WHAT S HAPPENING IN YOUTH CONFIRMATION? High School Students

Transcription

1 WHAT S HAPPENING IN YOUTH CONFIRMATION? High School Students Again, thank you very much for participating in this study of youth confirmation in The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod. Your responses will add much to the understanding of this important ministry. About You (Please check only one item in each question.) 1. Your age is: age 14 (7%); 15 (24%); 16 (17%); 17 (15%); 18 (38%) 2. You are in grade: 8 (1%)_; 9 (18%); 10 (22%); 11 (10%); 12 (49%) 3. Your gender: (1)_44%_Male (2)_56%_Female 4. You are a student in a (1)_88%_Public school (2)_7%_Lutheran school (3)_3% Private school (4)_2%)_I m home-schooled 5. You consider myself to be (1)_96%_White (Caucasian) (2)_2% Black (3)_1% Hispanic or Latino (4) _0% Asian (5)_1% Another Ethnic Group (Please name) Your Confirmation (Please check only one item in each question.) 6. For how many years did you attend confirmation classes? (1)_3% One (2)_57%_Two (3)_28%_Three (4)_3% Four (5)_8% Another length of time (Please specify) 7. In which grade did you begin confirmation classes? (1)_3% Grade 5 (2)_32%_Grade 6 (3)_57%_Grade 7 (4)_6% Grade 8 (5)_2% Other (Please name) 8. You confessed your faith during the rite of confirmation in grade (1)_0% Five (2)_0% Six (3)_3% Seven (4)_77%_Eight (5)_16%_Nine (6)_3% Other (Please name) 9. Confirmation classes were taught by (1)_63%_A pastor alone (2)_10%_A pastor and DCE (3)_5% A pastor and a Lutheran teacher (4)_8% A pastor and a layperson(s) (5)_5% A DCE alone (6)_1% A Lutheran teacher alone (7)_0% A layperson(s) alone (8)_3% A DCE and a layperson(s) (9)_0% A teacher and a layperson(s) (10)_5% Other (Please specify) 10. Your confirmation class met as (1)_49%_A large group (2)_17%_Small groups (3)_30%_A large group and small groups (4)_3% There was another structure (Please specify) 11. Which of these events were part of your youth confirmation experience? (Please check only one item) (1)_31%_Retreats (2)_2% Field trips (3)_18%_Retreats & fields trips (4)_49%_No retreats or fields trips 12. What was the level of your interest in confirmation classes? (1)_15%_Very high (2)_66%_Moderate (3)_14%_Low (4)_6% I don t remember 13. How much difference did youth confirmation make in your life as a Christian? (1)_36%_A great deal of difference (2)_51%_Some difference (3)_8% Little difference (4)_6% I m not sure 1

2 14. Do you agree or disagree? Confirmation is the most important Christian education event so far in my life. (1)_36%_I agree totally (2)_52%_I agree to some extent (3)_12%_I disagree (4)_1% I disagree totally 15. As you think about youth confirmation, what is the level of your satisfaction with this experience? (1)_35%_High (2)_51%_Moderate (3)_7% Low (4)_7%_I m not sure Two positive memories of your youth confirmation experience are: Two memories of any frustrations with your youth confirmation experience are: When thinking about your youth confirmation experiences, what are two questions which come to mind? What are two possible changes in confirmation ministry which you can think of? About Parent Involvement (Please check only one item in each question.) 