5 Steps to Craft a Church Mission Statement

Is there really a "perfect church mission statement"? Does your church have it? Maybe a better question is, "Can your congregation remember and identify with your mission statement?"

The fact is, there are an unlimited number of perfect mission statements, because each church has a unique mission that is specific to that congregation. In this blog post, I'm going to share the step-by-step process for crafting that perfect, unforgettable mission statement for your church.

1. Start with Specifics

I surveyed the landscape of church mission statements to save you time: it's 80% Great Commission, 15% Love, 5% Corporate Jargon™. If you want your mission statement to sound like everybody else, that's the formula! If not, you’ll need to be more specific to your church’s identity.

Here's an example from National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

2. Use Familiar Language

To make your mission statement the most effective and memorable, you’ll also need to use words that are easy to recall for your people. This will depend somewhat on your context and congragation demographics.

Example from Red Rock Church, Littleton, CO:

Example from King’s Cross Community Church, Los Lunas, NM:

3. Keep it Focused

A problem many churches fall into is the overly broad, “shotgun” mission statement.

Here’s a poor example:

A mission statement that tries to say everything ends up saying nothing at all. A key symptom of the shotgun mission statement is the number of “ands” (it should be 1 or less)

4. Slice and Dice

Now that you have a draft, cut cut cut! Short phrases are memorable, and memorable phrases are effective. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to spell out your values in depth, but now is the time for brevity.

Here are a few guidelines from my experience: 5-20 words Use < 12 letter words Don’t repeat words, if possible

The key to editing a mission statement is to cut out as much as possible without losing the core thrust.

5. Get Input

One of the best ways to check your mission statement accuracy is to let other leaders in your church offer their input. It shouldn’t become an open vote, but simply asking for an opinion.

This is a powerful way to get buy-in and support from your elders and staff as you take this journey.

Conclusion

As a pastor or elder in your church, following these steps will put you well on your way to a mission statement that your church members can remember and live out!

P.S. Are you rediscovering your church's identity or considering a new visual direction? Take my free assessment and get personalized recommendations for how to align your brand with your vision.