ST. Matthew s Episcopal Church: Congregation Survey Highlights. REV: June 6, Source: Congregation Survey Highlights, 2014

Transcription

1 ST. Matthew s Episcopal Church: Congregation Survey Highlights REV: June 6, 2014

2 I have no desire to make window s into men s souls. (Queen Elizabeth I - 16 January, 1559) 2

3 Table of Contents Introduction page 4 Methodology page 5 The Sample page 6 Reader Notes page 7 Parishioners Backgrounds page 8 The Worship Service page 15 Activities at St. Matthew s page 17 The Buzz on St. Matthew s page 22 St. Matthew s Core Values page 28 Getting Involved at St. Matthew s page 32 Excitement / Concern / Hope page 34 Appendix: Questionnaire/Cover Letter page 38 3

4 Introduction In April, 2014, St. Matthew s Episcopal Church continued in its process of self-reflection with a congregation-wide survey of members. This ongoing dialogue is at the heart of St. Matthew s discernment as we determine: what is most important to us a parish, who we see ourselves to be today, and who we believe God is inviting us to become. The Mission/Vision Survey on which this report is based consisted of two parts: initial, qualitative interviews among a very small number of congregants which helped in designing a more comprehensive quantitative mail and internet survey among all members. 4

5 Methodology For the initial qualitative telephone interviews, respondents were recruited from the St. Matthew s compilation of adult membership. Respondents were solicited to participate in a minute conversation. Of the twelve congregants initially contacted, nine participated. For the quantitative second phase, parishioners were contacted by invitation or regular post to answer an estimated minutes of questions. 274 congregants received invitations. 66 individuals completed the survey. 5

6 Margin of Error The Sample The maximum standard error range for a sample of 66 respondents is +10.5%. If 100 different samples of 66 individuals each were randomly drawn from the population of all those in the congregation, 95 times out of 100 the total results obtained would vary no more than percentage points from the results that would be obtained if the entire population base were surveyed. This is substantially more precise than a typical sample of this size as the responding sample is such a large proportion of the universe from which it is drawn.. Statistically significant differences across subgroups of parishioners or across questions will be noted throughout the report. Other findings should be considered directional. Margin of Error as Function of Sample Size (assuming a universe X20) ±11.00% ±10.00% ±9.00% ±8.00% ±7.00% ±6.00% ±5.00% ±4.00% ±3.00% ±2.00% ±1.00% ±0.00% Sample Size 6

7 Readers Note Actual question wordings are in italics in the footnote of each slide; the bases of respondents from which data are derived also are in the footnote. Throughout the final report salient comparisons and contrasts across segments will be highlighted. Where there are statistically significant differences* across segments, these will be presented. This is true for reporting statistical means as well as top box or bottom box differences. Top/bottom box analyses separately look at the highest or lowest ratings, for instance, on attitude scales top of 4,5 on a 5-point scale. These analyses of extremes can be helpful in highlighting fans (top) or detractors (bottom). Statistical means most commonly are reported, but medians also will be reported when their inclusion helps to highlight cases of skewed distributions or outliers. Where differences across segments are not noted for a given question, this should be taken to imply that there are no significant differences. *Statistical significance is calculated using the Difference of Proportions Test or the t-test <.05 level. 7

8 Parishioners Backgrounds

9 Parishioner Characteristics (St. Matthew s has a highly educated congregation who are there for the long run. ) Fully 71% of parishioners have completed a graduate degree; 27% have an undergrad degree; The balance has attended some college. Three of four responding to the survey are women. The average tenure of a parishioner is 19 years. The median is closer to 13 years. The shortest is one year; And the greatest tenure is 81 years. Some College 2% 71% Post-Graduate 27% College Degree 48- What is the highest level of education you have completed? 51- Please indicate your gender. 1- First, how long have you been a member of St. Matthew's?. 9

10 Parishioner Characteristics (Two of three St. Mathew s congregants are still in the work force. ) A majority of parishioners are employed full-time (42%) or are self-employed (14%); One in ten is employed parttime (11%); 5% are stay at home parents of children; and Slightly more than one quarter (27%) are retired. At Home Parent Retired 5% 27% 14% Self-Employed 11% Part-Time Full-Time 42% 46- Which of the following best describes your employment status? 10

