On Worship: Constructive Evaluations
John Witvliet, Director, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Reformed Worship
December 2007

Q: Can you recommend a good evaluation form for us to use in evaluating our worship team and our congregation’s worship as a whole?

A: I have some dissatisfaction with forms I have produced before. Many of them quietly reinforce the idea that the church is a democracy in which every opinion counts equally.

Or they suggest quantifying something that can’t be quantified. Ranking the pastoral sensitivity of worship leaders on a scale of one to ten can easily succeed at leading to no significant improvement, while at the same time making everyone feel terrible.

But that is no reason to avoid evaluation. Opportunities for frank pastoral feedback, encouragement, and accountability are crucial for healthy congregational life. While every opinion should not count equally, every voice should be heard eagerly in search of wisdom. When handled well, an evaluation process can be a source of genuine spiritual growth for the individuals involved and for the congregation.
Here are some guidelines as you think about developing an evaluation form.

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