{"id":17767,"date":"2004-05-19T20:59:39","date_gmt":"2004-05-19T20:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2004\/05\/19\/risk-profile\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:19:15","slug":"risk-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/risk-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risk Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\nTake calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
\nGeorge S. Patton<\/em>\n<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

I<\/strong>s there a way to tell how risky a decision is? Perhaps. At least we can point to the statistical probability that a particular ministry decision will ultimately cause a pastor to leave a church. Pastors indicated they make only a few truly difficult decisions in a year. Yet those are tough indeed. The average tenure of a pastor in a church is somewhere between four and five years. Often moves are made because of decisions that have led to disaster.<\/p>\n

Although this is a scary prospect, it is not cause to run, but to take stock. Every pastor faces strong pressures and strongwilled parishioners. And every decision can involve hundreds of major and minor variables. Many of these cannot<\/em> be quantified:<\/p>\n

\u2014 how your particular church board operates<\/p>\n

\u2014 the characteristics of every individual on your board<\/p>\n

\u2014 the unique characteristics of the staff<\/p>\n

\u2014 the number of powerful families in your church<\/p>\n

\u2014 the characteristics of those families<\/p>\n

\u2014 the history of the issue being decided.<\/p>\n

Many can be quantified, however. We have compiled the results of our survey into a practical self-test. Ask yourself the following questions about yourself and your church environment. Circle your answers as you go through the test. Following the test, you’ll find instructions on how to score your answers. (The survey from which we gathered the information used to contruct this test, along with more detailed analysis of the results, may be found in the Appendix.)<\/p>\n\n

Questions<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. What is your education? (Circle all that apply to you.)\n\t
      \n\t
    1. No higher education degree<\/li>\n\n\t
    2. Bible college degree<\/li>\n\n\t
    3. Liberal arts degree<\/li>\n\n\t
    4. Seminary degree<\/li>\n\n\t
    5. Non-seminary master’s degree<\/li>\n\n\t
    6. Doctorate<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
    7. What is your current church membership size?\n\t
        \n\t
      1. less than 100<\/li>\n\n\t
      2. 100-199<\/li>\n\n\t
      3. 200-499<\/li>\n\n\t
      4. 500 or more<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
      5. How long have you been at this church?\n\t
          \n\t
        1. Less than one year<\/li>\n\n\t
        2. 1-2 years<\/li>\n\n\t
        3. 3-4 years<\/li>\n\n\t
        4. 5 or more years<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
        5. What is your age?\n\t
            \n\t
          1. 30 or under<\/li>\n\n\t
          2. 31-40<\/li>\n\n\t
          3. 41-50<\/li>\n\n\t
          4. 51-60<\/li>\n\n\t
          5. over 60<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
          6. Which church is this in your ministry history?\n\t
              \n\t
            1. My first church<\/li>\n\n\t
            2. My second church<\/li>\n\n\t
            3. My third church<\/li>\n\n\t
            4. Fourth or later church<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
            5. What do you believe to be your dominant gifts\/talents in ministry?\n\t
                \n\t
              1. Preaching<\/li>\n\n\t
              2. Teaching<\/li>\n\n\t
              3. Administration<\/li>\n\n\t
              4. Counseling<\/li>\n\n\t
              5. Pastoral ministry (visitation, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\t
              6. Evangelism<\/li>\n\n\t
              7. Music<\/li>\n\n\t
              8. Other<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
              9. Do you use a biblical character (such as Jesus, Paul, or Moses) as a model for decision making?\n\t
                  \n\t
                1. Yes<\/li>\n\n\t
                2. No<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n
                3. How many times in a typical year are you required to make decisions that you know will upset, offend, or bring disagreement from people in the congregation?\n\t
                    \n\t
                  1. THEOLOGICAL DECISIONS: (e.g., to take a stand on eschatology, spiritual gifts, divorce\/remarriage, etc., that differs from some members’ views.)\n\t\t
                      \n\t\t
                    1. None<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                    2. 1-2 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                    3. 3-4 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                    4. 5 or more per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t<\/ol>\n\n\t<\/li>\n\n\t
                    5. INSTITUTIONAL\/ORGANIZATIONAL DECISIONS: (e.g., to recommend a ministry program that clashes with the polity or tradition of the church.)\n\t\t
                        \n\t\t
                      1. None<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                      2. 1-2 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                      3. 3-4 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                      4. 5 or more per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t<\/ol>\n\n\t<\/li>\n\n\t
                      5. INTERPERSONAL DECISIONS: (e.g., handling a counseling session in a way that offends a church family, or having a conflict with a board member.)\n\t\t
                          \n\t\t
                        1. None<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                        2. 1-2 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                        3. 3-4 per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t
                        4. 5 or more per year<\/li>\n\n\t\t<\/ol>\n\n\t<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ol>\n\n<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n

