Questions to take when you visit a church

Take these when you visit a congregation. If you have belonged to yours for years, you can use them to see it with fresh eyes; skip any that do not fit. They do not match you to a church. They look at what documents cannot show. Open this page before you go; once it is open it works without a signal. If you took the guide, start with the questions that touch your musts (the things you marked Required); if you did not, start anywhere. Every question has a place for “I couldn’t tell”, and it is a real answer. One visit will not answer the last group; give it time.

Note what you saw first, then whether it suited you. Use “Add a note” for anything that troubled you, however small. “Denomination” here includes churches that do not think of themselves as one. These questions do not ask about everything that may be a must for you, such as the place of women in ministry, what a church teaches about marriage and sexuality, or its work for justice. If one of those is a must, ask about it directly.

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Visit

Congregation Date Church family

At the service

1 What do the sermons usually start from?

AA passage of Scripture, explained in order through a book.BThe readings set for the day or the season of the church year (chosen by the wider church, not by the pastor).CChristian living and practice.DEvents and issues in society, or Scripture applied to the world’s needs.EA mix, or I couldn’t tell.

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2 How is the service ordered?

AA set liturgy: the same printed order of prayers and responses, much the same each week.BA planned order that changes week to week.CA planned frame with room to follow the Spirit and the moment as the service goes, or an open order led as it goes.DI couldn’t tell.

And the music?

AHymns, with organ or piano and often a choir.BA band leading contemporary songs, possibly with extended worship and spontaneous singing.CThe prayers and responses are sung or chanted, with or without instruments.DA mix, no music, or I couldn’t tell.

Did it suit you?

YesNot reallyIt didn’t matter to me

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3 Who decides what is read and preached on a Sunday?

Set beside the profile: X23 Weekly worship and the lectionary.

AA church-wide plan: the denomination’s service book or lectionary (a church-wide schedule of Bible readings) sets the readings, and the pastor follows it.BA church-wide service book or schedule of Bible readings is offered, and the pastor may follow it or adapt it.CThe pastor, or the pastor with the elders, plans each service and chooses sermon series, and may change the plan as led during the service.DI couldn’t tell.

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4 What does the whole congregation say together in worship?

Set beside the profile: X24 Confessions and creeds in worship.

AA statement of belief that belongs to this denomination (a confession or catechism).BAn old statement of belief used by many churches, such as the Apostles’ Creed or the Nicene Creed.CBoth.DA statement the pastor chooses week by week.EA shared prayer or spoken response (for example from a prayer book or hymnal), but no statement of belief.FNeither, or I couldn’t tell.

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5 Are gifts such as tongues and prophecy (speaking in unknown languages, and spoken messages believed to come from God) part of the service?

Set beside the profile: Q9 Gifts of the Spirit; X4 Apostles and prophets today (Ephesians 4:11).

AThey are not part of the regular service. That is a church’s choice, not a lack.BThey are practiced mainly in prayer or a separate meeting, not in the main service.CThey are practiced in the service, and leaders guide or weigh them, by a stated rule or by teaching.DThey are practiced in the service, with no stated guidance.EI couldn’t tell.

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6 Could a visitor receive Communion (the bread-and-wine meal) here?

Set beside the profile: Q8 The Lord's Supper; X10 How many sacraments?.

AAnyone present may receive.BThose who believe in Christ may receive (some ask that they be baptized).CMembers of this church or of its sister churches, after some preparation (in some, after confession or an examination by the elders).DCommunion was not offered that day.EI couldn’t tell.

Some churches limit Communion because of what they teach it is, not because they are unfriendly.

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7 What happened when you arrived and when you left?

ASeveral people greeted me, asked about me, and invited me back.BOne or two people greeted me warmly.CA greeter at the door, then nothing more.DNo one spoke to me unless I spoke first.

Did a pastor or leader speak with you?

YesNo

Was that what you wanted?

YesNo

In some traditions worship is quiet and the welcome comes afterward, at a coffee hour or on request. Judge accordingly.

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8 Looking at the people you met, would you look forward to time with them outside the service?

AYes, clearly.BPossibly; I would need to know them better.CProbably not.DI can’t tell after one visit.

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Ask the pastor or priest

9 Who leads this congregation, how were they chosen, and to whom do they answer?

Set beside the profile: Q11 Church government.

AChosen by the members, and answerable to them.BChosen or approved by a regional or national church office above the congregation (a bishop, presbytery, synod or conference), and answerable to it.CChosen by the pastor or the existing leaders (elders, a board), and answerable to them.DA mix of these (for example chosen by the congregation, and answerable to a body of elders and a regional body).EI couldn’t tell.

Are the church’s finances and major decisions open to its members?

YesNoI couldn’t tell

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10 Does this congregation hold its denomination’s stated positions?

