When Better Isn't Enough: Evaluation Tools for the 21St-Century Church (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition—from the modern era to the postmodern. Whenever a shift of this magnitude occurs, it leaves all of life, including the church, in flux. We instinctively strive to stabilize the situation by re-establishing what has worked in the past. Increasingly, however, congregations are finding that the same old things done harder or better don't seem to make a difference.

Author Jill Hudson argues, "We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them." Approaching the postmodern era as a tremendous opportunity, Hudson identifies 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry for the early 21st century.

Based on those 12 criteria, Hudson has created evaluation tools, "an early measuring stick," to help congregations evaluate their work in this new era. Not everything of the past is ineffective and best discarded, she says, nor will everything we try in the future be successful. But by faithfully listening for God's guidance and carefully evaluating progress using Hudson's tools, looking at the ministry of the whole people of God as well as that of the professional staff, congregations can improve their ministry, help members and staff grow in effectiveness, deepen a sense of partnership, and add new richness to the dialogue about the congregation's future.

About the Author

Jill M. Hudson is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and most recently served as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley in Indianapolis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Alban Institute (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566992893
• ISBN-13: 978-1566992893
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #398,892 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent help in developing performance review for clergy, January 9, 2007

By	TDSutter "TDSutter" (Long Island, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Jill Hudson obviously has considerable experience in the ministry and considerable experience with both poor review methods as well as very good review methods. She has culled the best. The book begins with the acknowledgement that we are living in a new day and time (postmodern) and the church faces different challenges now. One of those challenges is in the area of clergy evaluation. She identifies 12 characteristics of an effect pastor (regardless of denomination, size of church, etc.) and lists provocative questions to help evaluate in each area. While the book's orientation is toward those in the clergy, I (pastor) purchased a copy for each member of the Personnel Committee and asked them to read it before the next staff reviews.

The book is also helps a church determine just how well the church (as a whole) is doing in fulfilling it's mission.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Foundational, groundbreaking, challenging, transformative, August 12, 2006

By	William Pinches "PC(USA) Pastor" (Mason, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This was foundational and ground-breaking for me. Hudson succinctly lays out the challenges we face in the emerging postmodern world, and offers twelve characteristics of what effective ministry might look like in the 21st century. Each of those twelve characteristics is accompanied by a series of questions so the reader can evaluate how she or he is doing on each.

Hudson's questions are challenging and sharp. "Do you take a multivitamin daily?" "Do you have a plan for developing new believers into mature disciples?" Those and a multitude of other questions await you. As I went through her list, I found myself answering "no" far more times than I wanted to.

I can't tell you how important this book was to me -- in many ways, it's the bud from which all the rest of my thinking about church re-building and re-planting stemmed. It also caused me to begin a thorough self-examination of my own practices, habits, and areas for growth.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Criteria for the Church's Ministry, June 16, 2005

By	JAD (The Sunshine State) - See all my reviews

Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition--from the modern era to the postmodern. Such information is no longer breaking news; it has been with us for more than a generation. However, the Church is still in the process of recognizing and responding (or reacting!) to the paradigm shift. One instinct might be to try to react to the situation by digging in one's heels and, like a dog with a bone, cling to what worked in the dim recesses of the past. In some communities, this is effective. Even so, in many other places, churches are discovering that programs and approaches have a life of their own (one might even call it a shelf life), and that, sometimes, a fresh approach is not only warranted, but necessary, lest the church become stale.

Author Jill Hudson presents her book When Better Isn't Enough from this standpoint, saying, "We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them." Hudson's view is that the Church has a marvelous opportunity for prayerful and careful response to current realities. She identifies 12 characteristics to help us measure effective ministry today. Moreover, Hudson presents evaluation tools based upon those 12 characteristics. Real, practical ways that any congregation or group of leaders therein might help the church they love focus their future.

For those who are skittish about change, Hudson makes the point clear that not changing is not an option. She also makes it clear that insisting on all of the modes and methods of the past, without revisiting their effectiveness, will get a church into dire straits. Instead, why not aim for a church in which some of the past will be kept and honored, some of the past will be reshaped and refreshed and some will in fact be seen as unproductive and superfluous? A congregation that truly wishes to see its members grow and reach others for Christ can use Hudson's methods to select the right mix for their unique opportunity for ministry and mission.

Hudson calls the church to ask questions, and indeed she has a wonderful list of them at the end of the book. Questions a congregation's leaders and members could ask themselves about how they are listening to God's direction. For these questions, alone, the book is well worth reading. But only if we give them a try, to bring about God's vision for the church.

Jill M. Hudson is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and most recently served as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley in Indiana. Jill served for thirteen years as vocational staff for the Synod of Lincoln Trails. A lecturer, trainer, and consultant with special expertise in church systems, Jill is also the author or co-author of: Beyond the Boundary: Meeting the Challenge of the First Years of Ministry; Congregational Trauma: Caring, Coping, and Learning; and Evaluating Ministry: Principles and Processes for Clergy and Congregations