24. Were your parents involved in classes or meetings specifically planned for parents of confirmands? (1)_11%_Parents were required to be involved (2)_30%_Parent involvement was strongly encouraged (3)_30%_Parent participation was an option (4)_28%_Parents were not involved 25. If your parents were involved in planned activities for parents of confirmands, how were they involved? (Please check only one item) (1)_7% Parents attended a parent class (2)_12%_Parents attended all confirmation classes with their youth (3)_13%_Parents attended confirmation classes with their youth at various times (4)_6% Parents attended a class for parents while youth were in their own class (5)_10%_Parents were given resources to use at home with their youth. (6)_0% Parents were given resources to read (7)_10%_Parents served as mentors of small groups (8)_29%_Parents provided support such as transportation (9)_13%_Other kinds of involvement (Please name) 26. If your parents were involved in youth confirmation, how do you feel about their participation? (1)_49%_Very positive (2)_25%_Somewhat positive (3)_6% Not positive (4)_20%_I m not sure Youth Ministry (Please check only one item in each queston.) 27. Is there an organized group involving high school youth in your congregation? (1)_97%_Yes (2)_3% No (3)_0% No, but I wish there were 28. If there is an organized group involving high school youth, how active is the group? (1)_28%_Very active (2)_43%_Active (3)_21%_Somewhat active (4)_9% Not active 29. At this time, what is the level of your own involvement in your congregation s youth group (1)_33%_Very active (2)_24%_Active (3)_25%_Somewhat active (4)_18%_Not active 2

3 30. The youth group in your congregation is led by a (1)_41%_DCE (2)_7% Lutheran teacher (3)_18%_Pastor (4)_5% Parents of youth (5)_22%_Members of the congregation (6)_7% Other (please name) 31. What is the level of your congregation s support of youth ministry? (1)_46%_High (2)_42%_Moderate (3)_9% Low (4)_3% No support 32. Agree or disagree with this statement: The youth ministry of my church helps me to grow in faith. (1)_30%_I agree totally (2)_34%_I agree to a large extent (3)_27%_I agree somewhat (4)_9% I disagree Service Projects (Please check only one item in each question.) 33. Were service projects in your congregation or community required as part of youth confirmation? (1)_26%_Yes (2)_47%_No (3)_20%_Service projects were an option (4)_7% I do not remember 34. Within the last year, how many service projects in the congregation or community have you been part of? (1)_21%_5-6 projects (2)_34%_3-4 projects (3)_32%_1-2 projects (4)_14%_None 35. In your view, how important are service projects as part of youth confirmation? (1)_22%_Very important (2)_43%_Important (3)_23%_Somewhat important (4)_13%_Not important About Luther s Small Catechism (Please check only one item in each question.) 36. During the confirmation years, what was the level of your interest in a study of Luther s Small Catechism? (1)_11%_High (2)_47%_Moderate (3)_35%_Low (4)_7% I don t remember 37. How helpful to you was Luther s Small Catechism in your growth in faith? (1)_19%_Very helpful (2)_35%_Helpful (3)_34%_Somewhat helpful (4)_12%_Not helpful 38. How helpful to you was Luther s Small Catechism in understanding the Bible? (1)_32%_Very helpful (2)_33%_Helpful (3)_25%_Somewhat helpful (4)_11%_Not helpful 39. After the rite of confirmation, do you continue to read or study any part of Luther s Small Catechism? (1)_2% Often (2)_23%_At various times (3)_25% A few times (4)_50%_Not at all 40. Since the rite of confirmation, do you use Luther s Small Catechism as a prayer book? (1)_2% Often (2)_11% At various times (3)_15%_Once every 6 months or so (4)_72%_Never 41. As you think about confirmation, how helpful in your faith journey was memorizing Bible passages? (1)_17%_Very helpful (2)_24%_Helpful (3)_43%_Somewhat helpful (4)_17%_Not helpful 42. How helpful in your faith journey was memorizing key parts of Luther s Small Catechism? (1)_17%_Very helpful (2)_21%_Helpful (3)_35%_Somewhat helpful (4)_27%_Not helpful 43. What is the level of your interest at this time in a follow-up study of Luther s Small Catechism? (1)_11%_High level of interest (2)_35% Moderate (3)_40%_Low (4)_15%_I m not sure 44 What moves one to confess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord is that He (1)_6% Was born as the son of Mary (2)_13%_Performed miracles (3)_71%_Was raised from the dead (4)_10%_Was a great teacher 3