11 < Grade School Middle School High School College No More Tuition Parishioners Children (Half of congregants are still raising children; the plurality are in grade 6 through 8. ) One in ten (10%) parish households report children in preschool or grade school; More than one in five (21%) have middle schoolers; 12% report high school students; About 6% have college age students; and About half (51%) are true empty nesters. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 21% 12% 9% 6% % 49- How many children do you currently have in? 11

12 What Has Attracted Parishioners to St. Matthew s (That which is within our control approximates the sum of what is outside our control. ) Was looking for a church Convenient location I was raised as an Episcopalian Youth ministry / children's formation Friendly, welcoming congregation A member told me about St. Matthew's I had heard about the music program It accommodated our family's faiths Within our Control 33 Outside our Control I liked the building 5 Just given birth to a child 4 I had heard about Beach Church 3 I just saw kids around the church

13 What Retains Parishioners at St. Matthew s (It is ultimately about who we are, what we stand for, how we engage ) I like whoever you are I like the people I like the rector It meets my spiritual needs Welcoming congregation I like the music program I care about social justice I like Beach Church A part of something bigger I was raised Episcopalian I like the preaching Convenient location St. Matt's stand on issues Programs for adults Children s Formation Bread at communion Kids involved in programs Helped me in difficult time How 52 What Who

14 The Worship Service

15 Church Attendance (Half of members attend regularly, and the second service is the favored time slot.) Half of St. Matt s members responding attend services 40 or more weeks per year. 1 st Service 9% 2% Neither One in eight attend services 10 or fewer times per year. The average attendance is a bit more than 33 Sundays a year. 89% 2 nd Service 4- During the regular calendar year, which service do you more frequently attend?0 47- How many weeks of the past 52 weeks do you estimate that you have attended St. Matthew's Sunday services? 15

16 The liturgy? The hymns we sing? The choir? The organ music? Speaking with members? The sermon? Length of service? Parish communications? The programs? Satisfaction with Worship Service (Most aspects of the St. Matthew s worship service are somewhat or very satisfactory.) Most aspects of worship are tightly clustered within a narrow range of 4.1 to 4.4 on a 5-point satisfaction scale. The hymns (3.8) we sing and the length of service (3.5) are exceptions. These dissatisfieds are all attendees of the 10:30 service. Those dissatisfied with the hymns invariably are dissatisfied with the length of the service as well

17 Activities at St. Matthew s

18 Most Important Activities at St. Matthew s (The church service and its pillars preaching and music are number one for members. ) The service itself is by far most important to members relationship to St. Matthew s. Supporting number one are preaching and music. Community parties and the Children s Program are next in line. Other ministries are endorsed by a range of other smaller segments Church services Preaching Music Program Community parties Children's Formation Night Ministry Stephen Ministry Confirmation Christmas Child Bible Study Green Team Faith in Action Altar guild Family Promise Mary Lou's Place Men's group 18

19 Church services Children's Formation Night Ministry Family promise Mary Lou's Place Christmas Child Faith in Action Preaching Music Program Green Team Stephen Ministry Altar guild Men's group Confirmation program Bible Study Community parties About Which Activities Know More? (Congregants are divided across their interests in their religion and St. Matthew s outreach. ) Ten or fewer members express interest in learning more about any of St. Matthew s activities. The key elements of St. Matthew s about which members wish to know more include: Bible study Mary Lou s Place Family Promise The church service. There are pockets of interest in almost all aspects of the programs offered for response

20 8 am service 10:30 am service Beach service Easter services Christmas services Christmas Pageant Holy Week Services St. Francis Pet Blessing All Saints Day Earth Day Service The Youth Services Special Blessings The Super Bowl party The annual Block Party The weekend events Party at the Motagowa's Satisfaction with Activities at St. Matthew s (The Motagowa s Backyard Party is the Third High Holiday? )

21 Satisfaction with Activities at St. Matthew s (cont.) (One in three ) Members are at least somewhat satisfied with virtually all St. Matthew s activities. The Motagawa s backyard party is a high watermark even marginally above the High Holidays. Christmas is a 4.6 Easter is a 4.5 But the Motagawa s is a 4.7 (These are not statistically significant differences) The slightly lower evaluation of the 10:30a.m. service likely owes to its perceived length, hymn selection, etc. What the 8 a.m. service may lack in attendance, it makes up in enthusiasm. St. Francis Day must not be getting out the pet vote (3.8). 21

