A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches

2006 Revised Edition

by Christian A. Schwarz

Growing out of what is probably the most extensive worldwide study of church growth ever conducted, initially involving over 1000 churches in 32 countries from every continent except Antarctica, this book identifies what the researchers determined to be eight "essential quality characteristics" of healthy churches, and documented the relationship between health and growth. The thing that sets this book apart from others that describe characteristics of healthy churches is that churches can take a Natural Church Development (NCD) survey to actually measure how strong or weak they are in these eight areas. The eight characteristics measured:

• Empowering Leadership
• Gift-oriented Ministry
• Passionate Spirituality
• Functional Structures
• Inspiring Worship Service
• Holistic Small Groups
• Need-oriented Evangelism
• Loving Relationships

Survey results identify the church's strengths and weaknesses and invite the church to explore, "How can we use our strengths to address our weaknesses?"

While the eight quality characteristics are the easiest part of the NCD model to apply, Schwarz also includes extremely helpful insights on the importance of a balance between the organic and organizational dimensions of church life, showing how common church health problems are caused by leaning to one extreme or the other. The book also highlights six "biotic principles" that operate in healthy churches, principles that cross the boundaries of the eight quality characteristics.

For those who want an orientation to the NCD survey because their church is using it, but who do not want to read the entire Natural Church Development book, the ABCs booklet introduces church board members and others to the eight quality characteristics.

Living Stones has used this survey with the churches we consult with since it first became available in English. The more we use it, the more valuable it becomes to us in our work with churches. While the survey should be seen as just one aspect of the church's evaluation of its overall health, we strongly recommend the book and the survey to churches that are serious about assessing and improving church health.

Visit the Natural Church Development web site.



What the Natural Church Development survey measures

Interpreting your Natural Church Development scores

Developing and implementing your Action Plan

Natural Church Development resources

How to schedule a Natural Church Development survey