"Health" and "development" have replaced "church growth" as the buzz words in discussions of the effectiveness of congregations. Recognizing the fundamental inadequacy (and unfairness) of size as the chief measure of success, pastors have been eager to find other attributes of a "good church."

In Becoming a Healthy Church: Ten Characteristics (Baker, 1999), Stephen Macchia offers a top-ten list of qualities (not programs) that will be found in every healthy church, regardless of size, denomination, region, or constituency. Macchia contends that with his list in hand, pastors and leadership teams will be able to evaluate and revitalize their churches.

The author intentionally avoids offering models. Instead he relates values (another buzzword) through numerous stories and testimonies—Macchia introduces more characters than a Dickensian novel. Anecdotes from real pastors in his region reinforce the qualities he says are inherent in healthy congregations.

The ten characteristics break ...