Shiny red pom-poms brought both laughter and curiosity as attendees entered the Healthy Congregations Learning Lab. The gesture, with a personal smile and a joke or two from Caleb Parker and Rev. Kim Lamb, signaled “FUN” to those in the room. The question was posed: is it possible that the Charge Conference Church Health Report could be more effective, empowering, and maybe even a little fun for congregations?

With degrees in social science research from East Carolina University and 17 years of experience working in international development and public health through US government-funded programs, Parker was hired in July 2025 by the NC Conference to help analyze charge conference data. Building on his experience and on the work of researchers and thought leaders, he designed a framework for churches to see themselves as dynamic systems with many components that can either hinder or support the overall health of the congregation.

The Learning Lab gave attendees early-access to the Church Health report, which was designed by a diverse task force and will include a thought-provoking survey that invites participation from all church leadership. The report will replace both the State of the Church Report and the Anti-Racism Report. There will not be a standardized score — instead, it is designed to be much more reflective for each congregation in its unique journey.

More information will be presented about the shift toward the Church Health report during the Friday morning Plenary Session.

Article written by: Kim R. Smith
Photo by: Suzanne Cobb