15 Findings from 30 Years of Consulting

In the spring 1995 semester, I started my PhD studies under my major professor, Thom Rainer. Not long thereafter, I was part of his team that created what we named then the “Church Health Survey”—now the “Know Your Church Report” available through Church Answers. Thom also taught me the importance of interviewing church staff and laypersons in evaluating a church’s perception of her own health.

Now thirty years later, I am surprised by findings of those early consultations that remain consistent today. Use this list of findings to consider your own church:

1. 1. Many churches admit their unhealthiness. Most churches that have completed the survey or answered interview questions perceive themselves as “marginally unhealthy” or “unhealthy.” They’re comfortable telling us if the church has seen recent conflict, and they recognize when those conflicts are unresolved. They have no problem admitting when their church has cliques. To