Church Goals – How to Set Church Goals

Church goals should be an outcome of strategy and written to help move the organization forward by focusing on increasing weekly offerings, improving programs and ministries, reducing costs and improving the experience for congregants, volunteers and employees.

Examples of Church Goals:

1.  Increase weekly church volunteer participation by 10% (100 to 110) by December 20xx.
2.  Reduce operating budget expenses  10% by June 20xx.
3.  Increase weekly attendance 20% (500 to 600) by December 20xx.
4.  Establish volunteer leadership training and train 75% of volunteers by October 20xx.

Writing goals should include a discussion with the appropriate people and answer the questions:  Who (will do it), What (needs to be done), When (timeline for completion) and How (steps to get it done).  Answering these questions flushes out the specific details of the goal.

Now lets look at one of these goals and create a goal document.

Volunteer Department Annual Goals
Goal	Steps	Responsibility	Due Date	Status
Increase volunteer participation by 10% – (100-110)	Research what percentage of core congregation is an active volunteer.	Kathy Thompson	May 12	Completed
	Develop volunteer recruitment campaign.	Dan Smith	June 1	Completed
	Organize volunteer recruitment fair.	Stacy Jones	July 1	Pending
	Process new volunteers.	Stacy Jones	Sept 1	Pending
	Assign new volunteers.	Stacy Jones	Oct 1	Pending
	Train new volunteers.	Stacy Jones	Nov 1	Pending
	Schedule new volunteers.	Stacy Jones	Nov 15	Pending
	Compare total volunteer numbers to original total.	Kathy Thompson	Dec 15	Pending

That is an example of a church goal but it is important to remember that a goal document is merely words on paper if the people responsible are not held accountable for achieving goals.  The goal document should be incorporated into a structured performance management process and used to develop employee goals and steer employee performance.

Now lets take it a step further and create an employee (or volunteer) goal.

Stacy Jones 20XX Goals
Goal	Steps	Responsibility	Due Date	Status
Organize volunteer fair.	Schedule date on church calendar.	Stacy	Feb 1	Completed
	Advertise fair in church bulletin, website and announcements.	Stacy	May 1	Completed
	Recruit representatives to answer questions the day of the fair.	Stacy	May 1	Completed
	Gather volunteer information recruitment material.	Stacy	June 1	Pending
	Develop plan for fair booth design/layout.	Stacy	June 1	Pending
	Set-up fair booths	Stacy	June 14	Pending
	Participate in fair.	Stacy	June 15	Pending

 

Managers and ministry heads should use the goal document as a guide throughout the year to reinforce deadlines outlined in the worksheet and employee goals should be incorporated into an annual performance appraisal process.

This shows you how simplified the process can be so hopefully it will encourage you to take the time to create a goal document.  A church’s ability to write and accomplish organizational goals is critical to implementing a strategic plan and achieving ministry objectives.

Does your church write annual goals?

photo by:  timsnell