As promised, here’s the congregational evaluation guide I typed up. This may prove to be a useful resource for some of you.
CONGREGATIONAL EVALUATION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS
This guide has been written with the intention of prompting discussion among the members of the ministry team. As we study, think, and discuss together, more relevant questions may arise that will need to be added. Our goal in moving forward shouldn’t be simply to ask questions and find answers, but to ask the right questions, and to strive to find the answers that will move us forward.
1. Purpose?
- a. Leaders must endorse and model.
- b. Purpose must be understood by the whole church.
- c. How could we package our purpose statement so that it is easily communicated and understood?
2. Surrounding Community?
- a. Needs of the community should shape our approach to them.
- b. Key Community Questions:
- i. Who are we trying to reach?
- ii. What are their spiritual needs?
- iii. What does the Bible say about their needs? Can we tailor our lessons to meet them?
- iv. What areas of commonality do we share with them?
- v. How are we different?
- vi. Do we need to make changes to reach them?
- vii. Are we willing to make the changes necessary to reach them?
3. Name/Image?
- a. Would changing our name be beneficial to our mission?
- b. Would changing our image be beneficial to our mission?
- c. How should who we’re trying to reach effect our image?
- d. How do we want ourselves to be viewed in the community?
- e. What does our church building and our worship environments say to the people coming in to them?
- f. What does the printed material we put in people’s hands make people think about us?
- g. What does our website make people think about us?
4. Facilities?
- a. What does our church building and worship environments say to the people coming into them?
- b. Are our worship environments aesthetically pleasing?
5. Assembly Format?
- a. Are our assemblies something we can be proud of?
- b. Considering our community’s makeup/spiritual needs, are our assemblies formatted in such a way that would be attractive to them?
- c. What do our assembly styles make visitors think about us?
- d. What do the sermons make them think about us?
- e. What does our Bible class format/curriculum make them think about us?
- f. Are they something a visitor would speak positively about to their friends/family?
6. Discipleship Structures?
- a. How do we help our members develop deep spiritual roots?
- b. How could an effective, church wide small group program help us provide outlets for members to be discipled?
- c. Could we become a small group driven church? What would it take?
7. Promotion & Community Outreach?
- a. Do people in our immediate area know who we are?
- b. Do they know what we stand for?
- c. Could we effectively utilize mass media to get our message out (TV ads/radio ads, direct mail campaigns, website integration)?
8. Evangelistic Equipping?
- a. How could we see as many conversions as possible?
- b. Could we make an effort to equip every member to share the gospel with others?
9. Expectations of Members?
- a. What expectations should we, as a ministry team, have of members?
- b. What commitments should we, as staff, be empowered to hold people to as members?
10. New Member Integration?
- a. Is there a process involved in new member acceptance?
- b. How can we familiarize new members with the mission/vision of the church? What process could we use?
- c. Are ministries in place that new members are easily plugged in to?
11. Longtime members’ acceptance of changes?
- a. How can we help longtime members embrace needed changes? Should we expect them to embrace them?
- b. Would Bible studies help us with this? If so, what sort of studies?
- c. Should members be exposed to the same sort of educational materials the ministry team is working through?
- d. Why does this church exist? Who does is exist for?
The Overflow 
I found your section on a name change/image change to be very interesting.
On the image change, I would encourage a congregation to remember that an image or reputation needs to be backed up by reality. If a church puts forward an image that is not based in reality, people will know. I remember visiting a church I found in the Yellow Pages while visiting another state. The ad stated that it was a church “where nobody stands alone.” My wife and I thought that it sounded like a great church to visit. Unfortunately, we discovered that we were “nobody.” We stood alone, even during the greeting time. Image did not live up to reality.
As far as a name change goes, “Christ’s Church on the Bay” would be my suggestion. I don’t know exactly why, but it sounds kind of cool…I might want to go there.
Yes – if our claims aren’t backed up then all this would be pointless, wouldn’t it?
It’ll take a bit of teaching and patience for us to make this turn, but I believe God is with us. My prayer is that He move in our hearts.
It doesn’t say it in this guide, but our Bible teaching must be central to everything. That’s what gives us our authority, and without it at the center all this other stuff is just gimmicky.
This is certainly a good place to begin thought provoking discussions. Moving from a static, or declining congregation to a dynamic growing church will be exciting but challenging. I know God is with you and “what God controls grows!” People are looking for an authentic group of Christians to identify with. You will be that group in the Bay area. God bless!