WHERE ARE WE GOING?
(A Report on Our Congregational Survey)
2004
We "took stock" of ourselves with a congregational survey. It said a lot about our hopes, fears, and vision. 24 of our 116 confirmed members or 21% returned a survey, which is enough to provide valuable insight.
Worship Enrichment: We feel that our worship experience unites the members into a close and friendly "family". We generally feel that the sermons are very good and uplifting. We like and want more involvement of the laity in the service. We feel that our worship services help us to grow spiritually. The combination of contemporary and traditional worship is comfortable.
However, there is a tension between having traditional worship that is predictable and using new and sometimes unfamiliar ways to worship God (i.e. gospel music, skits, Taize, Holden, etc.) Some of us want diversity, but implemented carefully. Some are concerned with change in worship (i.e. our use of Setting V in the With One Voice Hymnal made some people upset. It was "too much change" they said.) Others desire new worship experiences that convey more upbeat atmosphere and greater excitement in worship, especially if we are to attract and hold new, young families, youth, etc. Many ideas were shared about new possibilities for worship.
Change: Most members now seem to embrace the necessity of being open to change. And then to intentionally plan it into our ministries. Many of us sense that change is not only inevitable but essential to future health and survival. However, there is a tension between what is familiar and what is new (i.e. while some desire growth in membership there us a degree of discomfort over the changes that may come as we seek to gain new members).
Growth in Members: We are concerned about our loss in members. One hundred percent of survey respondents indicated that growth in membership was very important. Members indicated that an influx of new member families would improve all the ministries of the congregation (i.e. church school, youth ministry, finances, etc.) Members did not indicate ideas on how to attract and retain new members, but they were interested in doing so.
Day School: We want a stronger relationship with our congregation's Day School. We feel that we don't know enough about it. Concerns were expressed about playschool safety, the size and scope of the board, and strengthening the connection between the school, its staff and board with the congregation. Several respondents indicated a desire to see the Day School as a focus for outreach to the children and their families. Specific ideas that were shared included joint work days, Day school recognition Sunday and opportunities for the congregation to thank the day school staff.
Equipping Ministries (Education): There is a concern over the lack of children in our church school. Two thirds of the families responding do not participate in Christian Education. Most of adult survey respondents (55%) do not participate in adult education. There is a de- sire for more Christian Education options for adults, children and family.
Outreach: One third of the respondents feel that we do not do enough in outreach. We need a focused program of inviting others in the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. Be- yond inviting others, a need to better assimilate new members was lifted up, helping new members to become involved in a meaningful way in the life of the congregation, in the sharing of their gifts for ministry and in developing new leadership. A concern was expressed about the status of our Stephen Ministry program and the desire to see it become more effective and utilized. We feel that we need to focus on getting our members involved by first matching their skills to ministry opportunities and then organizing to ask them to serve.
Fellowship: One hundred percent of the respondents felt that their involvement in small groups helped their faith journey. We also felt that our fellowship events are well done, meaningful and important to people's sense of belonging. We also want more events and to use these events as occasions to invite community families to join us. There is an articulated need to activate and organize our Christ Care Groups. This requires leadership and coordination.
Youth: There is a concern that we don't have enough youth involved. There is a desire to have more and better programs to attract youth and to work with other congregations in joint events. (Ed. Note: since the survey the youth program has been strengthened and enriched, much to the delight of our members. We still are concerned about the number of active youth but efforts are definitely being made in this regard.)
Communications: There is considerable concern over the quality of communications.
We feel that much needs to be done for committees to communicate with the congregation council and the communication of information from the congregational council to the congregation. It is felt that more needed to be done with email in communicating with each other (a major majority of our members have access to email). Accents is appreciated and should be expanded. 4 respondents expressed a desire to return to a weekly newsletter, others are satisfied with the current twice monthly delivery, still others desire that we move to a once monthly distribution, still others expressed no opinion. Sunday bulletin announcements should be expanded. A telephone chain should be created.
Facilities: We feel that we need to improve our parking lot and lighting. We feel that we need to upgrade our facilities to be more inviting and appear less "worn". (i.e. narthex, play school, entrance to sanctuary, etc.)
Direction: Several members felt that we need to establish goals in order to set direction I and guide the Involvement of people in ministry. They feel that we do not have enough direction (goals) to guide member involvement and use of resources (people, time, money).