First Presbyterian Church used crisis as its primary catalyst for change during a recent period of decline in an effort to establish clear priorities and focus in the congregation. However, following each crisis the momentum of the congregation would slow and return to maintenance of the status quo. The transformative task of this project was to enable the congregation to identify an alternative catalyst that might begin the process of renewal on a more consistent basis. The practice of formative evaluation was identified to serve as this catalyst. Appreciative Inquiry was the primary method used to structure this evaluation and help the congregation design a redevelopment of their most recent strategic plan. New evaluation procedures were put into place in order to maintain congregational momentum and encourage programmatic alignment so that First Presbyterian Church would be able to faithfully follow the calling of God and participate in God’s mission in their community.