4 45. The topic discussed in the Seventh Commandment is (1)_5% Worshipping only the Lord (2)_59%_Not coveting what belongs to others (3)_12%_Protecting one s reputation (4)_24%_Taking care of property 46. The purpose of the Ten Commandments as a mirror is to (1)_28%_Show a person one s sins (2)_5% Control the outbursts of sin in the world (3)_65%_Guide one to lead a God-pleasing life (4)_2% I m not sure 47. In Holy Communion, one receives (1)_28%_Bread and wine as symbols of Christ s presence (2)_40%_Christ s Body and Blood and bread and wine (3)_31%_Christ s Body and Blood which replace bread and wine (4)_1% I m not sure 48. Jesus is given the title Christ which means that He: (1)_6% Performed miracles (2)_75%_Was anointed with the Holy Spirit (3)_1% Taught through parables (4)_18%_Was raised from the dead Youth Confirmation Topics (Please check only one item in each question.) How often was each of the following topics discussed in your confirmation classes? Discussed Discussed Discussed a Not Often Sometimes Few Times Discussed 49. The Ten Commandments (1)_76%_ (2)_23% (3)_1% (4)_0% 50. The Apostles Creed (1)_62%_ (2)_30% (3)_7% (4)_1% 51. The Lord s Prayer (1)_70%_ (2)_25% (3)_5% (4)_0% 52. Holy Baptism (1)_63%_ (2)_28% (3)_9% (4)_0% 53. Holy Communion (1)_73%_ (2)_24% (3)_3% (4)_0% 54. Confession of Sins and Forgiveness (1)_60%_ (2)_33% (3)_6% (4)_1% 55. Bible foundations of the Six Chief Parts (1)_28%_ (2)_21% (3)_35%_ (4)_16%_ 56. People, events, teachings of the Bible (1)_32%_ (2)_44% (3)_18%_ (4)_6% 57. Practice of daily prayer and meditation (1)_32%_ (2)_44% (3)_17%_ (4)_7% 58. Worship, liturgies, hymns, songs (1)_21%_ (2)_30% (3)_27%_ (4)_21%_ 59. A Christian s vocation (1)_18%_ (2)_36% (3)_33% (4)_14%_ 60. Making moral decisions (1)_46%_ (2)_37% (3)_14% (4)_3% 61. Sharing one s faith with others (1)_53%_ (2)_31% (3)_13% (4)_3% 62. One s role in the church s mission (1)_28%_ (2)_44% (3)_19% (4)_8% 63. Ethical issues related to human life (1)_21%_ (2)_48% (3)_24% (4)_8% 64. Use of illegal drugs and liquor (1)_19%_ (2)_30% (3)_35% (4)_16%_ 65. Dating, marriage, and family (1)_33%_ (2)_32% (3)_31% (4)_5% 66. The supernatural world, as astrology (1)_12%_ (2)_20% (3)_35% (4)_35%_ Faith Practices (Please check only one item in each question.) 67. When it comes to church and church activities, I consider myself to be (1)_38%_Very active (2)_34%_Active (3)_24%_Somewhat active (4)_5%_Not active 68. If it were totally up to you, would you go to the same church that you go to now? (1) _47%_Definitely, yes (2) 39% _Probably the same church (3)_8% A different church (4)_7% I m not sure 69. During a typical day or week, I normally pray (1)_23%_Several times a day (2)_52%_1-2 times a day (3)_24%_1-2 times a week (4)_2% Hardly ever 4

5 70. During a typical week, the number of times that I read the Bible is (1)_15%_5-6 times a week (2)_14%_3-4 times a week (3)_28%_1-2 times a week (4)_44%_Hardly ever 71. During a month, the number of times that I worship with a congregation is (1)_74%_3-4 times a month (2)_21%_1-2 times a month (3)_5%_Every 2-3 months (4)_1% Hardly ever 72. During a month, the number of times that I am in a Bible class is (1)_51%_3-4 times a month (2)_16%_1-2 times a month (3)_5%_Every 2-3 months (4)_29%_Hardly ever 73. During a month, the number of times that I commune is (1)_76%_In every service which offers this Sacrament (2)_12%_2 times (3)_11%_1 time (4)_0% 0 times 74. In praying alone, the level of my confidence