Strategic Planning Survey Analysis April 18, 2007

Transcription

1 Strategic Planning Survey Analysis April 18, 2007 Prepared by Ann Loree The questions on the survey were open-ended. For the analysis, common themes and phrases were extracted from the responses and tallied to give a frequency table. Tables are ordered from highest to lowest frequency for each response theme/phrase. I have chosen not to add negative or positive interpretations to the data, but list it as it was written. Question 1 Has the congregation grown and changed since you arrived? Q1: Has the congregation grown and changed since you arrived? YES 74% NO 11% The following comments were also included as responses to Question 1: both at least not that I have noticed in the last 2 years only attending for about 10 months I can't say if I'm aware if it has grown or not only arrived a few months ago grown 1981 not to my knowledge I think so. I'm new - no comment? I m not sure it s actually grown much since I first came in It has changed Page 1 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

2 Question 2 If so, How? more people/ larger 32 people leaving/ revolving door 9 blank 8 moved location(s) 8 more diversity 6 more staff 6 don't know others, less intimacy 5 more happening, more vibrant 5 more programs 5 pastoral to program church, more professional/ structured 5 more children 4 more committees 4 more social justice 4 more/diff. ppl in leadership/ involved 4 less accessibility to minister/ less pastoral care 3 less humanistic/ more 'church'-y 3 more committees 3 younger demographic 3 children's RE 2 inward-looking 2 more/ varied subjects, quality of worship improved 2 no change/ new member 2 whole more important than individual 2 better budget planning 1 choir 1 community feeling strong 1 covenant 1 deeper religious connection 1 less activities and ministry to congregation 1 less adult education 1 less thoughtful and intellectually stimulating 1 more than room to list 1 noisy 1 personal perspective change 1 preoccupied with money and secrecy 1 shared ministry model 1 Page 2 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

3 Questions 3 How have you been affected by that? don't know everyone/ difficult to build new relationships and community, not connected 21 blank 8 more bureaucracy/ business/ authoritarian 6 energizing/ hopeful/ vibrant/ inspiring 5 sad/ losses of people 5 fine/ positively 3 music ministry - good 3 no 3 personal growth/ strength 3 staffing - intern, music dir. 3 happy to see new people 2 more opportunities to be involved 2 more social justice 2 accommodate/ enrich spiritual journey 1 adult ed 1 almost no adult program 1 better appreciation of LGBT 1 better served by ministry 1 diversity 1 don't feel I make a difference 1 enjoy services 1 growth should be intellectual over physical 1 have a great minister 1 have more problems 1 less fun 1 less trustful/ open 1 more able to manage problems 1 more can be done 1 more opportunities to connect with people 1 more talent/ capable members 1 more trusting 1 necessary 1 negatively 1 not focused on right things 1 poor transition to program church, unclear roles/direction 1 programs 1 share UU with all/ Hamilton 1 shared ministry for deeper connection 1 space issues 1 workload more distributed 1 Page 3 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

4 Question 4 How can we best accompany each other through change and transition? communication - diff. formats 11 listen to everyone 9 idea exchange, small groups 7 open/ inclusive, tolerant 6 blank 5 personal connections 4 clear and inclusive roles, incl. congregants 3 easy to access 3 learn about each other 3 let go of some control, willingness to be surprised 3 talk about change/ change process 3 welcoming to new ppl. 3 follow UU principles, Beloved Comm. pr 2 friendly and commpassionate 2 indiv. Vs org needs 2 outreach to community, new attendees 2 pastoral care 2 planning 2 priorities, purpose, identity 2 promote programs (shared ministry, adult RE) 2 transparen 2 trust 2 work together, share work 2 adult RE 1 creativity 1 democracy 1 diversity 1 education 1 find out why people leaving 1 good structures 1 more focus 1 not sure 1 paid staff 1 participate 1 reflect 1 respectful 1 share our gifts 1 show up 1 Sunday svc lay input 1 vision 0 Page 4 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

5 Question 5 I want this congregation to grow in membership because share what we have: social action (local/world), principles, faith 24 blank 7 greater influence in ppl's lives 7 inclusive, diversity 7 more resources, incl staff, volunteers 4 don't want it 3 more support, incl community 3 new skills/ ideas 3 balance btwn indiv/ church needs 2 closer to goals, priorities 2 covenant commitment 2 don't fade away, sustainable 2 enables ministry, incl. music 2 more programming 2 no opinion 2 OK 2 benefit from gifts 1 better known 1 conversations 1 financial help 1 meaningful worship 1 more funds 1 not growth for own sake 1 pastoral care 1 start new church 1 Page 5 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

