Seven Marks of a Healthy Church
1. Energised by faith
rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive.
· Worship and sacramental life : move people to experience God’s love.
· Motivation : energy comes from a desire to serve God and one another.
· Engaging with scripture : in creative ways to connect with life.
· Nurturing faith in Christ : helping people grow in, and share, their faith.
2. Outward looking focus
with a ‘whole life’ rather than a ‘church life’ concern
· deeply rooted in the local community, working in partnership with other denominations, faiths, secular groups & networks
· passionate & prophetic about justice and peace, locally and globally
· making connections between faith and daily living.
· responding to human need by loving service.
3. Seeks to find out what God wants
rather than letting our own preferences set the church agenda
· vocation : open to the Spirit’s leading about what we should be and do.
· vision : developing and communicating a shared sense of where we are going.
· mission priorities : consciously setting both immediate and long-term goals.
· able to call for and make sacrifices, personal and corporate, in bringing about the above and living out our faith.
4. Faces the cost of change and growth
rather than resisting change and avoiding failure
· taking on new ways of doing things while embracing the past.
· taking risks : admitting when things are not working, and learning from experience.
· crises : responding creatively to challenges that face the church and community.
· positive experiences of change, however small, are affirmed and built on.
5. Builds community
rather than functioning as a club or religious organisation
· relationships are nurtured so people know they are part of a community of faith, (often through small groups), with opportunities for service.
· leadership : lay and ordained work as a team to develop appropriate expressions of all seven marks of a healthy church
· lay ministry : the different gifts, experiences and faith-journeys of all are valued and given expression in and beyond the life of the church.
6. Makes room for others
being inclusive rather than exclusive
welcome : works to include newcomers into the life of the church.
children and young people are helped to belong, contribute and be nurtured in their faith.
enquirers are encouraged to explore and experience faith in Christ.
diversities : coming from social and ethnic backgrounds, mental and physical abilities and age differences are seen as a strength and sought after.
7. Does a few things – and does them well
focused rather than frenetic
doing the basics well : especially public worship, pastoral care, stewardship and administration.
occasional offices : makes sense of life and communicates faith
being good news as a church in our attitude and ways of working.
enjoying what we do and being relaxed about what is not being done.