Here are a few best practices that suit one specific diocese of the Anglican Church. For further information, William Easum’s The Church Growth Handbook, also provides a number of helpful indicators for healthy and viable ministry. A congregation is healthy when:
- Income
- Over 70% income comes from freewill offering
- More than 50% of congregational income should come from more than 1/3 of identifiable givers
- Expenses
- 10% of expenses go to program costs
- Personnel
- 1 pastoral/program person (as opposed to administrative or maintenance) per 100 Sunday attendees
- 100-200 Sunday attendees = full-time secretary
- Between 150 and 180 Sunday attendees, the congregation adds another pastoral staff person in order for it to continue to grow
- 300-400 Sunday attendees will require a full-time director of music
- More than 500 Sunday attendees will require adding a business administrator
- Property
- Up to 80% of usable worship space is used on Sunday
- Choir Size
- There is 1 choir member for every 10 people in the pews
- Stewardship
- Freewill offering represents 2% of total household income
- The amount that goes to Presbyterians Sharing is equal to 5% of freewill offering
- 40% of the congregation participates in the Pre-Authorized Giving program