As I mentioned Monday, I’d like a needlepointed pillow that says, “All the churches Paul started have closed.”
I’d also like a pillow that says, “In a healthy church . . .”
How would you finish that sentence?
I write this from a retreat at the lovely Cenacle Retreat Center in Lincoln Park, Chicago and we have pondered this a bit. What makes a healthy church? How would you, the other leaders of your church, and the assorted people in the pews answer this? 
- In a healthy church, people don’t gossip in parking lots.
- In a healthy church, leaders don’t sabotage each other.
- In a healthy church, volunteers rotate so you don’t get into a rut.
- In a healthy church, it’s not about sitting in a pew and then going home.
- In a healthy church, innovation is encouraged.
- In a healthy church, elders and/or deacons do most of the pastoral care.
- In a healthy church, people trust each other.
- In a healthy church, people hold each other accountable.
- In a healthy church, people laugh and enjoy each other.
I haven’t even gotten started in terms of spiritual growth, fruits of the Spirit, baptism of new believers, transformation of the neighborhood, etc. But before much of this can happen, a church has to be healthy. The alternative is death, which could actually be an excellent thing. Sometimes it takes death to create something healthy.
So, how would you describe a healthy church?
And how would others in your congregation describe a healthy church?
PS No church is completely healthy. If you happen to have Pulpit Envy or any variation of that malady, know that even the healthiest churches have their own allergies, viruses, common colds, hang nails, blisters, etc.
Image source.
A Church for Starving Artists 
I keep coming back to this post with the intention of leaving a comment but somehow it seems a bit arrogant to add to your extensive list. But I’ll throw caution to the wind and add something. A healthy church uses inclusive, linking language. Oh I don’t mean about LGBT folks–I mean all of us. During my day job red flags go up when I hear an employee start referring to the organization at “your company” or “you guys.”
The same thing applies to my church. Whether it is our pastor, a member or a visitor I want to hear things like “our church must figure out” or “we should do….” Unfortunately at my “pretty darn good but less than perfect church” sometimes I hear things like “You will need to figure that out” or “you guys really blew that decision.”
Our church is at its most healthy when we realize that we are all in this together. Whether your paycheck comes from the church or it comes from somewhere else, it is our church. I particularly want my leaders to understand that we all “have skin in the game.”
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