AIt holds them.BIt differs on some points, and says so openly.CIt differs on some points, and I learned it another way.DIt belongs to no denomination (ask for its statement of faith, and see the next question).EI couldn’t tell.

Differing is not a fault in itself: some churches hold their positions loosely on purpose. Set what you hear beside the church’s profile in this guide.

Add a note

11 What is the pastor or priest bound to teach, and by what document?

Set beside the profile: Q2 Authority beyond Scripture.

AA confession, a catechism or a body of the church’s teaching, which they agreed to when they became a pastor or priest and can name.BA statement of faith for the church, which they are not asked to affirm personally.CScripture, read by the pastor and the congregation, and the church’s own statement of faith if it has one.DI couldn’t tell.

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12 If the pastor or priest taught against what this church teaches, who could correct that?

AA body beyond the congregation (a bishop, presbytery, synod, conference, district, or a network of churches).BThe congregation, through its members, its elders or its board.CNo one beyond the pastor’s own conscience.DI couldn’t tell.

Has that happened, as far as they know?

YesNoI couldn’t tell

If someone told the church that a leader had harmed them, who would hear it?

AA person or body outside the congregation (a bishop, a regional office, an independent reviewer).BA group within the congregation that does not include the leader concerned.CThe leader concerned, or leaders close to that leader.DI couldn’t tell.

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13 Has this church changed a teaching, and if so, how?

AIt holds that its teaching has not changed, or has only been explained more fully.BYes, openly, by a decision of the congregation or a larger body, and the church has said so.CYes, by the pastor or leaders, with members told afterward.DYes, gradually, through shifts in practice, with no decision anyone can point to.EThe question is still open and being discussed.FI couldn’t tell.

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14 What does it take to belong to this church or to join it?

Set beside the profile: Q7 Baptism; Q7b a later profession of faith after infant baptism.

AA profession of faith, and baptism as an adult who chose it if you were not baptized that way (often with a covenant or vows).BA class or conversation and a profession of faith; an earlier baptism is accepted (often with membership vows).CA time of instruction, then a ceremony that welcomes you into the church (confirmation, chrismation or a formal reception), usually after baptism.DThere is no formal membership.EI couldn’t tell.

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15 If you joined, where could you serve, and when?

ANewcomers are invited to serve soon, in many roles.BServing opens after a time, a class or membership.CThe ordained or staff lead much of the ministry, and members serve in set roles (a deliberate order, not a lack of opportunity).DI couldn’t tell.

Where would you want to serve?

Add a note

Ask members, or give it time

16 When members disagree about a teaching, how is it settled?

AThe church’s leaders, elders or teaching body settle it, applying its confession or teaching, and members receive their decision.BThe members settle it together.CIt is left open on purpose, and people are expected to differ.DIt is not talked about.EI couldn’t tell.

Can members question their leaders, or leave, without being shunned or pressured?

YesNoI couldn’t tell

Add a note

17 If a member confessed a serious sin, what would happen next?

Set beside the profile: X2 Church discipline; X12 Confessing sins; P2 what you would do if its leaders corrected you.

AA formal process of correction, aimed at restoring them (and, if they do not repent, ending in removal from membership).BPrivate pastoral care and continued welcome, without a formal process.CTelling a priest privately, who then declares them forgiven and may assign something to do.DThey would be quietly pushed out.EI couldn’t tell.

And if the sin had harmed someone else, what would the church do for that person?

ATheir care is planned for, and the harm is dealt with, not only the sin.BIt is left to the two of them to sort out.CIt would not be talked about.DI couldn’t tell.

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18 Does this congregation help its people know God, and not only learn about him, through prayer, worship, Scripture, the sacraments, the Spirit’s presence and one another? The author’s question

AIt is central to what it teaches and does.BIt is taught but little practiced.CIt is rarely mentioned.DI couldn’t tell.

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19 Does the congregation gather for worship, study or prayer at other times in the week?

Set beside the profile: X25 Gatherings beyond Sunday worship.

AYes, regular gatherings during the week (small groups, Bible study, prayer meetings, an evening service, daily services or devotions, or shared work of service), and many members attend.BYes, they are offered, but few attend.CThere are occasional events, but no regular gatherings.DNo regular gatherings besides the main service.EI couldn’t tell.

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20 What does the church offer children?

AChildren stay in the service.BA children’s program during the service.CBoth are offered.DNothing in particular for children, or I couldn’t tell.

Does it have a written policy for keeping children safe?

YesNoI couldn’t tell

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21 Could you and your household take part fully: seating, steps, hearing, language?

AYes, easily.BMostly, with some difficulty.CNo, something stood in the way.DI didn’t notice.

Did that matter to you?

YesNo

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