                          Scoring Instructions<\/h2>\n

                          Now that you’ve completed the test, use these guidelines to score your answers:<\/p>\n\n

                          \n\n\t
                          RISK POINTS:<\/td>\n\tIf you are facing a risky decision at this time, each risk point increases your chance of ultimately having to leave your current ministry position as a result of it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n
                          \n\n\t
                          SAFETY POINTS:<\/td>\n\tEach safety point decreases your chance of ultimately having to leave your current ministry position as a result of a difficult decision.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

                          (Not all of the answers from the questions above were shown to have a measurable level of riskiness or safety. The ones that do are listed below.)<\/p>\n

                          \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                          RISK POINTS<\/strong><\/td>\nSAFETY POINTS<\/strong><\/td>\nANSWERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n1a. No higher education degree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n1c. Liberal arts degree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n1d. Seminary degree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n1e. Non-seminary master’s degree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -4<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n1f. Doctorate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n2b. 100-199<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n2c. 200-499<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n3b. 1-2 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n3d. 5 or more years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+3<\/strong><\/td>\n5b. My second church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n5c. My third church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n5d. My fourth or later church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+3<\/strong><\/td>\n6a. Preaching<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n6b. Teaching (-3 only<\/em> if preaching is not also listed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+3<\/strong><\/td>\n7a. Yes, I use a biblical character as a model for decision making.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n7b. No, I don’t use a biblical character as a model for decision making.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n8a1. No theological decisions per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+3<\/strong><\/td>\n8a2. 1-2 per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          -3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n8c1. No interpersonal decisions per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n8c3. 3-4 interpersonal decisions per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          <\/td>\n+2<\/strong><\/td>\n8c4. 5 or more interpersonal decisions per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

                          How to Calculate Your Score<\/h2>\n

                          Add the safety points and subtract the risk points. The more positive your total score, the more safe is your current environment in ministry decision making. Use the following guidelines to evaluate your score.<\/p>\n\n

                          \n\n\n\n\n
                          SCORE<\/td>\nRISK EVALUATION<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          +14 and higher<\/td>\nA very high score. \u2014You are in a relatively risk-free environment. \u2014Continue to be sensitive to your flock as you also continue your vigorous approach to tough decision making.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          +6 to +13<\/td>\nAn average score. \u2014Take stock of the currently risky factors about your background and\/or your church environment. \u2014Evaluate your own decision-making process to see how it could be strengthened.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          +5 or less<\/td>\nA very risky score. \u2014Look closely at the combination of your background and your current church environment to see where your dangers lie. \u2014Be aware of the dangers. \u2014As you evaluate your own decisionmaking process, seek out advice from experienced pastors on decision making itself as well as the tough decisions you face.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

                          Copyright ©1987 by Christianity Today<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. George S. Patton Is there a way to tell how risky a decision is? Perhaps. At least we can point to the statistical probability that a particular ministry decision will ultimately cause a pastor to leave a church. Pastors indicated they make only a few Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_books":[375],"tax_ctp_categories":[154],"tax_ctp_field_guide_subcategory":[],"tax_ctp_field_guides":[],"tax_ctp_format":[134],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[156],"tax_ctp_tags":[],"tax_ctp_topics":[],"class_list":["post-17767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tax_publications-leadership-journal"],"acf":{"scripture_references":null},"yoast_head":"\nThe Risk Profile - CT Pastors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. George S. Patton Is there a way to tell how risky a decision is? Perhaps. 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