Logistics > Mission/Vision/Values for Pastors & Churches

by Rick Lebate rickl@pcsda.org

One of the most important roles for a ministerial director is to ascertain whether pastors and churches have a mission statement, a vision for where they are headed and the values that will allow them to reach their goals.

Many churches have mission statements that appear on the front of the church bulletin but sadly those words have often become simply that…words. What was once a good intention for the church to be mission-focused has gotten lost along the way of doing other church things. Yet without a compelling mission and vision churches simply drift from week to week rather than move in the paths that God wishes for them to engage their community in His work of saving souls.

In their visits with pastors ministerial directors do the pastors and their respective churches a favor by having a conversation about mission, vision and values. Questions to ask of the pastor can be as follows:

•Does the church have a mission statement?

•If so, does the mission statement drive the church’s decisions and ministries?

•Can the average church member in the pew remember even remember the mission statement?

•How often is the mission statement focused on through sermons, church board agendas, ministry audits, etc? (Hint: If the mission statement is not emphasized at least every 21 days it typically “dies on the vine.” When the pastor believes that he or she has emphasized the mission statement to a point where it seems like that is the only thing they as the pastor talk about about it is probably just finally reaching the place where it is in the consciousness of the members.)

•Does the church have goals for what they are wanting to accomplish this year, the next three and five years?

•Does the church know what values they truly embrace and which are simply aspirational?

Helping a pastor know how to lead a church in a process that gives it a compelling mission and vision is a true act of service that will help create healthier churches and bring glory to God as they and their churches serve Him and their fellow man. Click here to view a sample Mission/Vision/Values implementation template.