Reaching out to new people is a four-step process
which varies from person to person and from congregation to congregation.
Each step has its own challenges and opportunities. Place an "X" on the "YES" or "NO" line next to each question; place a "C" on the "YES" line, if the item is something your congregation is
not doing, but would consider doing. REMEMBER:
ministry is contextual; what works in one location may or may not work
in another location.
| |
YES |
NO |
| I.
Preparing to Receive Visitors [ TOP
] |
|
|
| 1. Does your congregation have a Mission Statement? |
____ |
____ |
| 2. Has your congregational Mission Statement been reviewed/revised
in the past 5 years? |
____ |
____ |
| 3. Can congregational members articulate your Mission Statement? |
____ |
____ |
| 4. Is your Mission Statement something that a first-time visitor
would understand? |
____ |
____ |
| 5. Is your Mission Statement printed in your weekly bulletin and
newsletter? |
____ |
____ |
| 6. Does your congregation have a comprehensive evangelism strategy/plan? |
____ |
____ |
| 7. Does your congregation have a functioning Evangelism/WitnessCommittee? |
____ |
____ |
| 8. Does your Evangelism/Witness Committee meet on a regular monthly
basis? |
____ |
____ |
| 9. Does your congregation use current demographic information
for determining the likely recipients of your congregational ministry
programs? |
____ |
____ |
| 10. Has the demographic composition of your community changed
over the last five years? |
____ |
____ |
| 11. Does your congregation target specific groups when developing
plans for ministry? |
____ |
____ |
| 12. Does your congregation use any of the following means
to let the community know of its existence: |
____ |
____ |
(A) Telephone yellow pages?
|
____ |
____ |
(B) Local newspapers?
|
____ |
____ |
(C) Local radio stations? (advertising or worship service broadcast)
|
____ |
____ |
(D) Local cable TV stations? (advertising or worship service
broadcast)
|
____ |
____ |
(E) Home page on the worldwide web?
|
____ |
____ |
(F) Flyers/brochures?
|
____ |
____ |
(G) Billboards?
|
____ |
____ |
(H) Bulk/mass mailings?
|
____ |
____ |
(I) Telephone surveys?
|
____ |
____ |
(J) Neighborhood canvassing?
|
____ |
____ |
(K) Business cards?
|
____ |
____ |
(L) Novelties (e.g. T-shirts, keyrings, bumper stickers, license
plates)?
|
____ |
____ |
(M) Outdoor banners?
|
____ |
____ |
(N) Off-site Signs (which direct people to the church grounds)?
|
____ |
____ |
(O) On-site Signs (which direct people to the main entrance
of the church)
|
____ |
____ |
If YES, can the entire sign be read by someone passing by
in a vehicle at 30 miles per hour?
|
____ |
____ |
| 13. Are your church building(s)/grounds well maintained? |
____ |
____ |
| 14. Is your church building totally accessible for the physically
challenged? |
____ |
____ |
| 15. Is your church building available for use by outside community
groups? |
____ |
____ |
| 16. Does your congregation provide hospitality training for ushers,
greeters and others whom visitors might see as "official representatives"
of your church? |
____ |
____ |
| 17. Does your congregation train its members in how to invite
visitors to worship? |
____ |
____ |
| II.
Welcoming First-Time Visitors [ TOP
] |
YES |
NO |
| 18. Do congregational members invite visitors to worship? |
____ |
____ |
| 19. Do congregational members bring visitors to worship? |
____ |
____ |
| 20. Would first-time visitors know how to get to your church building? |
____ |
____ |
| 21. Does your church provide specially marked parking places for
visitors? |
____ |
____ |
| 22. Does your church make use of "parking lot greeters?" |
____ |
____ |
| 23. Is the main entrance to the church building clearly marked,
so that a first-time visitor would know which door to enter? |
____ |
____ |
| 24. Does your congregation use greeters in the narthex to welcome
visitors? |
____ |
____ |
| 25. Are congregational greeters trained to greet people in a warm
and welcoming manner? |
____ |
____ |
| 26. Does your congregation use ushers? |
____ |
____ |
| 27. Are the ushers trained to seat visitors with or near members
who can help them with the worship service? |
____ |
____ |
| 28. Is the worship bulletin printed in a clear and attractive
manner? |
____ |
____ |
| 29. Does the worship bulletin contain clear, easy-to-understand
instructions for visitors to let them know when to sit, when to
stand, and about your congregation's communion practices? |
____ |
____ |
If NO, are verbal instructions
given during the worship service by worship leaders?
