Church Assessments that Provide Insight into the Real State of Your Church

A church assessment is one of the primary tools we use in the revitalization of churches. Through these analyses, we provide churches with an accurate understanding of the current realities within the church, confirming what is working well and what needs attention. We also provide church leadership with congregational input they can use to make better-informed decisions and address revealed “blind spots.” Based on the information revealed in the analysis, we provide prayerfully considered recommendations for the church as they move forward. Often, after a church undergoes a diagnostic assessment they will use our pastors to help facilitate the recommendations revealed in the diagnostic.

VitalChurch offers three tiers of church assessments:

Tier 1 Diagnostic – Church Vitality Survey

In an effort to provide leadership teams with input from their congregations at a price point that almost every church can afford, we have compiled a 30-question survey with some of our most insightful questions. Your congregation’s answers to these questions will provide you with specific data points for strategic planning purposes and for increasing your church’s spiritual vitality.

Your church will be provided with an online survey that your congregation members can complete anonymously, along with tips to maximize participation. Upon the completion of the survey timeframe, your church will receive a customized report within 2-3 business days.

Tier 2 Diagnostic – Focused Church Assessment

Our second level of diagnostic analysis dives deeper into the data measured in a Tier 1 church assessment and includes ratings by congregants of the current ministries of your church. Plus, there are custom modules that can be added to provide a wider and deeper understanding of a particular area of your church. Some modules we have developed in the past have measured the following:

A church’s missional capacity and preparedness
Trust in leadership
Areas of conflict
Emotional health

Tier 3 Diagnostic – Comprehensive Church Assessment

Our third level of diagnostic analysis is a full ministry survey. This includes the entire Tier 2 survey, additional modules that include questions that allow for verbatim responses, as well as input sessions with church leaders and congregants. The assessment culminates with a visit by the VitalChurch diagnostic team to present an in-person report—first to the leadership and then to the congregation. A comprehensive written report is then sent to the church within four weeks.

One of our most popular modules is a personality and spiritual gift inventory that can be given to pastoral candidates to identify how the candidate will match up to the current strengths and needs of the church.

FAQs about Diagnostic Analysis and Church Health Assessments

Is the diagnostic analysis only for churches with serious issues?

No. VitalChurch’s diagnostic analysis is for any church wanting a clear picture of their current reality. It is our opinion that every church should administer a Tier 1 or Tier 2 diagnostic assessment every year or two. If your church is in any sort of major leadership transition or is experiencing recurring issues, it is worth the time, money, and energy to do a Tier 3 assessment.

What will our church receive at the end of our diagnostic analysis?

VitalChurch will provide you with a written report. Tier 2 and 3 reports identify your church’s key strengths to build on, as well as core issues that need immediate attention. Specific recommendations will be given to address the core issues. The report also organizes extensive data into charts and graphs, and it includes an analysis for each of the questions in the survey.

Following a Tier 3 Diagnostic, your church will receive a thorough, in-person report from our diagnostic team. For each of our tiers, your church’s leadership team will also have the opportunity to discuss the report’s findings and VitalChurch’s recommendations with our team.

How long does it take to receive the final report?

A report for a Tier 1/Church Vitality Survey takes 2-3 business days. A Tier 2 report takes 4 weeks, and a Tier 3 final report will be delivered about 4 weeks after the presentation of the oral report.

Diagnostic Analysis