6 Question 6 I don t want this congregation to grow in membership because blank 17 don't know people 8 n/a 6 quality more important than quantity 6 not enough room/ space 5 bureaucracy 3 less access to minister 3 neutral 3 selfish, scary 3 don't feel I have an impact 1 inevitable 1 lack of respect for older members 1 need structure in place 1 need to focus on positive solutions 1 not true 1 miss attention to individual 1 Page 6 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

7 Question 7 My hopes about growth and change are share UU with community (local, world) 14 more/ better staffing 8 more connected members (incl. old, young, etc) 7 environmentally conscious 6 inclusive diversity 6 more/ better programming (incl. childrens' RE, soc. Just.) 6 love and respect for others 5 more members 5 diversity in expression of faith and services 4 meet our potential, stronger church 4 notoriety 4 welcoming 4 blank 3 improve church property 3 quality more important than quantity 3 successful pace of change 3 2nd church 2 comfortabe space 2 less burnout 2 positive outlook to challenges 2 build on current strengths 1 cooperative 1 evaluate reasons for members leaving 1 greater spirituality, questioning, study 1 healthy conflict resolution 1 innovative 1 inquisitive 1 living UU principles 1 look after individuals 1 membership committee supported 1 more funding 1 more talent 1 more trusting, let go of control 1 partner with other liberal churches/ org's 1 priorities 1 sacred grounds committee supported 1 Page 7 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

8 Question 8 My fears about growth and change are cliques, not connected, lose people, impersonal, not welcoming 14 blank 10 conformity, watered down, lose UU roots and integrity 6 none 5 business focus on growth rather than what we do well 4 excessive busyness meetings, committees, reports, etc 2 growth without strategic planning 2 less focus on pastoral care/ shared ministry 2 lose members 2 require building expansion 2 unhealthy conflict 2 won't be handled well 2 big misconstrued as better 1 difficult to change (personally) 1 growth for sake of growth 1 lack of growth or change 1 more focus on volunteering 1 not able to hand over responsibility to staff 1 not able to make transition to minister 'leader' 1 problems don't arise 1 totally controlled by minister - negative 1 unjustified physical plant/ energy expense 1 volunteers overloaded 1 won't do necessary changes 1 more focus on fund-raising 1 not ready/ premature 1 Page 8 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

9 Question 9 Which of the following viewpoints comes closest to your own (check as many as apply)? 9a Theism 9b Deism 9c Atheism 9d Non-theism 9e Naturalistic Theism 9f "Open" Agnosticism 9g "Strict" Agnosticism, or Scepticism 9h Humanism 9i UU Christian 9j Mysticism 9k Earth-Centred Spirituality 9l (Neo-) Paganism 9m Feminist Spirituality 9n Pantheism 9o Other 8% 10% 10% 17% 20% 19% 23% 23% 29% 29% 27% 44% 52% 52% 71% Other comments: I believe that "God" resides in all of us and is generally considered to be our soul or conscience. native spirituality labels as above, leave me a bit troubled. It tends then to polarize or separate us into categories of thought, where we drift away from one another. I am very interested in learning about how other religions were begun and have developed - I figure they exist because different cultures had different needs at different times. toaist I identify more with "experiences" of the divine than a "belief" we are co-creators of that which is being XXX (there are dashes and checks - not sure how to count) I believe that our sould "passes over" to to "the other side"; I believe in the concept of Gaia; I believe in the inherent goodness of all mankind. respect creation, nature and all living things. Enjoy the beauty of the above and see a greater being in all of it. I draw on the wisdom of Judaism, Buddhism Taoism, etc as much as I can to enrich my own Christian understanding and to look for the spiritual connectedness in all of the great religions of humankind creation spirituality as taught by renegage priest, radical thinker and compassioned prophet Matthew Fox chiefly Agnostic: I don t believe we are able to know whether or not god exists such knowledge is beyond human capabilities. And is beside the point, as far as I am concerned. Several years ago some theologians recommended a 100-year moratorium on discussions about god. Your actions will manifest your god no matter what you say or even consciously think. I would go with Nikolai Berdyaev: god is the answer to the question why is there anything rather than nothing at all which is the intellectual equivalent of I haven t a clue. Recent history has shown that believing in god (or at least claiming to) doesn t necessarily make one a good person. as defined on this sheet (there are other definitions of all of these that I wouldn t support) also appeal to me. Page 9 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