|
____ |
____ |
| 30. Are visitors asked to stand and be recognized during the worship
service? |
____ |
____ |
| 31. Does your congregation provide nametags for visitors to wear? |
____ |
____ |
| 32. Do congregational members wear nametags? |
____ |
____ |
| 33. Do you ask visitors to sign any of the following? |
____ |
____ |
(A) Visitor registration card?
|
____ |
____ |
(B) Guest register/guest book?
|
____ |
____ |
(C) Pew pad/worship registration list?
|
____ |
____ |
| 34. Do congregational members automatically seek out and talk
with visitors? |
____ |
____ |
| 35. Are specific congregational members given the responsibility
to seek out first-time visitors? |
____ |
____ |
| 36. Does your congregation make any provisions for the hearing
or visually challenged to participate in worship? |
____ |
____ |
| 37. Are your facilities accessible to someone in a wheelchair? |
____ |
____ |
| 38. Does your church provide an adequately staffed nursery for
children? |
____ |
____ |
|
39. Is the nursery easy for a first-time
visitor to find? |
____ |
____ |
| 40. Are there clearly marked signs to direct first-time visitors
to the restrooms? |
____ |
____ |
| III.
Visitor Follow-up [ TOP ] |
YES |
NO |
| 41. Does someone from your congregation follow up on visitors
at worship services within 36-48 hours of their visit? |
____ |
____ |
If YES, is follow-up
done by:
|
|
|
(A) A home visit?
|
____ |
____ |
(B) A postcard or letter?
|
____ |
____ |
(C) A telephone call?
|
____ |
____ |
(D) Paid staff member (e.g. pastor)?
|
____ |
____ |
(E) Lay volunteer?
|
____ |
____ |
| 42. If home visits are made, do parish callers bring any of the
following with them? |
____ |
____ |
(A) Congregational brochure/flyer?
|
____ |
____ |
(B) Information about the Lutheran Church?
|
____ |
____ |
(C) Hospitality items (e.g. homemade bread, cookies)?
|
____ |
____ |
(D) Audio or videocassette with congregational information?
|
____ |
____ |
| 43. Do Evangelism/Witness Committee members make calls? |
____ |
____ |
| 44. Does your congregation provide training for parish callers? |
____ |
____ |
| 45. Does your congregation provide business cards for parish callers? |
____ |
____ |
| 46. Do parish callers wear nametags to identify them as members
of your church? |
____ |
____ |
| 47. Do parish callers call in advance and announce that they will
be visiting? |
____ |
____ |
| 48. Are first-time visitors automatically put on the congregational
mailing list? |
____ |
____ |
If YES, which of the
following items do you send:
|
|
|
(A) The church newsletter?
|
____ |
____ |
(B) "The Lutheran" magazine?
|
____ |
____ |
(C) Devotional material?
|
____ |
____ |
(D) All items which you normally mail to congregational members?
|
____ |
____ |
(E) Specially designed items for visitors only?
|
____ |
____ |
| IV.
Making the Transition From Visitor to Member [ TOP
] |
|
|
| 49. Does your congregation invite/encourage visitors to become
members? |
____ |
____ |
| 50. Does your congregation regularly schedule new member classes? |
____ |
____ |
| 51. Does your congregation receive new members on a regular basis? |
____ |
____ |
| 52. Does your congregation prepare information packets for new
members? |
____ |
____ |
| 53. Does your congregation use sponsors for new members? |
____ |
____ |
| 54. Do new member sponsors receive any formal training for their
responsibilities? |
____ |
____ |
| 55. Are visitors invited/encouraged to participate in congregational
activities before they become members? |
____ |
____ |
| 56. Are visitors trained for leadership positions before becoming
members? |
____ |
____ |
| 57. Are visitors invited to attend ELCA-sponsored events (e.g.
cluster, synodical, region) before becoming members)? |
____ |
____ |
| 58. Are new members invited/encouraged to call on "prospective
members?" |
____ |
____ |
| 59. Are visitors encouraged to make a financial commitment to
the congregation before (or after) they become members? |
____ |
____ |
| 60. Are visitors encouraged to become involved in committees before
they join? |
____ |
____ |