22 The Buzz on St. Matthew s

23 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: The Church, Congregation (Nearly everyone would boast that St. Matthew s is a welcoming congregation. ) The single most important description of St. Matthew s congregants would use is all about a welcoming body (57). Beach church is the most common venue of St. Matthew s worship that members might boast (38). The music program is third (32). Two parts of the bigger impact our congregation can make are equal: Making a difference in the world Being part of something bigger. Nearly as many suggest the second service (28). Friendly, welcoming Beach Church Music Program Make a Difference Part of Something Bigger Second Service

24 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: The Church, Congregation (Nearly everyone would boast that St. Matthew s is a welcoming congregation. ) The single most important description of St. Matthew s congregants would use is all about a welcoming body. Two parts of the bigger impact our congregation can make are equal: Making a difference in the world Being part of something bigger. Nearly as many reflect on our welcome specifically of LGBT. As part of what drew a number of present members, it also is St. Matt s convenient location. Make a difference in the world Part of something bigger Welcome LGBT community Friendly, welcoming Convenient location

25 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: The Ministries, Programs (One in three members would offer the Night Ministry as a defining program of St. Matt s. ) With 22 mentions, the Night Ministry is top of mind among the ministries of the congregation. The Stephen Ministry and the Green Team share a second place tier at 15 votes each. And Faith in Action (9) and Family Promise (8) share third place. Stephen Ministry Green Team Faith in Action Family Promise The Night Ministry

26 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: For the Youth (As an entry point for our youth, the Children s formation is most commonly cited. ) Families with young children often are the new members, and the first program they experience may be Children s Formation-cited by 24 members. The Youth Ministry (18) and the Confirmation program (12) are cited by smaller numbers. Children's Formation Youth Ministry Confirmation

27 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: The Ways of Worship (Three of every five congregants would cite Beach Church when describing St. Matt s. ) Beach church is the most common element of St. Matthew s worship repertoire that members might boast to potential members (38). Not far behind are: The music program (32) The later service (28) and The rector (20) All other facets of our worship garner as few as 3 and as many as 12 votes. Later service Early service The rector Music program Tuesday prayer Men's group Sunday Bible Wednesday Bible Taize service Beach Church

28 What You Would Tell Prospective Parishioners: The Community (The St. Matthew s Super Bowl Party evidently is more than just football.) Evidently, the friendly element of St. Matthew s can be seen in the number of communities of the church. The Super Bowl party is mentioned by more (24). The Annual Block Party is cited by 17. About one in six members also mentions the Sunday coffee hour and that the congregation helps members through difficulties. Add the movie group (1) and the knitting group (7). Helps difficulties 11 Movie group 10 Knitting 7 Block party 17 Super Bowl 24 Coffee hour

29 St. Matthew s Core Values

30 We asked: We'd like to know how you see St. Matthew's at its heart - beyond the traits common to all churches. We are looking to get clear on the key characteristics or values unique to St. Matthew's, which we call the "core values." As we are using the term here, core values are the two to three most significant traits inherent in the organization. Core values are part of the very DNA of a place, and they do not change over time (decades). They are "core" to specific identity of the church St. Matthew s Core Values 30

31 Tolerance Lifelong learning Optimism Hospitality Playfulness Outreach Transparency The Arts Collaborative Inclusivity Spiritual Development Proactivity St. Matthew s Core Values: Ratings (Three in four members select tolerance as a defining value of St. Matthew s. ) The values most parishioners identify in St. Matthew s include: Tolerance, Outreach, Inclusivity, Spiritual Development and Hospitality. St. Matthew s is light on: Proactivity, Collaboration and Transparency. 100% 80% 60% 76% 58% 46% 61% 66% 64% 64% 40% 20% 25% 19% 27% 16% 13% 0% 31

32 Getting Involved at St. Matthew s

33 Buy-in Dinners Episcopalian Ed Pub. Coffee Parlor Wine/Cheese MP3s of Sermons MP3s of Choir MP3s of Organ What s in Demand? (One in three ) The greatest demand across a number of opportunities is for Buy-in Dinners. There also is modest demand for: Education on what it means to be Episcopalian Wine and Cheese gatherings after 5pm A coffee parlor in the church, but open to the public. There is only tepid demand for downloadable MP3 recordings of sermons, the choir or the organ music. (Demand forecasts can be calculated for these services.)

