CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY

I. Personal Information
                       16-30        31-40        41-50         51-65         65+ 

My age is:              1   	          Married      Widowed      Divorced      Single

I am:	
                         Male           Female

I am:  	
Ages of children living at home: ____________________________________

Former denomination, if any ________________________________________________________________________
	
                                                                        Under 2 yrs.     2-5 yrs.     6-10 yrs.     11-20 yrs.   20 yrs.+    Not a member

I have been a member of _________ Church for:	
                                                                         
                                                                         Very active      Moderately active    Not very active        Inactive                                    

As a member, I am generally:
	
                                                                                                         Most every      1 or 2 times     A few times    Rarely/
                                                                                                            Sunday          per month          per year       never

 Usually attend services
	
                                                                                                           8:00 am                            10:00 am

When I attend church, it is usually the service at:
	
In recent years, I have participated in the following church activities:
__________________________________________           ______________________________________________
______________________________________          __________________________________________
______________________________________          __________________________________________
______________________________________          __________________________________________
	
Over the years, my                                                                         Increased          Stayed about the same          Declined

     Attendance at worship services has:

     Participation in other church activities has:

     If your level of participation has changed, please briefly indicate why:  ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________    
	
                                                                                                                                    Very            Somewhat          Not
If you have children (under age 16) living at home, please indicate their level of      Active              Active            Active

involvement in:
     Sunday morning activities (Sunday school, choir, acolytes, teaching)

     Other groups and activities

                                                                                                      Yes                         No

I/we pledge to the annual church budget

                                                                                      A percent of income          A dollar amount               Other

I/we decide on how much to give to the church as:  

II.  Personal Views of Church Life
Generally speaking, how important to you are these aspects of church life?    
                                                                                          Very                                                          Not at all           Cannot
                                                                                      Important                                                      Important             rate

                 
     Administration                                                  

     Christian Formation/Education

     Church Growth/Development

     Communications Ministry               

     Ecumenical/Interfaith

     Evangelism

     Leadership Development

     Liturgy

     Multi/Cross-Cultural Ministry

     Music Ministry

     Outreach/Social Justice Advocacy 

     Pastoral Care	

	
     Preaching 

     Spiritual Guidance

     Stewardship

     Teaching

     Theology

     Ministry With Youth	

How would you rate the quality of the following aspects of _________ Church?                                            Cannot
                                                                                       Excellent                                   Poor                                      rate

     Administration

     Christian Formation/Education

     Church Growth/Development

     Communications Ministry

     Ecumenical/Interfaith

     Evangelism

     Leadership Development

     Liturgy

     Multi/Cross-Cultural Ministry

     Music Ministry

     Outreach/Social Justice Advocacy 

     Pastoral Care

     Preaching

     Spiritual Guidance

     Stewardship

     Teaching

     Theology

     Ministry With Youth

What are the one or two key strengths of __________ Church?

     1._________________________________________________________________________________________

     2.  ________________________________________________________________________________________
   	
What are the one or two key growth areas of __________ Church?

1.	________________________________________________________________________________

      2.  ________________________________________________________________________________	
	
If you could change one thing about __________ Church, what would it be?
     
     ___________________________________________________________________________________

How would this change affect your participation and/or your giving?
     
     ____________________________________________________________________________________________

What one thing about __________ Church would you want to be sure did not change?
     
     ____________________________________________________________________________________________
      	
What do you believe should be the key mission of _____ Church? (Where would you commit your time, money & energy?)
     
