ARE WE A PEOPLE AT HALF TIME? - Leadership Network

I
n the previous issue of NEXT, we
asked about a
the use of consultants in
local congregations. Here e is whaw
hat t youy
said:
The top ten purposes for using a consultant were
(in descending order):
1. Architect/Engineer/Land Planning and Capital-campaign-forbuilding-program
tie;
2. Ministry assessment/evaluation;
3. Long range planning;
4. Organizational change;
5. Staffing/personnel matters;
6. Stewardship development;
7. Community analysis;
8. Worship and Music options;
9. Marketing;
10. Communications
In addition to the qualifications of the consultant,
the following were the most influential reasons in
selecting a consultant (in descending order):
1. Recommendation by another church;
2. Recommendation by another pastor;
3. Church had previously used this consultant;
4. Recommendation by another consultant;
5. Recommendation by a church member.
Important “learnings” from the use of consultants
that might be useful to other churches included:
☛ Clearly define in writing the appropriate boundaries of the
church’s culture, the scope of services to be rendered, and
expectations before engaging the consultant.
☛ Personally visit and interview other clients of the consultant
before making a final decision on the selection.
☛ Do the proper advance work ...prepare core leaders, obtain
relevant information, and develop a realistic assessment of your
needs. Identify any organizational contradictions. Get the facts
and expose false assumptions.
☛ Discover whether the consultant is interested in the church’s
ministry growing or fitting you into their “plan.” Do not accept
generalizations or revisions of a previous plan.
☛ Look for the “big picture” perspective and one that leads to
ownership by the congregation.
7