In May 2005, LCH members took the Natural Church Development Survey. This page summarizes the results of that survey, which were reported to the congregation by Dr. Gordon Peterson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Pacifica Synod, on June 26, 2005.

To learn about Natural Church Development, read this article on the NADEI web site.

The Ministry Planning Task Force welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions. Use this form to send your thoughts, submit your comments to the Task Force via email, or bring or mail them to the church office.

The links below will take you to information related to the activities of the Ministry Plan Task Force.

LCH Mission and Values Statements
Task Force Charge, Membership, and Process
Results of our Historical Reflection (July 2005)
“Norms” that Underlay the Life of our Church. (November 2005)
Draft Ministry Plan Goal Statements (January 2006)
Results of First Vote on Draft Goals (February 2006)

Results of the LCH Church Development Ministry Survey

As the first step in discerning the direction and health of our congregation's ministry, The LCH planning task force adopted a ministry assessment survey developed by the Natural Church Development (NCD) Institute. The survey was administered in May 2005

About the Natural Church Development Ministry Assessment

Natural Church Development barrel graphic The NCD program identifies eight quality characteristics as essential for church health and growth. As the congregation strengthens its ministry in each of these areas, the church will naturally grow as God has given it the ability to grow.

As with the barrel, raising the shortest stave increases the capacity, so with the church, strengthening the weakest characteristic improves the ministry.

Examining the potentiality of our gifts and talents from God and how best to use them together as a congregation is a joyful and exciting process. We welcome everyone to participate with ideas, observations and prayers as we continue the process of discerning God's plan for our church.

NCD Characteristics

Empowering Leadership “...to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:12
Gift-Oriented Ministry “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Passionate Spirituality “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:11–12
Functional Structures “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27
Inspiring Worship “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–19
Holistic Small Groups “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:46–47
Need–Oriented Evangelism “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:20–22
Loving Relationships “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35

Results of the LCH Survey

The objective of the NCD survey was to identify the characteristics in greatest need of attention by the congregation. Based on forty completed questionnaires from LCH congregation members, three characteristics of LCH were identified as priorities for strengthening.

Passionate Spirituality—How we translate our spirituality into our daily lives. Spreading “contagious faith.” As Lutherans, we tend to show our spirituality with reservation. We let our actions demonstrate our faith and avoid “passionate” displays of spirituality that might be mistaken for those other kinds of Christians. Passionate spirituality means much more than flailing arms and “Hallelujahs!” and we have nothing to fear by it.
Holistic Small Groups—Developing relationships and authentic community within the congregation. Getting to know each other. Reaching out to members and guests. Multiplying participation. The overwhelmingly positive response to the Ohana Gatherings demonstrates the latent need and fertile hearts for small group activities within our church.
Need-Oriented Evangelism—Knowing the needs around us and working to meet them as individuals and as a congregation. Being aware of those with needs and those seeking spiritual community. LCH has a long history of social ministry and spiritual outreach in the larger community, what might even be called “evangelism.” We also have a long presence in a neighborhood that hardly knows us or we it.