is (1)_55%_High (2)_39%_Moderate (3)_5% Low (4)_1% Very low 75. When praying with others and speaking a prayer, the level of my confidence is (1)_24%_High (2)_52%_Moderate (3)_21% Low (4)_3% Very low 76. Do you agree or disagree? I know what I want to do with my life. (1)_18%_I strongly agree (2)_49%_I agree (3)_27%_I disagree (4)_6%_I strongly disagree 77. In confirmation classes, your purpose in living as a Christian was discussed. (1)_27%_I strongly agree (2)_67%_I agree (3)_6%_I disagree (4)_0%_I strongly disagree 78. I have thought about being a full-time church worker, such as a teacher, pastor, DCE, or youth leader (1)_9%_Many times (2)_8%_Several times (3)_41%_A few times (4)_42%_Never Reaching Out to Others (Please check only one item in each question.) 79. Is it okay for a person to share one s faith with others, or should one leave others alone? (1)_81%One should share faith whenever possible (2)_16%_One is to share faith only when one asks (3)_1%_One should leave others alone (4)_2% I m not sure 80. In the last year, how often have you invited a non-christian friend to a church event as worship or youth group? (1)_13%_Several times (2)_49%_Once or twice (3) _39%_I haven t invited anyone 81. The most important teaching of the Bible to share with a person who is not a Christian is that (1)_13%_the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2)_8% God is the Creator of all things (3)_2% The Holy Spirit fills one s life with power (4)_77%_Jesus died for my sins and is alive 82. Telling another person that Jesus died for one s sins is very important to me. (1)_42%_I strongly agree (2)_53%_I agree (3)_6% I disagree (4)_0% I strong disagree 83. My congregation is making strong efforts to bring the Gospel to those not connected to Christ. (1)_18%_I strongly agree (2)_65%_I agree (3)_12%_I disagree (4)_5%_I strongly disagree 84. My congregation makes strong efforts to help hurting people who are not members of a church. (1)_26%_I strongly agree (2)_52%_I agree (3)_15%_I disagree (4)_8% I strongly disagree 85. In your view, how important is the church s caring for people who are older than age 65? (1)_40%_Very important (2)_53%_Important (3)_5%_Somewhat important (4)_2% Not important 5

6 86. In your view, how important is the church s outreach to all ethnic groups? (1)_33%_Very important (2)_42%_Important (3)_19%_Somewhat important (4)_6%_Not important About Right and Wrong (Please check only one item in each question.) 87. My faith in Jesus Christ helps me know what is right and what is wrong. (1)_61%_I strongly agree (2)_38%_I agree (3)_0% I disagree (4)_1% I strongly disagree 88. Do you usually know what is right and what is wrong in most situations? (1)_21%_I always know what is right and wrong (2)_70%_Usually, I have a good idea of right and wrong (3)_9% Sometimes, I m confused (4) 0%_Often, I don t know what is right and wrong 89. Do you feel pressure from your peers to do things which you know are wrong? (1)_6% Yes, peer pressure is a problem for me (2)_48%_There are times when peer pressure gets to me. (3)_35%_No. I feel like I am in control most of the time (4)_11%_Peer pressure is never a problem 90. When you are not sure of what is right or wrong in a situation, how do you decide what to do? (1)_22%_I do what makes me happy (2)_30%_I follow the advice of an adult I respect (3)_8% I do what helps me to get ahead (4)_40%_I do what God and the Bible tell me to do 91. Among my classmates, I know that some drink alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine. (1)_61%_At least once every week (2)_25%_Once or twice every month (3)_2% Once or twice every six months (4)_12%_None at all 92. In our confirmation classes, we discussed illegal