How to Develop a Church Vision Statement

Many people consider a church's vision statement when picking a church.

Friends and colleagues often ask a devout churchgoer: "Do you go to church?" A church's vision statement helps provide the answer. A church's vision statement contains a short statement of its beliefs and mission. Church vision statements can vary in length from a few words to a few paragraphs, but whatever its length, a church's vision statement reminds its members that the church is more than a social gathering place: it is a sacred encounter with the Divine.

Instructions

1. Assess your church's core values by holding an open and honest discussion with leadership and members. Create a list of all values held by the church members, and gradually shorten the list with the consent of the membership. Consolidate synonyms into a single value: For example, combine words such as kindness and benevolence into a single word.

2. Write an initial draft of the vision statement that emphasizes the core values of your church. Include the name of your church in the statement. Ensure the statement contains no more than a few sentences, and that it is in accordance with your understanding of the Bible. Consult mission statements used by other churches.

3. Add action words to your vision statement to describe your church's future direction. Emphasize the portion of your church's vision statement that calls the membership to action, taking into account spiritual inspiration you may have received.

4. Shorten and simplify the vision statement, so that members can easily remember it: Some vision statements are only a few words long. Eliminate words such as "sanctification" or "foreordination" because these words are difficult for potential converts to understand. Some even recommend eliminating words such as "disciple."

5. Place or write the statement in church bulletins, T-shirts, custom bibles, hymnals, and on the church itself, to ensure that its members remember the statement and strive to follow it.

Tips & Warnings

• Some congregations struggle to agree on a mission statement. Resolve this problem by creating both a short and a long mission statement. The long mission statement can include each item that church members feel is important. The shorter statement can serve as a brief and marketable summary.

References

• "Church Ministry by Design: Designing Effective Ministry for Tomorrow's Church"; Gary Woolverton
• "A New Kind of Church: Understanding Models of Ministry for the 21st Century"; Aubrey Malphurs; 2007
• "Create and Celebrate Your Church's Uniqueness: How to Design a Church"; Harold J. Westing; 1993
• MissionStatements.com: Church

Resources

• "Shepherding the Small Church: A Leadership Guide for the Majority of Today's.."; Glenn Daman; 2007