Evaluation essentials

Read the main article on the importance of pastoral evaluations.

It’s not difficult to set up a comprehensive evaluation process; it takes more will than ingenuity, more desire than resources. Plenty of resources for standard review processes are available through area congregations, businesses, organizations, and denominational centers. Almost any template will need to be adapted for one’s local setting. But a review model, a purchased resource tool, or even a form used by another institution provides a starting point.

Part of the success of an evaluative system is not simply the quality of a written form but the supervisory culture that’s established and the healthy relational climate that makes review conversations fruitful. It may take years to grow a congregation’s culture on these fronts. But that’s no reason to hold off on the idea until some perfect alignment of the stars occurs. A few key leaders can get the ball rolling.