Questions for a Congregation from a Newly Appointed Pastor in the #UMC
I am preparing to transition to a new appointment beginning July 1. One of the things that I have learned from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership is that good leaders ask the right questions. I have been working on a list of questions that I believe will be helpful in getting started well at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado.
Ministries
How is the church engaging the community?
What can you tell me about the United Methodist Men?
What can you tell me about the United Methodist Women?
How would the church say that they have grown in the past year?
What is going on during the week?
What is the congregation's favorite way of learning? Teaching, book study, etc.
Congregation
How are people growing in their faith outside of worship?
Who are the key influencers in the congregation?
Who are the people / families that will do whatever it takes at the church?
Who might peer churches be for support, encouragement and benchmarking?
Who are the staff and leaders that are great Bible study / small group leaders?
Mission and Vision
In what ways do the vision and purpose guide what the church does?
How are the vision and purpose communicated to the staff and congregation?
What is the vision and purpose of the church?
Facility
For the facility, what needs regular maintenance?
For the facility, what needs to be repaired?
For the facility, what needs to be replaced?
What is the state of the facility?
Pastor's Role
How might can I best serve the church?
What are some ways to get congregational buy in?
What are some ideas for "quick wins" that might be possible?
What are things that I might do that have never been done before?
What facts or realities about me or my ministry can I share that might be helpful for the congregation?
What are the die hard principles or practices that if I change them will get me tarred and feathered?
Connection
What efforts exist to close the back door? (Keep people engaged who might otherwise leave)
What are the biggest barriers to people coming in the door?
What is being done to bring in new members?
What kind of follow up for first time visitors happens?
What new networks of people can I engage and develop?
Finance
How does the budget break out between compensation, operations, mission and ministry?
Is the budget growing?
Is the church paying its apportionments in full?
Community
Where do people gather for coffee or breakfast in town?
What opportunities for mission in the community exist?
What other questions would you add to this list?