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Congregational Engagement
Initiative

Thank you for your interest in the Congregation Engagement Initiative.

The Congregational Engagement Initiative was created by Lutheran Hour Ministries to help congregations create more meaningful engagement with their members. The initiative is built around the Congregational Engagement Inventory, a survey instrument that has gone through a rigorous development and validation process, giving congregations confidence that it accurately measures how congregation members perceive the three core dimensions of Christian Community Engagement: Meaningful Participation, Perceptions of Community Health, and Sense of Belonging.

Purpose of the Inventory

The purpose of the inventory is to give congregational leaders an accurate picture of how engaged congregation members feel in their congregation and provide insights that will help congregational leaders discover ways to increase engagement along the three core dimensions, which increases the likelihood of members remaining within the congregation and inviting others to join the congregation.

Your Commitment

We are seeking a limited number of congregations to participate in testing the implementation of this inventory. Each congregation will be asked to:

  • Select a three-week period before August 15 to invite your congregation to complete the inventory in church or by email.
  • Designate someone to lead the inventory implementation process
  • Launch the process on Inventory Sunday and send follow up emails to encourage participation.
  • When the three week collection period is completed, notify LHM that your data is ready for processing.

What You Will Receive

  • Congregation Summary Report: Clear, shareable insights for your entire church
  • Leadership Report: Deeper analysis with guided discussion and decision-making support
  • Demographic Insights: Understand how engagement varies across your congregation
  • Recommended Next Steps: Practical, prioritized actions tailored to your results

Participation Outcomes

  • More members who feel they belong
  • More members who stay long-term
  • More members who invite others
  • Leadership with clarity and confidence

*If your congregation is located in Wisconsin, you will participate in the Wisconsin cohort. Cohort participants will be invited to join 2–3 online one-hour insight-sharing sessions, as well as an in-person gathering in early 2027 focused on the state of engagement in Wisconsin congregations and strategies for strengthening engagement based on cohort findings. In addition, each participating congregation will receive an individualized follow-up session. Join us on Zoom for an Informational Meeting on May 28th. Complete the interest form to get the link and reminders.

Interest Form

FAQ’s

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Who should we choose as a lead person and what are their responsibilities?

Appointing a key person to oversee the inventory process significantly improves participation and the quality of the results. This individual serves as the point person for communication, logistics, and follow-up. This can be the senior pastor, or it can be another trusted staff or lay leader. It is important to choose a leader who has the time to devote to this process.

Qualities of a good survey leader:

  • Well-trusted by both staff and members
  • Organized and detail-oriented
  • Comfortable with basic technology (email, spreadsheets, online forms)
  • Able to provide ongoing encouragement to participate without pressuring members

Primary responsibilities of the survey implementation leader:

  • Coordinating with church leadership to finalize the survey timeline and methods of distribution
  • Ensuring email lists and communication materials are prepared (see appendices)
  • Overseeing Inventory Sunday (including making sure technology stations are available and properly staff, if they will be used.)
  • Monitoring response rates during the three-week period and sending reminders as needed
  • Serving as the main contact if members have questions about the inventory process

This person may be a staff member, pastor, or volunteer lay leader. The most important factor is that the survey implementation leader is trusted and empowered by leadership to guide the process.

Why should our community participate in this survey?
  • Because it gives leaders a reliable picture of how members experience belonging, meaningful participation, and community health. With this insight, leaders can strengthen community life, increase the likelihood that people invite others into the community, and improve long-term member retention and growth.
Who should complete the assessment?
  • We would like all individuals who are members of the community and/or all individuals who attend, even if they don’t attend frequently, to complete the inventory. You will be given a QR code that can be distributed in church on a Sunday morning and the email link can be sent to everyone who regu­larly receives communications from your church.
Will individual survey responses be confidential?
  • Yes. Individual responses are anonymous and are combined with all others in the final analysis. Neither staff nor leaders will see who said what.
Why does the survey ask these specific questions?
  • The survey was developed and tested to measure three dimensions—belonging, meaningful participation, and perceptions of community health. Research shows that higher scores in these areas are linked to stronger engagement: people are more likely to remain active in the congre­gation and more likely to invite others to join the community. The questions focus on what matters most for the health and growth of the congregation.
What kind of information will the report contain?
  • The report will be an aggregate of all responses. This includes averages and responses broken out by demographic characteristics, if appropriate. In addition, based on your members’ responses, the report will include recommendations on next steps to increase overall member engagement.
What will the cost be for this?
  • Nothing. Lutheran Hour Ministries has developed this inventory as part of its mission and it plans to distribute the inventory and results at no cost to Christian communities.
What will we learn from participating in this inventory?
  • You’ll learn your community’s strengths and opportunities for growth in the three dimensions: Meaningful Engagement, Perceptions of Community Health, and Sense of Belonging. Leaders will gain practical direction for near-term improvements and long-term planning.
Will community leaders be able to see individual responses to the survey?
  • No. Leaders only see aggregated results. Individual answers are never visible.
Will our results be shared with anyone outside our Christian community?
  • No. Your community’s results will not be shared in a way that identifies your church. At times, LHM may create aggregated comparisons—for example, showing how rural churches, churches in specific regions, or churches of a similar size compare as a group. But no single church’s name or data will ever be identified in these comparisons.
How long does it take and how do I take it?
  • The inventory takes about 10 minutes. You can complete it on a phone, tablet, or computer. Time will be provided on Inventory Sunday, and you’ll also receive an email link so you can complete it later if needed.
When will we see results?
  • The survey closes three weeks after Inventory Sunday. Community leaders will then receive a link to view the results, review them together, and share highlights and next steps with the congregation.
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