Someone recently passed on to me an article from Episcopal Life from a year or so ago called "Excellent Churches." They based it on interviews with Charles Fulton, Alice Mann, and William Sachs -- all condev gurus. Here's what they say about excellent churches...
Excellent churches:
Have grappled with the questions:
" Who are we before God, or at a faith level,"
"What is God's call to us now?" and
"Who is our neighbor, or to whom will we be neighbor?"
And
Are welcoming.
Are adaptable.
Are growing.
Baptize more adults than is typical.
Work with more than one ethnic group.
Connect outreach and evangelism: they don't just minister to people, but with them and invite them into the congregation.
Reflect their community's makeup in membership.
Have a strong, clear sense of purpose.
Connect the congregation's gifts with the community's needs.
Care for their sick, hurt, elederly, shut-ins.
Access the respources they need from within and without.
Have strong, broad-based, team leadership.
Develop lay leaders.
Run successful young adult ministries.
Offer strong Christian education and spiritual development for all ages.
Know how to speak to the individual spiritual search with the principles of Christian faith.
May offer various worshop experiences, including contemporary music.
Are responsible about money.
Can deal with conflict.