5 Important Church Metrics Every Pastor Should Monitor

There are many church metrics to monitor but these five church metrics will set a strong foundation for any church leader or pastor to make better data-informed decisions.

Service Attendance

It’s a no brainer but every church leader should be closely monitoring short and long term trends on service attendance. Better understanding attendance behavior allows leaders to make informed decisions on reducing or increasing service count, changing service times, and many other critical decisions that impact the entire church.

Of all the possible church metrics to monitor, accurate and long term service attendance data is foundational to making data-informed decisions.

Next Generation Attendance

Many churches know general numbers of attendance for children and student ministries but accurate long term data can provide a more clear picture. For example, an increase in children or student ministries without a corresponding increase in service attendance may be showing an outreach opportunity with non-attending parents.

Though easy to ignore, accurate long term next generation attendance data will give context for better data-informed decisions.

Total Giving

It’s the topic few want to talk about: money. Monitoring total giving doesn’t have to be as controversial. With proper data visualization, church leaders can better understand why giving is in a dip or downtrend. Without giving, ministry will be hindered. Without monitoring total giving data, data-informed leadership decisions will also be hindered.

Giving Units

Are faithful church members merely giving units? May it never be! The term “giving unit” is simply a name for the church metric more commonly known as “giver.” This metric gives insight into the onboarding and retention of giving members/attenders in the church. When monitored along with total giving, church leaders can better know how stewardship and discipleship efforts are impacting the behaviors of their people. Total giving and giving units are key financial church metrics every pastor should be monitoring.

Groups Participation

Last but not least, church leaders should be monitoring short and long term data on groups participation. Groups could include small groups, affinity groups, Sunday School, or any other group activity. This church metric gives church leaders a pulse on faithful engagement and community within the body. Having many groups but decreasing participation could be showing an opportunity to simplify and align groups for better engagement and experience.

Monitoring groups participation gives church leaders a broader view of how faithful members are choosing community outside of weekly service. Groups matter. And so does monitoring group data.

Are you ready to be better informed by your church data? Click here to schedule a 15 minute call.

Click here to get content like this in your inbox.

Josh Breland

Article by:

Josh Breland 

I started Churchlytics to equip church leaders with analytics dashboards and strategy. I previously led communications and strategic initiatives at College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Josh Breland

Josh Breland

I started Churchlytics to equip church leaders with analytics dashboards and strategy.

Connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Related Posts

Want to view your church data in one place? We build effective church dashboards for church leaders.

What We Do - Church Analytics Dashboards

Most church leaders struggle to view and understand their ministry data.

Churchlytics puts all your church data in one beautiful dashboard so you can know more and lead better.

Let's talk.

Churchlytics Blog

Learn more about church best practices, church metrics, church software, and more. Read the blog.

Church Smarter Podcast

Church SmarterLearn practical tips from church leaders on how to church smarter, not harder.

Topics to include ministry, church communications, church planting, leadership, church technology, church staffing, and more.

churchlytics

© Churchlytics 2023 | Website by Bigger Orbit

Share This