Attendance, baptisms, and giving are the traditional metrics we use to measure the effectiveness or success of our churches. They're also very easy to measure. However, some have pointed out that they don't tell the whole story - Reggie McNeal, the Missional Leadership Guru for Leadership Network, has suggested that the missional church needs a new score card to determine its effectiveness.

W. David Phillips has suggested an interesting (and a little edgy) score card with a more missional flavor. Here are some of his metrics:

1. The number of cigarette butts in the church parking lot.
2. The number of former convicted felons serving in the church.
3. The number of phone calls from community leaders asking the church’s advice.
4. The number of organizations using the church building.
5. The number of emergency finance meetings that take place to reroute money to community ministry.
6. The amount of dollars saved by the local schools because the church has painted the walls.
7. The number of people serving in the community during the church’s normal worship hours.
8. The number of times the church band has played family-friendly music in the local coffee shop.

Read the rest of the list

What metrics do you use? Do you have any non traditional metrics that you've found helpful?