How to Write a Progress Report for Church Ministries

Many churches and denominations engage in ministries for which a progress report is necessary. A progress report for a church ministry is a way to inform a committee, a judicatory or the wider community of the progress made in a ministry over a certain period of time. Progress reports can also request additional information, discuss problems that have risen in the ministry and suggest paths forward when things have come to an impasse.

Gather the data necessary for your report. Read any previous progress reports, as well as the minutes of any committees and subcommittees. Interview the heads of the ministry and request any financial records.

Write the introduction. The introduction should review the ministry's purpose and methods, its specific objectives, the date the ministry began and the projected date of its completion (if there is one). Include the names of people and committees overseeing major aspects of the ministry.

Summarize the work already completed, and provide a summary of any previous progress reports.

Summarize the work currently being done. Provide details and data to substantiate your claims. Break the projects down into the individual tasks being performed.

Summarize the work yet to be done. Outline specific steps that will be taken to meet the ministry's objective, and give a projection of the amount of time each step will take. If the ministry is ongoing, such as a food pantry, outline the markers that will indicate success.

Report any problems encountered in the ministry and the steps being taken to address them. If the ministry is close-ended, like building a house for Habitat for Humanity, state whether it's coming in on time or if a new completion date should be set.