Stemming from a conversation I had this last week, I wanted to write something about how we evaluate what we do in the local church. But before I do that, I want to say up front that I am sensitive to the struggles of the local parish and pastors whose immediate situations are so great, that survival is success in itself.

Recently, I have been fascinated with the fact that as we plan, dream and evaluate programs and/or ministries in the church we often ask what seems to be the wrong set of questions. We get caught up with questions like: “does it work?” or “is it effective?” or even “how many people are coming and responding?” I am not saying that these questions are not good, appropriate or helpful but are they the only questions to ask? In fact, are they even the most important questions?

I believe the most important, and often forgotten, questions to ask are: “Is what we are doing right and good?” “It is fair and just?” “Is it done out of selfless love?” I think ministries can be “effective,” “efficient” and even produce “results” but in the end can also be wrong and lack goodness. For example, someone can come and share the gospel message and manipulate people in their delivery to the place where they produce results, but is it right, just,and good? Someone can manipulate people to give money in church and it can produce results, but is it good? We can view our pastors as directors and CEO’s that run great business models, producing results, but it it good and right?

I wonder, in our ministries, do we have room for things that are good but don’t produce what we would consider successful results? Are we prepared to do things that are inefficient, simply because they are right, just and good?

I think at times our pride gets caught up in the results and consequently, we assume that the number of people who come to church, receive Christ or are baptized equates success in the church. However, maybe we are not asking all the right questions.

The problem is that the question of something being right, good and just is more difficult and illusive. How do you evaluate if something good? It is much easier to evaluate based on numbers and objective data like attendance or dollars. Additionally, the question of whether something is good can also be manipulated and taken as a form of pride. For example, churches who aren’t growing can manipulate this concept to defend their situation and say that they are not growing because they are good and right.

Instead, I believe these two questions must go hand-in hand. I believe the gospel is compelling and churches need to be intensely creative but can’t, in doing so, avoid the question whether or not what they are doing is right and good.

We need to be prepared, at times, to do things that may not produce “results” or be “efficient.” We need to be prepared to do them simply because they are right, just and good. I think these two kinds of questions can co-exist but “effective” and “efficient” can never take president, or silence the voice of something being good, right and just.

I think this way of evaluation would help to remove the trappings of success and replace it with honoring those who are committed to serving God regardless of their situation. By doing this, I think it would help to honor our quiet and hidden heroes of the faith who, as pastors, don’t have mega-churches, don’t write books and don’t have speaking tours, but serve their communities faithfully.