10 Question 10 What are your spiritual practices? meditation/ prayer 23 nature 16 church/ worship 13 reading 12 helping others, community service, volunteer 11 walking 10 gardening 7 12 step 6 yoga 6 golden rule, caring and commitment, compassion 5 singing 5 be authentic 4 journaling, writing 3 learning, courses (incl. RE), open to new ways of knowing 3 mindfulness practice 3 part of a community, incl church 3 small group discussions with friends 3 time with partner/ family 3 art & design 2 celebrate with friends, incl. holy days 2 dancing 2 everything I do 2 follow UU principles 2 gratitude 2 humanism 2 reflection 2 aesthetic experiences 1 be positive 1 being (vs. doing) 1 birding 1 buddhism 1 ceremony 1 channelling, visits with mediums 1 charitable donations 1 chopping wood 1 connect with others 1 conversation 1 cooking 1 dream works 1 drumming 1 environmental care, sustainable living 1 environmental conservation 1 faith in supreme being 1 feminist practice 1 grace at table 1 liberal Christianity 1 love and appreciate being here 1 none 1 pagan rituals 1 painting 1 photography 1 play with cats 1 receiving help from others 1 recognition of seasons of life 1 recognition/ relfect on cultural heritage 1 reflect on Two te Ching 1 reflection 1 run 1 sacred circle 1 simple living 1 smudging 1 spiritual guides/ angels 1 study philosophy 1 swimming 1 thankfulness 1 unicamp 1 visit Assoc. for Research on Enlightenment 1 visualization 1 watch/ interact with children 1 x-country ski-ing 1 zen 1 Page 10 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007

11 Other: Miscellaneous Notes on Survey T. Cochrane I have joined the congregation just a few weeks ago and therefore don't feel I can respond to the above questions! I have completed the back. Pat Roy Jeffrey Simmons M. Waters I am new here so cannot respond to the above questions. Mel Webber Beryl Pegg Valerie Nielsen I have many thoughts and ideas about growth and change and have developed these ideas in chargs and 'writings'. I would be happy to share them and am preparing to do so. - Nancy Gaylor ( Leslie Diane Keye If a capital campaign is going to happen, the focus should be on: 1. surfacing the parking lot, after installing a boulevard planted with potentially large trees (oak, maple or tulip trees, etc). See diagram on page 2. The parking lot now is difficult to maintain, extremely unsafe in winter and a major source of reentrained dust in the summer. The cost of the parking lot (or lots) is probably: (Standard pricing (for asphalt) assumes $2,000 to $2,500 per parking space) Upper parking lot alone $150,000 to $190,000 Lower parking lot alone $65,000 to $80,000 Totals $215,000 to $270,000 Concrete, (instead of asphalt) usually doubles the initial cost but has a much greater lifespan and is less of a heat sink. Concrete is also an energy-expensive material to produce. Using permeable asphalt or permeable concrete will probably increase the cost as the aggregate must be washed before it can be used to remove the dust. Permeable asphalt and concrete are easier to maintain (minimal freeze-thaw heaving). Much more environmentally friendly. Need less snow-ploughing. And manages rain water amazingly. For permeable surfaces see the Cahill Associates site: Insulating the Re area, dropping the ceiling to save energy in that large area and adding proper storage units. 3. Putting solar panels on the sanctuary roof to help us get off the grid for our electrical needs. I don t believe in unsigned opinions, which I think can be irresponsible, so I m signing this. Should you not want to see the name, I ve left it small and down the page. Thank you for doing this. Please take all comments as constructive, I really do want this congregation to be all it can be. Also, take them in the spirit of Michael Durall s comment in Creating Congregations of Generous People, which I think applies to all aspects of church life, not just stewardship: Don t view a negative comment as necessarily a bad thing it may provide the opportunity to address a problematic or long-standing issue that has impeded effective stewardship in the congregation. Bill Johnston Page 11 of 11 4/28/2007 Strategic Planning Survey Results 2007