Evaluation

After an interim church has announced the new preacher and his arrival date, I go into the goodbye and evaluation mode. I discussed the goodbye process in the June 13 post: Leaving an Interim Church.

I request evaluations as I leave each congregation.

  1. I ask for the elders’ suggestions.
  2. I ask for staff comments to improve staff meetings and my ministry.
  3. Special classes end with an evaluation.
  4. The last meeting of the Transition Monitoring Team includes time for evaluation of how to improve the process and saying goodbye.
  5. I distribute and encourage everyone (men, women, children) to fill out and return Review of Barber’s Interim Ministry.

 

For a PDF of the form: Review of Barber’s Interim Ministry.

This is helpful in several ways.

  • I gain credibility when people tell how our ministry has been helpful.
  • I learn ways to improve at the next church. My commitment to each congregation — I’ll do the best I know during this time with you. I’d like to do better at the next church. You’ll help me by telling me how to improve.
  •  I post those who give me permission on my website in two places: the right sidebar. I post a new one each Tuesday. I add to the list of Reviews of Jerrie and Gail’s Interim Ministry each week.
  • By posting, I build trust. A leader is someone who can hear what people like and what they don’t like. An effective leader asks for more. Many people won’t tell their real objections first. My reaction at the first criticism determines whether they’ll share their main concerns. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, NKJV). People who took time to fill out evaluations see both compliments and criticisms posted for everyone to see.

I gain much from people who want to help. I appreciate each one who shares and evaluates.

Observations

[bctt tweet=”Few people will tell us what they think of us unless we beg them to do it and thank them when they do.” username=””]

Unless we know how we’re doing, we may spend a lifetime thinking we are more effective or less effective than we are.

[bctt tweet=”When we learn, we can improve and enjoy.” username=””]

I use the same process for improving New Shepherds Orientation Workshops.

How do you get feedback to improve yourself and your ministry?

[reminder]

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Jerrie Barber
Disciple of Jesus, husband, grandfather, preacher, barefoot runner, ventriloquist

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