Every Saturday morning, I wake up with two competing ideas: Do I finally tackle that household project I’ve been putting off, or do I grab a cup of coffee and a book and savor a slow start to the weekend? One side of me values productivity—getting things done, crossing things off the list. The other values rest—knowing that downtime is important too.

What usually happens? A little back and forth, maybe some procrastination, and then a decision that feels right based on what I truly need in that moment.

But imagine if I never thought about what I valued most—how much harder would that decision be? The same is true for churches. When we don’t define our core values, we’re left spinning our wheels in decision-making. Read on for more about why those values matter and how they shape our choices as church leaders.

All the best,
Michael

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The Big Decision Nobody Wanted to Make

The discussion had been going in circles for over an hour.

The church leadership team had gathered to decide whether to launch a new community outreach program. Some were excited about the opportunity. Others worried about stretching resources too thin. A few just wanted to move on to the next agenda item.

Finally, someone asked:

“How does this align with our church’s core values?”

Silence.

People exchanged glances. No one was quite sure how to answer.

It wasn’t that they didn’t care—it was that the church had never clearly defined what mattered most. Without shared core values, decision-making felt like guesswork instead of a confident, Spirit-led process.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Clarifying your church’s core values isn’t just an exercise—it’s a game changer. It helps leaders make decisions with purpose, keeps ministries aligned, and strengthens your congregation’s identity.

What Drives Your Church? Rediscovering and Living Out Your Core Values

What’s at the Heart of Your Church?

Every church has a heartbeat. You can hear it in the way people greet each other on Sunday mornings, in the energy of a children’s ministry, in the priorities set by leadership. It’s not just about what a church does—it’s about why it does it.

But over time, churches, like people, can drift. Traditions take root, programs expand, conflicts arise, and sometimes, the core reasons behind it all can get a little blurry. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering: What makes our church unique? Why do we do things this way? Are we still aligned with what we believe matters most?

That’s where core values come in.

Whether your church has clearly named them or not, core values are already shaping your decisions, ministries, and culture. They determine what you say yes to and what you say no to. They influence how you worship, serve, and engage with your community. The question isn’t whether your church has core values—the question is whether you know what they are and if they’re still guiding you in the right direction.

More Than Just Words on a Website

Some churches make the mistake of treating core values like a marketing statement—something that sounds good on a website but has little to do with the actual life of the congregation. Others assume that because they have a mission statement, they don’t need to define values separately.

But core values and mission statements serve different roles:

• Mission = What we are called to do.
• Core Values = The deep-seated beliefs that shape how we do it.

For example, two churches might have the same mission to “love God and love neighbor”, but if one deeply values tradition and the other prioritizes innovation, their approach to that mission will look completely different.

Core values are the “why” behind the “what.” They clarify who you are as a congregation and help ensure that your ministries, decisions, and culture align with your identity.

Have We Drifted from Our Core? Signs It’s Time to Revisit Your Values

Churches naturally evolve over time, but without intentional reflection, they can drift away from their core values—or never have clearly defined them in the first place.

Some signs that your church may need to take another look at its values:

• Confusion about priorities – Leadership struggles to decide where to focus energy and resources.
  
• Mismatched ministries – Programs continue out of habit rather than a clear connection to your church’s mission and values.
  
• Lack of energy – A congregation that feels like it’s “just going through the motions” rather than engaging in meaningful work.
  
• Internal conflicts – Different factions within the church pulling in opposite directions, often because they are operating from unspoken or assumed values rather than shared, clearly named ones.

If any of this resonates, it may be time to take a step back and reassess what truly matters at the heart of your church.

How to Identify or Reaffirm Your Church’s Core Values

Finding or refining your church’s core values isn’t a complicated process, but it does require intentionality and honesty.

Here are some ways to get started:

1. Listen to Your Story

Every church has defining moments—times when faith, action, and community came together in a way that truly reflected its identity. What are the moments in your church’s history that stand out? When has your congregation been at its best? These moments often reveal the values that have shaped who you are.

2. Observe Your Actions

A church’s real values are reflected in how it spends its time, energy, and money.

• What ministries get the most attention and support?
• How does your church make decisions?
• If an outsider visited, what would they say your church values based on what they see.

If there’s a disconnect between what you say you value and where you actually invest, it’s time to realign.

3. Engage Your Congregation

Core values aren’t just determined by leadership—they should be rooted in the shared identity of the church body.

• Ask your congregation: What is most important to us as a church? What should we never compromise?
• Hold small-group discussions, survey members, or engage your leadership team in a structured conversation about what truly defines your church’s character.

4. Prioritize & Name Them

A long list of values is overwhelming—focus on the top four to six values that truly define your congregation. Keep them concise, clear, and actionable.

For example, instead of saying:

• 🚫 “We value outreach.”
• ✅ “We believe our faith is expressed through active engagement in our local community.”

Try:  
Instead of:

• 🚫 “We value hospitality.”
• ✅ “We seek to create a church environment where every person feels truly seen, welcomed, and embraced.”

Try:  

The Core Values Self-Check: A Quick Exercise for Church Leaders

(Use this with your leadership team, staff, or small groups to gauge where your church stands.)

Ask yourselves:

1. If someone visited our church, what would they say we value most—based on our actions, not just our words?
2. Where do we spend most of our energy? Does it reflect what we say is most important?
3. What are we most proud of as a church?
4. When have we made decisions that felt “off”? Were they out of alignment with our core values?
5. If our church could only be known for three things, what would we want them to be?

These questions can spark honest reflection and help ensure that your church’s ministries and priorities align with your true values.

Living Out Your Core Values with Clarity and Confidence

Defining your core values is only the beginning. The real work happens when you use them to shape decisions, ministries, and culture.

Churches that embrace clear, intentional values tend to experience:

✅ Greater clarity in decision-making – Knowing your values makes it easier to discern what fits your church’s identity and mission.

✅ Stronger unity – When everyone understands and embraces shared values, there’s less conflict and more collective momentum.

✅ A more compelling witness – A church that lives out its values with consistency is more attractive to visitors and more effective in its mission.

A strong, values-driven church isn’t built overnight. It happens one conversation, one decision, and one act of faith at a time.

Bringing It Back to Your Church

If you’d like to explore the core values of your congregation, we’d love to help. Drop us a line, send us an email, or give us a call. Sometimes, the process of rediscovering what matters most is the key to unlocking a stronger, healthier future for your church.