In January of 2011, Spirit of Joy received feedback from a survey which was taken by people within the congregation.  The survey compares Spirit of Joy to some 50,000 churches around the United States who have taken the exact survey. The feedback reveals that Spirit of Joy has a healthy foundation to build upon as it seeks to build its ministry in the Lord and service to the community.

Introduction to Survey

This Transforming Church Index Survey (www.tranformingchurch.net) analyzes the data several ways. In this Executive Summary, we first look at the characteristics of the survey respondents and the general level of statistical accuracy of your congregation’s results. Then, a summary of the 15 Scales and the Composite Score (your church’s average of the 15 Scales) is presented. We look at how your church compared to the national norm, and how demographic subgroups within your congregation compare. Finally, we take a more in-depth look at how your church scored on the Five Key Indicators.

This summary is an overview of how Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church currently compares to national norms. It is intended to provide information, rather than interpretation. The best way to interpret this report is through a qualitative assessment.

Composite and 15 Scale Scores

Compared to the national norm, Spirit of Joy's Composite Score was at the 91st percentile, and was statistically significantly higher than the national average. Spirit of Joy scored above the 50th percentile on 15 of the 15 Scales. Spirit of Joy's top three percentile scores were on the following scales: Social Connections, Meets Needs, and Personal Connection to Church’s Purpose. Your church scored below the 50th percentile on 0 of the 15 Scales.

The Five Key Indicators

Key Indicator 1: Consumerism / Community

A healthy community is one where people experience a combination of several things. In a healthy community members experience social connections, caring relationships, and feel personally connected to the church’s overarching purpose. This Key Indicator is measured by three Scales. These Scales help identify whether or not people are “consumers” or “partners in ministry”. They help to identify the level of relational commitment to the church, and how much relational community they experience. Comparing Spirit of Joy to national norms, your members feel very connected to what the church is all about, your church has an exceptional atmosphere of fellowship and belonging, and in your church, individuals feel extremely valued and loved.

Key Indicator 2: Incongruence / Code

A church’s code is its identity, or personality. While the survey doesn’t tell us what the church’s code is, it does tell us whether or not people have a deep personal connection to what the church is all about. This Key Indicator is measured by three Scales. These scales measure respondents’ general sense of excitement and enthusiasm about the church, their personal growth through the church, and whether or not they think the church has a unique sense of focus. Comparing Spirit of Joy to national norms, your members are tremendously excited about the church, your church has a very clear sense of identity and focus, and your church has done a very effective job in emphasizing personal spiritual growth.

Key Indicator 3: Autocracy / Shared Leadership

Leadership is often too narrowly defined in many circles. In our research, leadership that mobilizes people for ministry is a combination of several factors. Effective leaders raise important and difficult issues with the people, engaging them in dialogue and discussion. Various points of view are respected and people are free to speak their minds. Members need to trust that leaders have the best interest of the church in mind. They need to know that the church’s financial resources are effectively managed. And they need a sense that the church has clear objectives that are well-communicated and executed. Comparing Spirit of Joy to national norms, your church does a great job in handling conflicted issues, your church has a good level of trust in leadership, your church is doing nicely when it comes to managing finances and financial communication, and your church has done an excellent job in establishing the church’s direction, accomplishing goals, and communicating major issues with members.

Key Indicator 4: Cloister / Missional

An outward focus is evident when a church meets a variety of needs. It includes meeting the needs of various demographic segments (children, seniors, singles, etc.). It also includes making a contribution to the local community. Comparing Spirit of Joy to national norms, your church’s programming for various age groups is very strong, and your church is doing an excellent job at making a difference in the lives of people in your community.

Key Indicator 5: Inertia / Reinvention

A healthy church must be able to reinvent itself. Change is inevitable. How a church handles change is critical. These scales examine the communication surrounding change, whether or not the church’s members embrace change, and how innovative or creative the church is in its approach. Comparing Spirit of Joy to national norms, when it comes to including people in discussions about change, your church is doing a great job, members perceive that the church is moving in the right direction and they embrace the changes that are necessary, and your church is in the upper tier of all churches when it comes to innovation and creativity.

Overall Summary

Spirit of Joy's Composite Score is shown below, along with your scores for the 15 Scales organized within the Five Key Indicators, compared to the national norms. Your Composite Score is at the 91st percentile and is significantly higher than the national average.