Too many Christian parachurch organizations, and some consultants and coaches, only talk with pastors when assessing a congregation. In doing so, they may miss the point. They get a subjective and prejudiced view of reality within the congregation. They get a very important view from the pastor[s], but not always an accurate view.
The point is to know if persons in the pew/chairs are being effectively served and assisted to grow as disciples, and are they being motivated and pulled into the congregation’s external context through missional efforts? To genuinely discover this you must talk with the persons in the pew/chairs, and perhaps for the latter characteristic the people in the congregation’s external context.
I have been reminded of this truth during the first four months of this year as I have conducted focus group interviews in about a half-dozen congregations involving several hundred lay participants. It definitely takes a 360 degree perspective to truly understand the effectiveness of a congregation.
The good-to-great news in peer learning communities of pastors is that fast and practical learning can occur. The bad news is the possible development of group-think about reality in their congregations, and what lay participants need and want.
The good-to-great news in engaging lay participants in in-depth conversation is that the true effectiveness of what the pastor[s] are seeking to lead and how they are seeking to lead is uncovered. The bad news is the possible distorted view that affirms culture more than Christ that can exist in the perspective of many lay participants.
It is a matter of establishing and maintaining a healthy perspective. At times this takes the assistance of someone from the outside to engage lay participants in dialogue. When is that last time your congregation took a risk by inviting a knowledgeable outside third-party to dialogue with your pastor, staff, and lay participants to gain a 360 degree perspective on your congregation?
