The NCD Process

How does the diagnostic process work? Thirty (30) surveys are distributed to lay people in your congregation who satisfy three criteria: (1) They are at the center of life in the congregation; (2) They have a ministry in the church; and, (3) They are a vital part of an active cell or home group or Sunday school class. The pastor also receives a specially developed survey. Schwarz and his team found that as little as 30 surveys provide statistically reliable results for a congregational health profile. The consultant scores the surveys using specially designed software that matches the answers with literally millions of others across the world. A profile chart listing the eight health qualities is developed (see diagram on right) showing maximum and minimum factor results. The consultant can also "go deeper" within each of the eight characteristics and help the church understand the rationale behind the scores.

A church health profile tells us a number of useful things about the health of a congregation at a point in time. For instance, the sample profile on the right tells us that the "minimum factor" (green bar) is "need-oriented evangelism." While the church shows health and strength especially in inspiring worship and passionate spirituality, it needs some help in reaching out and assimilating newcomers to the body. Yet, since all the factors have what Schwarz calls a "biotic" relationship with one another, using the church's health strengths can actually improve the minimum factor. So in this case, the congregation's passionate fire for God along with their inspiring worship can help them effectively and attractively reach their community and area for Jesus Christ. A consultant can help the church leadership discover what practical and "natural" things can work for them for effective outreach. Another note is that the average overall health score is "40," which is actually toward the lower end of the health graph with "35" being a minimum health score for any factor.

Lest any church thinks that this health diagnosis is true for all time and set in stone, NCD always specifies that the profile is simply part of a process. It is part of what is called the "NCD Cycle." The cycle says that in addition to (1) preparing the leadership for the survey, (2) doing the survey, and, (3) analyzing the survey results, an (4) action plan is devised by a leadership-appointed church health team in the congregation, who (5) implements and monitors health recommendations and progress, so that the process can again be (6) evaluated and repeated. The key aspect of the entire church health diagnostic process is follow-up! Without follow-up, the church has little else but another survey and chart to file away. With follow-up comes healthy progress.

As a church health consultant, I usually recommend other follow-up choices. This may include specific health seminars on any of the health characteristics or one-on-one meetings with the pastor(s) and other church leadership. With churches who have severe issues or transitional problems, a weekend consultation which involves a number of interviews with key congregational members, a strategic planning session with the church leadership team, on-site evaluation of classes, groups, worship services and facilities, and a final presentation to the entire congregation specifying health steps.