7 Characteristics of a Healthy Church Culture

I’ve received some great feedback from my post on the "Seven Characteristics of an Unhealthy Church Culture".  Several have asked what a healthy church culture looks like.  Again, based on the writings of Dr. Samuel Chand I have chosen seven characteristics that seem to most characterize a healthy church culture:   

Seven Characteristics of a Healthy Church Culture:

1.     The Staff is valued- Leaders cultivate an atmosphere of trust and respect within a team environment. They value the input of every person and authority is decentralized.  Staff are viewed as partners in ministry and not as a means to an end.

2.     Leaders encourage innovation – Creativity is rewarded, and failures are viewed as stepping-stones of growth.  In fact, failure is seen as an essential part of the process of innovation, not a fatal flaw.

3.     Staff is motivated by purpose – People throughout the organization believe what they do each day really matters to themselves, to their teams, to the church, and to their constituents.  They come to work each day with a compelling sense of purpose a sense that they are involved in a cause much bigger than themselves.

4.     Leaders empower staff to succeed – Leaders have high but realistic expectations.  They set high goals, train people, give them the resources they need, stay connected throughout the process, and encourage them to succeed.

5.     Leaders invest in staff members – The organization invests significantly and systematically in creating and building a healthy culture.  Leaders spend time with staff members and seek out opportunities to develop them.

6.     Leaders have a Kingdom perspective of success – Leaders regularly celebrate success throughout the organization, and they even celebrate those who leave and find success elsewhere.

7.     Good staff stay – These organizations retain great staff and are a magnet for job applicants.  They have their pick of the best and brightest. 

If you haven’t read “Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code” I’d encourage you to pick it up, especially if you’re a church leader or staff member.