Since 2002, Church Central has trained more than 800 consultants. Whether you’re interested in helping your own church or others, training with the Society for Church Consulting can go a long way toward making ministries healthy. The Society’s five-level consultant training and certification program addresses the most common issues for either declining churches or churches looking to grow. These include: attendance declines, conflict resolution, fundraising and/or building campaigns, leadership transitions, new ministry launches, discipleship and Sunday school programs, evangelism and outreach.
Consultant training addresses these and other issues through the six purposes of the church, found in Acts 2:42-44: worship, evangelism, ministry, prayer, discipleship and fellowship. When these biblical concepts are applied to today’s churches mediocrity can be transformed into renewed vision, vitality and growth.
Diagnostic tool available
In addition, the Society for Church Consulting provides trained consultants with a powerful diagnostic tool to use in assessing congregations and ministries. The Church Health Survey is an effective tool a church can use to measure and discern its health in areas key to fulfilling its mission.
The survey is most effective in diagnosing church health issues when attendance has plateaued or declined, after a change in pastoral leadership, when a church is planning a major new effort in its life and ministry, after a shortfall in planned giving and/or offerings, or when developing a plan for building on its strengths and improving its weaknesses.
This 160-item questionnaire measures attendees' perceptions with questions that relate to the six purposes of the church. Then the survey provides a consultant with a 50-page comprehensive report including: an overall health score, health scores for each of the six purposes of church, responses to individual questions within each category, and recommendations for improving your church's health. Church Central consultants have administered hundreds of Church Health Surveys.
A range of consultants
Retired pastors, church lay leaders, elders and deacons, ministers currently serving in congregations, para-church ministers and former ministers—all have trained with the Society to become certified consultants.
The Society offers five levels of consultant training:
Level 1: Fundamentals of Church Health&Consulting
Level 2: Action Planning for Church Consulting
Level 3: Advanced Issues in Church Health Consultation
Level 4: Church Health Consulting Process
Level 5: Supervised Independent Consultation
ProjectLevel 1 is available as an on-line course along with additional courses as varied as "Branding Your Consulting Practice" or "The Health Church Leader."
The Society also offers Levels 1-4 in courses throughout the year and around the country. The schedule for 2008 is:
January 22-24, in Louisville, Ky.
January 31-February 2, in Richmond, Va.
April 22-24, in Asheville, N.C.
May 6-8, in Dallas.
July 15-17, in Louisville.
November 4-6, in Louisville.
Joining the Society
Joining the Society for Church Consulting is a natural next step for trained consultants. The Society provides networking opportunities with professional ministers and consultants. It offers consultants a listing in the directory. It adds a notable credential to your profile as a consultant. Even if your name is not well-known, the Society has the expertise you need to become a sought-after consultant. The Society’s advisory board includes Bill Easum, Aubrey Malphurs, Chuck Lawless, Gary L. McIntosh, Bob Whitesel and President Tom Harper.
Ultimately, getting the most out of training with the Society for Church Consulting will mean making a difference in churches that succeed in making disciples, training believers to follow Jesus. The Society is intent on helping make that happen.
If you are still looking for more information, you can
sign up here to receive a free, 37-page guide that details the training process with the Society for Church Consulting.Interested in hearing from people who trained with the Society already? Check out these
testimonials.Or surf over to the consulting page at http://www.churchconsultation.org/.
