FPCY is getting another CAT-SCAN! Some of you may remember back in the fall of 2020, our congregation participated in a Congregation Assessment Tool (a.k.a. the CAT) to help our church leaders better understand the experiences, perspectives, and priorities of our members. Well, it’s time for another check-up.
What is the CAT? The Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) is a customizable, 86-question online assessment of a congregation that is completed by members of a church community. The CAT takes 25-30 minutes to complete and is completely confidential. It generates a report called Vital Signs©.
What is the purpose of the CAT? Using the Congregation Assessment Tool is like taking your church to a doctor, a travel agent and a tailor. It gives leaders 1) a read-out on the health of the church, 2) a sense of where members think the church should head in the future, and 3) a description of the church as a unique body of people. This is why we call it a CAT-SCAN. The CAT was developed by Holy Cow! Consulting (www.holycowconsulting.com) and is a benchmarked assessment tool that has been used by over 6,000 congregations of all sizes and denominations. Using both qualitative and quantitative metrics, the CAT provides data-based insights into congregational climate and culture, community demographics, and areas of strength and growth. All of this information and interpretation enables church leadership to “make better decisions in less time with more confidence.”
Why now? Nearly six years have passed since we last took the CAT and much has changed in our church and in our community since then. The CAT is also an application requirement for the $150,000 grant we have applied for from the Hudson River Presbytery in support of the Agape Music Center capital campaign. Your voice is an important part of helping us understand where we are today as we approach our 300th anniversary and prepare to enter our 4th century of ministry. The insights gathered through this assessment will provide valuable guidance as we prayerfully discern the future of our church together.
Stay tuned for more information coming later in September!
Your CAT-SCAN Team: Alice Chin, Lynn Edling & Tami Seidel