One of the most powerful exercises a leadership team can undertake is comparing their "Current Culture" with their "Preferred Future Culture." The gap between these two often reveals the primary leadership challenge and the specific area where God is calling the church to grow.

Identifying the Gap

The assessment works by asking leaders to score their church on six dimensions, including dominant characteristics, leadership style, and approach to change. By plotting both the "Current" and "Preferred" scores, we create a visual profile. The largest gap usually indicates the area of greatest tension or the most significant opportunity for change.

Why the Gap Exists

Sometimes the gap exists because the church has drifted over time—what was once a vibrant mission-focused culture has settled into a comfortable programmatic routine. Other times, the gap exists because new leadership has a vision for a different way of being church. Ignoring this gap leads to frustration and conflict; addressing it leads to strategic discipleship.

Practical Next Steps

Once you have identified your primary culture and your preferred future, the framework provides practical, biblically grounded next steps. For example, if you are a "Relational" church that feels called to become more "Missional," we don't suggest abandoning your warmth. Instead, we suggest: "Strengthen pathways for mission and outward engagement while creating safe environments for innovation that don't feel corporate."

Best Used During Transition

This tool is especially effective when navigating pastoral transitions, seasons of conflict, or revitalization efforts. It provides a shared language that allows the board, staff, and congregation to have objective conversations about subjective feelings. It moves the conversation from "I don't like the music" to "Our culture is drifting toward attractional performance at the cost of deep community."

Start the Conversation

Discernment is a journey, not a destination. Use the assessment to begin meaningful, healthy conversations as a team and take the first step toward the faithful future God has for you.