Benchmarks

“If one of you wanted to build a tower, wouldn’t you first sit down and calculate the cost, to determine whether you have enough money to complete it? Otherwise, when you have laid the foundation but couldn’t finish the tower, all who see it will begin to belittle you.” Luke 14:28-29 CEB

Benchmarking is not intended to limit the potential of a new church start or arbitrarily assign metrics that do not take into consideration the missional context and strategy employed to start something new. Instead, benchmarks should arise from prayerful and deliberate conversations among the various stakeholders of a new church start at the very beginning of the process.

Stakeholders may include the District Superintendent, Director of Church Vitality, Senior or Lead Pastor, Church Vitality Strategist, Church Planter, Coach and key lay people.

Benchmarks may include attendance and finance goals, evangelism strategies, missional engagement, discipleship plan, and etc.). The bottom line in benchmarking is this: “how will we know we are being fruitful and succeeding in our efforts?”

Once benchmarks have been agreed upon and established the stakeholders will meet to evaluate them after 6, 12 and 18 months. Adjustments to the benchmarks and strategies will be negotiated accordingly.