     ____________________________________________________________________________________________

     ____________________________________________________________________________________________
	
                                                                                               Very helpful                                                       Not applicable

How helpful was the church in a time of personal need?         	
In the questions below, please check the box which most closely reflects your feelings:
                                                                                             Very warm, caring                                 Not at all warm, caring

The “personality” of _________ Church is:  

                                                                                             Far too large                                                         Far too small

_________ Church’s financial support for outreach
programs is:

                                                                                             Far too high                                                             Far too low

The emphasis on spiritual/religious life has been:

                                                                                                                                                                                    No

                                                                                             Far too fast                                         Far too slow   Opinion
The level of change at ________ Church over the years
has been:

                                                                                             Very positive                                                      Quite negative

My overall feeling toward _________ Church is:	
III. Personal Role Expectations of a New Rector/Vicar
Listed below are a number of aspects of parish ministry.  Recognizing that no one can excel in or place high priority on all of these, please indicate how important each of these should be in selecting a new rector/vicar.  Keeping in mind your key mission statement on page 3, consider only the personal role of the rector/vicar; assume that he/she will utilize the other clergy and staff appropriately.

                                                                                                            Very                                 Not at all           Cannot
     Pastoral Care                                                                            Important                            Important             rate

Personally ministers to the sick, dying and bereaved.                	

Visits regularly in the homes of the congregation.	

Establishes an effective program to visit members of the con-
gregation such as the sick, home-bound, hospitalized, bereaved.	

Counsels people about their personal and moral problems
and major decisions of life, such as marriage, vocation.		

Talks with individuals about their spiritual development,
religious life, and beliefs.	

                                                                                                            Very                                 Not at all          Cannot
     Outreach/Social Justice Advocacy                                        Important                             Important            rate

Is personally committed to ministry outside the parish.	

Assists victims of injustice and oppression.	

Empowers victims of injustice and oppression.	

Involves members of congregation in outreach projects.	

                                                                                                           Very                                 Not at all         Cannot
    Pastoral Life                                                                              Important                             Important            rate

		

Actively reaches out to bring new members into the Church.	

Works to retain members.	

Strives to create a church climate in which everyone feels
accepted as a child of God	

Is enthusiastic about the struggle to do the Lord’s work in 
everyday life.	

Fosters fellowship at parish gatherings.	

Supports organizations and activities within the parish.	

	

	

                                                                                                            Very                                    Not at all         Cannot
    Management/leadership style                                                   Important                               Important           rate   

Works with congregational boards and committees.                	

Administers church office activities, church bulletins,
correspondence, records, etc.	

Personally solicits and provides leadership in securing
needed funds for major programs.		

Helps plan church budget and manages church finances.		

Develops the overall church long-range plan.	

Initiates new ideas for activities and is open to new ideas of
others.	

Willingness and ability to delegate appropriate
responsibilities to staff in an effective manner.	

                                                                                                            Very                                 Not at all          Cannot
    Worship/Liturgy/Educational/Theology                                  Important                             Important            rate

Develops and uses a variety of forms of liturgy.	

Maintains a discipline of prayer and personal devotion.	

Preaches outstanding sermons.	

Can preach children’s’ sermons.	

Teaches adults in religious education classes and/or
special seminars.	

Dedicated to a high caliber and quality of Christian Formation/
Education for children and youth.	

Is personally committed to time, talent,  and financial
stewardship.	

                                                                                                           Very                                 Not at all         Cannot
    Lay leadership/ministry                                                           Important                             Important            rate

Is committed to lay participation in worship services.	

Interests and recruits capable people in church activities.	

Promotes full lay leadership in all aspects of parish life.	

Works closely with the Vestry in creating and implementing
a long range plan.	

What are the one or two key characteristics you would hope to have in a new rector/vicar?

1.	______________________________________________________________________________________

     2.    _____________________________________________________________________________________

What one or two characteristics are least important to you in a new rector/vicar?

1.	_____________________________________________________________________________________

      2.   ____________________________________________________________________________________

  IV. Additional Comments

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

We deeply appreciate the time you have taken to fill out this survey! In doing so you are providing your Self-study Committee with invaluable information. Please return in the enclosed post-paid envelope by _________

Copyright © 2007 by Elizabeth Rankin Geitz. From “Resources for the Discernment Process,” supplementary materials to Calling Clergy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide Through the Search Process by Elizabeth Rankin Geitz. Permission to download and adapt these materials for congregational use only has been given by Church Publishing, Inc.