Want to help your church see how healthy they are?
To sign up for a free survey (normally £350 per church) email: rosy.ashley@bristol.diocese.org.
Natural Church Development Healthy Churches survey offers churches a diagnostic tool to give a clear picture of the church's current state, assess health, identify areas of strength and weakness and guide strategic development. It provides a structured way to understand how your church functions in key areas shown to correlate with overall health and growth.
Want a way to help your church think about the opportunities and challenges of change?
Two loops theory of change: (the first two minutes of the video summarises the concept)
The Two Loops model is a nonlinear theory of change. It provides insight into the simultaneous growth and decline processes that are underway within an organisation, such as a church, during a transition period. It offers a conceptual framework for better connecting the past to the future during change.
Need a planning tool to help your parish reflect on where they are and where they want to be?
Ecocycle
The Ecocycle is designed to follow the structure of a living thing. It enables congregations get an overall picture of the church, where particular ministries are at and the leadership qualities needed at each stage, helping to release life and allow things to change. For a process on how to use it, see:
Appreciative Inquiry 5 D’s
This is an approach that seeks to help parishes identify what works and build on people’s strengths and encourages thinking about the future of the church, based on its positive core. It also equips churches with questions to ask people connected to the church and stakeholders, building positive relationships with the community. A five-step parish development process based on Appreciative Inquiry can be found here:
Parish Engagement Resource - 5 Step Process
Based around the Grove Strategic Visioning Model, this resource gives tools for every stage of your church’s journey.
Want some tried and tested tools and ideas to help your church grow?
Leading your Church into Growth (LyCiG)
Running for almost 30 years, this course offers simple and accessible steps to seeing culture change and growth in your church. The course material can either be engaged with at a one-off conference (church teams encouraged) or the content accessed through the Local Course pack above (cost £10).
Wondering what your church could be known for in your local community?
Growing Good Toolkit (Church Urban Fund and Theos)
The Growing Good Toolkit is a free six‑session video-based course that helps churches connect the dots between social action, discipleship, and growth. The Toolkit is for local churches of all traditions who want to serve their communities and grow and explores five key themes: presence, perseverance, hospitality, adaptability, and participation.
Want to help your churches recognise and celebrate the gifts and opportunities present in their contexts?
HeartEdge
A new seven-session course founded in the concept of abundance, helping participants to move beyond scarcity mindsets to embrace God’s overflowing grace. Each session focuses on one of four ‘C’s: Compassion; Culture; Commerce and Congregation, offering Biblical reflections, practical examples and open discussions to inspire creative approaches to ministry, encouraging collaboration and innovation.