Best Practices in Church Planter Assessment John Shepherd
Best Practices in Church Planter Assessment John Shepherd
Church Planting in US Today More churches are being planted each year(approx. 4000) than are being closed (approx. 3500). Big increase over approx. 1500/yr reported a decade ago. Stetzer and Bird, Viral Churches, 1. Stetzer and Travis, Church Planting Overview: State of Church Planting in the USA , 3.
Why Such a Big Deal? Making progress Adding new churches
Baptisms Per Member Under 3 yrs: 10 baptisms/100 mbrs 3 -15 yrs: 5 baptisms/100 mbrs Older than 15 yrs: 3 baptisms/100 mbrs
“Church planting has become the ‘it’ thing right now and the new evangelism. ” Viral Churches, 1.
Challenges to Church Planting Today Attracting more people who want to plant Tough economy
Barna Study on Giving Jan 2010 u 48% of Americans had reduced giving to nonprofits in last 3 mos. u 30% had dropped their level of giving to church. u Nearly 25% of church donors had cut giving by 20% or more. u 75% of Americans believe economic recovery is 2 or more yrs away.
Some Good News on Giving According to a survey conducted in Jan. 2011, for the first time in four years Americans say they are likely to increase their charitable giving in 2011. Number of households who plan to increase giving this year rose 29%. Dunham+Company New Year’s Philanthropy Survey
Assessments are more important than ever before!
12 CP Organizations in Study Acts 29 Alliance NW Bapt. Missionary Assoc. Church of Nazarene EFCA Forest Lakes District (EFCA) Foursquare General Bapt. Illinois Bapt. Assoc. NAMB PCA Vision Ministries Canada
Overview of Current Patterns of CP Assessments Patterns in What We Are Assessing? Patterns in How We Are Assessing?
What We Are Assessing All 12 organizations are assessing: • Planter’s Call—Why? • Planter’s Character—Who? • Planter’s Competencies—What? • Planter’s Context—Where?
How We Are Assessing Primary Methods of Indirect Observation: Behavioral Interview Assessment Center Self-Assessment
Behavioral Interview Background: Based on research by Charles Ridley, 1984 Ch. Planter Performance Profile 13 Qualities of Effective Planters 3 Limitations of CPPP
4 Phases of Ridley’s Process Pre-screen applicants Interview Evaluate interview data Write report
Principles behind Behavioral Interviewing Past behavior is best predictor of future behavior. Behavior performance is more important than work experience. Focus on a group of behaviors, not just single behavior. Reliance on indirect observation of behavior.
Strengths Inexpensive Easily reproducible Adaptable to local context Focuses on past behavior Increases candidate’s self-awareness
Weaknesses Ridley did not define “effective church planter” Puts “all eggs in one basket” Highly dependent on quality of assessors CPPP was developed in 1984 Is CPPP applicable to all planters, regardless of gender, race, education, CP model, etc. ?
Why spend so much time talking about Charles Ridley? 75% of organizations in this study use his behavioral profile either as is or in a modified version! 100% of organizations in this study use behavioral interviewing!
Assessment Center History: WWII: First used by military in the US. 1954: AT&T first American business to use AC. 1983: Thomas Graham (COMD) first used AC in selecting church planters.
Elements of Assessment Centers ACs have multiple: Candidates Assessors Exercises, simulations, tests Criteria or competencies Days (typically 3 -4)
Strengths Multiple means of assessment Multiple assessors Ability to use AC as developmental process for church planter Situational exercises may give realistic preview of job to candidate
Weaknesses Expensive High levels of skill, time & energy needed by assessors Hard for lay & bivocational planters to participate
5 of 12 organizations (42%) in this study use ACs in their CP selection process.
Self-Assessment Created by Jim Griffith of Griffith Coaching Network in 1996. He’s assessed over 1900 CP candidates, trained 7000 planters, worked with over 30 organizations.
Elements of Self-Assessment Pre-screening/Application Assessment Instruments Di. SC, Team Profile, Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode, CP Assess. Workbook Debrief Interview (75 min, 15 Core Competencies)
Strengths Inexpensive Candidate is vital partner in decisionmaking process Encourages candidates to make conclusions first and then collaborate with supervisor Time-saver for CP leaders Easily adaptable for different CP contexts Interview is shorter & feels less adversarial than Ridley’s
Weaknesses Designed for well educated candidates-How will it impact lay & bivo planters? Less emphasis on behavioral interviews
100% of the organizations in this study have incorporated elements of Self-Assessment into their process.
Direct Observation Best method—Observe faithfulness & fruitfulness over time Fastest growing method Used primarily by local churches: Multi-site Church plants Organic
Top 5 CP Realities Church planting is hard! The two ongoing emotions church planters feel are disappointment & discouragement. The key to a healthy church plant is a healthy church planter. Too many hurting planters are reaching hurting people. Church planting is primarily a spiritual endeavor.
What We Are Assessing • Planter’s Call—Why? • Planter’s Character—Who? • Planter’s Competencies—What? • Planter’s Context—Where? • Planter’s Capacity—How Much?
Capacity—How Much? Capacity is “the ability to perform or endure under stress for a period of time. ” Focus on the emotional, relational & spiritual health of a planter. It is our responsibility to help planters start and stay healthy.
Capacity Resources Assessment: Emotional—EQ-i, Professional Counselor Relational—Prepare-Enrich Spiritual—Interview & Written Description of Call, Prayer Life Ongoing: Coaching!
Top 5 Things @ Capacity Help planters start healthy by assessing their capacity. Help them stay healthy thru coaching. Give permission to take a day off and vacations. Encourage the hearts of planters/spouses. Provide “annual check-up” with a counselor.
Questions Describe your assessment process. What is working well? What can be improved? How are you assessing the capacity of your planters? Emotional—Past Relational—Family & friends Spiritual—Power & presence of God
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