drinking of alcoholic beverages by minors. (1)_10%_I strongly agree (2)_56%_I agree (3)_23%_I disagree (4)_10%_I strongly disagree 93. Among my classmates, I know that some use marijuana. (1)_48%_At least once a week (2)_18%_Once or twice every month (3)_14%_Once or twice every six months (4)_20%_None at all 94. In our confirmation classes, we discussed the use of illegal drugs like marijuana. (1)_9% I strongly agree (2)_45%_I agree (3)_36%_I disagree (4) _10%_I strongly disagree 95. In my school, I know that taking one s own life (suicide) is talked about by (1)_8% Many students (2)_24%_Some students (3)_39%_A few students (4)_29%_None at all 96. In our confirmation classes, we discussed suicide. (1)_16%_I strongly agree (2)_60%_I agree (3)_20%_I disagree (4)_5% I strongly disagree 97. Among my classmates at school, I think that students who have engaged in sexual intercourse are (1)_58%_Many (2)_25%_Some (3)_10%_A few (4)_7% None at all 98. In our confirmation classes, we discussed sexual relationships before marriage. (1)_36%_I strongly agree (2)_57%_I agree (3)_3% I disagree (4)_3% I strongly disagree 99. If two people want to live together in a sexual relationship before marriage, I believe that (1)_6% This is okay if they love each other (2)_17%_This decision is to be made by each couple (3)_64%_This is not the right thing to do (4)_14%_I m not sure what I believe about this 6

7 100. In our confirmation classes, we discussed what the Bible says about living together. (1)_24%_I strongly agree (2)_57%_I agree (3)_14%_I disagree (4)_6% I strongly disagree 101. When two gay people say that they love each other and want to marry, I believe that (1)_14%_This relationship should be recognized as a marriage by the church (2)_65%_This relationship should not be recognized as a marriage by the church (3)_8% Questions about this relationship deserve more study (4)_14%_I m not sure what I believe about this 102. In our confirmation classes, we discussed the desire of homosexuals to marry.. (1)_11%_I strongly agree (2)_44%_I agree (3)_42%_I disagree (4)_3% I strongly disagree 103. If a man and woman who are not married conceive a child, it s okay for them to seek an abortion. (1)_2% I strongly agree (2)_7% I agree (3)_25%_I disagree (4)_66%_I strongly disagree 104. In our confirmation classes, we discussed abortion in the light of the Scriptures. (1)_28%_I strongly agree (2)_51%_I agree (3)_15%_I disagree (4)_7%_I strongly disagree 105. If a person is unconscious for months and is brain dead, one s family should have the right to seek a doctor to end the person s life. (1)_7% I strongly agree (2)_44%_I agree (3)_33%_I disagree (4)_16%_I strongly disagree 106. In our confirmation classes, we discussed what ending the life of a person life who is brain-dead means. (1)_7% I strongly agree (2)_41%_I agree (3)_35%_I disagree (4)_17%_I strongly disagree 107. I believe that there are no definite rights and wrongs for everybody. (1)_6% I strongly agree (2)_31%_I agree (3)_34%_I disagree (4)_30%_I strongly disagree About Beliefs (Please check only one item in each question.) 108. I believe that the Bible as the inspired Word of God is the source of truth in my life.. (1)_58%_I strongly agree (2)_38%_I agree (3)_2% I disagree (4)_2% I m not sure 109. I believe that the devil or Satan is (1)_76%_A living creature active in our world (2)_17%_A symbol of evil, but not a real creature (3)_2% A creature real in the Bible but not today (4)_5%_I m not sure what I think about the devil 110. I believe that I must obey God s rules and commandments in order to be saved. (1)_21%_I strongly agree (2)_38%_I agree (3)_29%_I disagree (4)_11%_I strongly disagree 111. Although there are many religions