34 Excitement / Concern / Hope

35 Excitement at St. Matthew s: Top of Mind (Excitement is about the people, the services, spirituality and reaching out. ) The most mentions around excitement have been, in descending order: Social venues Community building social activities - dinners, forums, etc. The church services themselves The worship: music and preaching. The church services are the most important... Programs around the youth Using my interest in art as part of the children's formation program. The music program Music program social justice programs the choir Spiritual growth or education Growing in my spiritual life. Sunday forums with Rev. Scott. Outreach Faith in Action Evanston -- Opportunity to connect in love with people The Ministries helping cook for the Night Ministry, meeting people 35

36 Concern at St. Matthew s: Top of Mind (Far and away, the greatest concern voiced is for the financial health of St. Matthew s.) The leading concerns voiced by parishioners, in descending order: St. Matthew s financial health: Finances and building maintenance. level of financial resources Lack of folks who have plenty of money lack of financial help. money! Global or broader community issues: We need to find new ways to engage the community and world beyond our walls. Many, many social justice issues. The rapid downward trend of moral integrity. Church attendance: Dwindling numbers and the lack of time people have for the worship of God. The tide seems to have turned strongly against the mainstream Protestant churches, including ours. The challenges of aging: The disappearance of old friends. Many have died. Supporting the congregations young: My concern is that the youth and children's programming is unformed. 36

37 Hope at St. Matthew s: Top of Mind (For most, the hope of the church hinges on our young members. ) The leading hopes voiced by parishioners, in descending order: The youth and their families are our future: Seeing more young families in the church. Children Many children indicate a growing, young, diverse congregation. Energy around youth engagement and leadership. The people and their talents are an important resource: Seeing the energy and commitment of a core group of people who want to spread that energy and commitment to others. The Spirit and the spirit of the church: The seeds of spiritual development and pastoral care have been planted. Charlie will continue to be the Rector. He's the finest person in that role in my life at the church. God is watching over us. St. Matthew s welcoming manner: People will become more tolerant of each other and treat others with respect and kindness. the continuance of St. Matthews as a welcoming church for everybody. 37

38 St. Matthew's Mission / Vision Internet Research The Rector, Wardens and Vestry are asking members of the congregation to engage in this portion of our ongoing conversation to get a clearer sense of what is important to parishioners at St. Matthew s. Our questions should take approximately10-12 minutes and your answers will be kept in strict confidence. 1. First, how long have you been a member of St. Matthew's? [SINGLE RESPONSE] 2. What first attracted you to St. Matthew's? [MULTIPLE RESPONSE] Questionnaire: o Youth ministry / children's Formation o I just saw kids around the church o Convenient location o I drove by here regularly o Was looking for a church o I liked the building o Just given birth to a child o I was raised as an Episcopalian o Friendly, welcoming congregation o Signage outside the church o A member told me about St. Matthew's o They welcome the LGBT community o I had attended a program that meets here o It accommodated our family's faiths o I had heard about Beach Church o I had heard about Taize service o I had heard about the music program o I was looking for a church that [PLEASE SPECIFY: ] o Other [PLEASE SPECIFY: ] o Other [PLEASE SPECIFY: ] Cover Letter: Hello, ---: Your opinion counts! As you have heard from me in the pulpit and in the conversations you have had with Steve Steiber a couple weeks ago, we are continuing our process of self-reflection. This ongoing dialogue is at the heart of our discernment as we determine what is most important to us a parish, who we see ourselves to be today, and who we believe God is inviting us to become. We are asking you as a member of the congregation to take your place at the table by answering the questions in our survey. Our questions should take approximately10-12 minutes and your answers will be kept in strict confidence. Once the survey results are in, the vestry will hold forums on Sunday, June 8, to engage in conversation about the results and listen further to what we at St. Matthew's are saying about our community. There will also be further opportunities in early June to join a vestry member at her or his home for wine, cheese and rich conversation. Please take this opportunity now to help us all move forward. We value your input. Thank you in advance for your time and for making St. Matthew's the vibrant congregation it is. Peace, Charlie de Kay+ Rector, St. Matthew s Appendix: Questionnaire/Cover Letter