our congregation understand that they are there to serve others, not just be served themselves.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Living The Faith - Belonging

Welcoming/Inviting

31.Our congregation trains and equips people to be inviting and welcoming.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

32. First-time visitors are likely to return to our church.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

33. Our congregation has intentional plans and strategies for involving all participants in the life of the church.	-	-	-- -- -

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Small Groups

34.	Our congregation provides small group opportunities for all age groups for spiritual growth and development.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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35. Every participant is expected to be an active member of a small group.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

36.Our congregation has a comprehensive plan for spiritual growth and development grounded in the use of small groups.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Congregational Connections

37. Our congregation has a commitment to be the best United Methodist church we can be.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

38.We actively partner with other United Methodist congregations.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

39.We highly value participation in ecumenical ministries and projects.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Accountability

40.	Participants in our congregation hold one another accountable to grow as Christian disciples.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

41.	Participants in our congregation are as committed to the needs of the whole community of faith as they are to their own personal needs.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

42.	Open and honest communication is practiced throughout our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Living The Faith - Behaving

Adaptability

43.We continuously listen to understand God’s will for our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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44.We listen deeply to people both inside and outside our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

45.We are open to new ideas and innovations in our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Care Giving

46. Our congregation trains and equips people to care for the others.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

47. Participants in this congregation are taught to visit the sick, the homebound and those in need.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

48.Our congregation has a plan and process for meeting a wide variety of human needs.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Mission and Outreach

49.	Participants in our congregation are equipped to serve needs in the larger community and world as a witness to Jesus Christ.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

50.	Our congregation is widely known for its compassion and service.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

51.	Serving the needs of those outside the church is regularly communicated throughout our congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Community Involvement

52.	Our congregation works with agencies, businesses, schools, civic organizations, and other churches to serve the larger community.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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53.We are encouraged to be actively involved in our community.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

54.	People in our community know that they can turn to our congregation for help.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Living The Faith - Leading

Leadership Core

55.It is clearly understood in our church that leadership is shared by gifted clergy and laity.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

56.	People in leadership positions in our congregation are expected to practice the spiritual disciplines together as well as individually.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

57.	Our leaders have a strong commitment to working well together.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Leadership Development

58.	Our congregation effectively trains and equips people to assume leadership responsibility.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

59.Our congregation has a process to discover, develop, support, and deploy the spiritual gifts of participants.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

60.	Participants are encouraged by existing leaders to assume leadership responsibility for ministry or service within or outside of the congregation.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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Culture & Context

61.	Participants in our congregation accurately reflect our community’s demographics (age, race, economic, education, etc.).

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

62.	We align our ministry and programs to the needs of our cultural context.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

63.Our leaders respond effectively to the emerging trends in the community and world.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

Visionary Leadership

64.	Our leaders help us understand God’s vision for our congregation.

 Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

65.	Our pastor(s) provide a clear vision for our spiritual life together.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

66.The people in leadership in our congregation focus on the “big picture” of our future, while other gifted individuals manage the day-to-day ministry needs.

Totally disagree   Strongly disagree   Disagree   Mildly disagree   Mildly agree   Agree   Strongly agree   Totally agree

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