in the world, most of them lead to the same God. (1)_9% I strongly agree (2)_27%_I agree (3)_40%_I disagree (4)_24%_I strongly disagree 112. Astrology, a belief that stars and planets affect people s lives, can help one to make decisions. (1)_2% I strongly agree (2)_6% I agree (3)_38%_I disagree (4)_54%_I strongly disagree 113. I trust that God s gift of eternal life is mine through (1)_13%_Obeying God s commandments as much as I can (3)_3% My good works which please God (2)_6% Living as a faithful member of the church (4)_78%_Faith in Christ s death and resurrection 114. My congregation is helping me to grow in faith and in living as a Christian. (1)_25%_I strongly agree (2)_63%_I agree (3)_12%_I disagree (4)_0% I strongly disagree 7

8 Goals of Youth Confirmation (Please check only one item in each question.) Many goals for youth confirmation have been named. Which of these goals were achieved in your confirmation? Fully Mostly Somewhat Not Achieved Achieved Achieved Achieved 115. Make a public confession of faith (1)_72%_ (2)_17%_ (3)_9% (4)_1% 116. Renew one s baptism covenant (1)_55%_ (2)_24%_ (3)_8% (4)_13%_ 117. Prepare to receive Holy Communion (1)_90%_ (2)_8% (3)_1% (4)_1% 118. Receive the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands (1)_53%_ (2)_17%_ (3)_7% (4)_23%_ 119. Help one to grow in faith (1)_62%_ (2)_29%_ (3)_8% (4)_0% 120. Affirm Scripture as source and norm of faith (1)_68%_ (2)_30%_ (3)_1% (4)_1% 121. Declare one s intent to live as a disciple (1)_53%_ (2)_25%_ (3)_14%_ (4)_8% 122. Demonstrate one s knowledge of Luther s Small Catechism (1)_47%_ (2)_24%_ (3)_20%_ (4)_9% 123. Discuss what being a Lutheran means (1)_62%_ (2)_29%_ (3)_7% (4)_2% 124. Become a fuller member of the church (1)_58%_ (2)_28%_ (3)_13%_ (4)_2% 125. Live daily in the light of one s baptism (1)_44%_ (2)_35%_ (3)_17%_ (4)_5% 126. Commit to the mission of the church (1)_45%_ (2)_27%_ (3)_20%_ (4)_8% 127. Worship and commune faithfully (1)_80%_ (2)_14%_ (3)_5% (4)_1% 128. Welcome one as a communing member (1)_68%_ (2)_22%_ (3)_5% (4)_5% 129. Strengthen one s relationship with a pastor and other called church workers (1)_50%_ (2)_33%_ (3)_13% (4)_4% 130. Identify one s gifts for service (1)_31%_ (2)_44%_ (3)_20% (4)_6% 131. Share one s faith in daily life (1)_39%_ (2)_31%_ (3)_24% (4)_6% 132. Make moral decisions based on Scripture (1)_50%_ (2)_40%_ (3)_8% (4)_2% 133. Describe biblical views of marriage and family (1)_52%_ (2)_31%_ (3)_13% (4)_4% 134. Engage in serving church and community (1)_51%_ (2)_36%_ (3)_8% (4)_5% About the Church (Please check only one item in each question.) 135. What kinds of music do you like to sing in a worship service? (1)_23%_Hymns in a hymnal (2)_24%Contemporary songs (3)_37%_Hymns and contemporary songs (4)_16%I have no preference 136. What kind of worship service do you prefer? (1)_24%_Traditional, liturgical worship (3)_34%_A blend of contemporary and traditional (2) _22% A contemporary service (4) _21% I have no preference 137. Your congregation is making strong efforts to bring the Gospel to those not connected to Christ. (1)_25%_Strongly agree (2)_61%_Agree (3)_11%_Disagree (4)_2% Strongly disagree 138. Your congregation makes strong efforts to help those who art hurting and are not members. (1)_33%_Strongly agree (2)_50%_Agree (3) _15%_Disagree (4)_2% Strongly disagree 139. Agree or disagree? Youth confirmation is the most important Christian education experience in my life. (1)_34%_I agree totally (2)_50%_I agree to some extent (3)_16%_I disagree (4)_0% I disagree totally Thank you for answering these questions! Your responses add much to understanding youth confirmation! 8

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