Illinois Conference Local Church Needs Assessment
Friends,
The Local Church Needs Assessment (LCNA) is a survey tool designed to identify the strengths and needs of our local churches throughout the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.
In this email you will find the following:
1) A brief description of the LCNA including why it was designed and how it will help us in ministry throughout the Illinois Conference UCC
2) Links to the following: LCNA - Survey (pdf format), This LCNA Introductory Letter, Frequently Asked Questions (LCNA-FAQs), and the Illinois Conference Information Email address .
3) To complete the Local Church Needs Assessment online click on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R2L5RRN
The Local Church Needs Assessment (LCNA)
The LCNA is a survey tool designed over the last year with the help of numerous clergy and lay people, churches, Conference Committees and Ministries. Our goal has been to create a tool that is sophisticated enough to provide us real "data" and information but not so complicated that churches and pastors would find it too difficult or time consuming to complete. It will take some time but this tool will be extremely helpful to our life and ministry together in the Conference and can be a very important time of reflection in the local church. The LCNA is the beginning, not the end. It will help us begin understanding our strengths and needs as local congregations and show us how we might work together more effectively in collaborative ministry across the Illinois Conference.
This is a web-based tool but is also available in "pdf" format so that it can be printed, copied and distributed as necessary to obtain input and information (LCNA - Survey).
How to Complete the LCNA
We are asking that two LCNA surveys be completed for each local church. The first will be completed by the local church itself. The second LCNA will be completed by the pastoral staff. We have not designated a specific manner in which the LCNA should be completed. Each local church is unique and can best determine how to complete this tool. Some local churches will ask their Church or Administrative Councils to complete the LCNA. Other churches will assign a committee or develop a task force. Whatever manner you select, it is our hope that the completion of the tool will provide an opportunity for reflection and evaluation of your local church's gifts and needs.
As you will see, one of the options for each question in the LCNA is "We Can Do That." We are asking local churches to select this option if they are particularly effective at the area of ministry listed. This will then allow us to have a more comprehensive understanding of the gifts and resources we have in the Conference.
After each category of questions there is a blank space which can be used to describe or provide clarification to an answer above. You can also use this space to add additional information, thoughts or suggestions. If you are unclear about a question, answer as best you can. You can use the blank space to provide clarification if necessary.
We are asking that the LCNA surveys be completed by the end of March, 2010 but encourage you to complete them as soon as possible.
To complete the Local Church Needs Assessment online click on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R2L5RRN
