We need your response by October 24

First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa September, 2017 Dear members and friends, Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. It will provide an updated demographic profile of the congregation as well as a sketch of our beliefs and priorities. The information will paint a portrait of our congregation for the benefit of potential ministers. Everyone s participation is very important. Please encourage others to complete this survey. The percentage of the congregation completing the survey sends a strong message to prospective ministers. Your individual responses will not be identifiable. All responses will be held in strictest confidence by the Search Committee and only summary results will be reported. You will have access to the summary results. We need your response by October 24 Different ways to access the survey. The website will direct you to either the on-line Survey Monkey version or to a printable version that you can download and fill out by hand. The on-line method is easiest for the committee because data collating is done by the computer. For the Electronic Survey Monkey version: (1) Click on the link in the weekly E-UU communiqué. (2) Click on the link to the Survey Monkey version on the congregational website. (3) Request the link from FUCOSearch@GoogleGroups.com. For a Paper version: Completed surveys can be left at or mailed to the office, or given to a committee member listed below. NOTE: Canada Post may require two stamps if you are mailing back more than one survey. (4) Click on the link to the downloadable paper version on the congregational website. It can be printed and filled out. (5) Request a paper copy from the office. (6) Approach a member of the committee, listed below. Thank you for your contribution. Please take the time to answer the survey thoughtfully and candidly. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, The Search Committee: Amy Bérubé, Kristina Cormier, Sharmila Khare, Rozanne Lépine, Phil Nagy, Don Paskovich and Chuck Shields

Please read each question carefully, and follow the instructions in italics. Reminder: These questions are optional and your responses are anonymous. The information will be used to develop a demographic profile of the congregation for prospective ministers. 2 Section A About you 1. What is your affiliation with the congregation? Please check only one. 1 Active Member, someone who has formally joined the congregation and made a pledge or recorded financial contribution in the last 18 months 2 Inactive or former Member 3 Active Non-Member, someone who has not formally joined the congregation but who participates 4 Other 2. How long have you been a Unitarian Universalist? Please check only one. 1 Less than 2 years 2 2 to 5 years 3 6 to 15 years 4 More than 15 years (but not life-long) 5 Life-long 3. How long have you attended this congregation? Please check only one. 1 Less than 2 years 2 2 to 5 years 3 6 to 15 years 4 More than 15 years (but not life-long) 5 Life-long 4. Over the past two years, how frequently have you attended Sunday services, not including summer services? Please check only one. 1 Less than once a month 2 Once or twice a month 3 Seldom miss a service 5. What is your gender? Please check only one. 1 Male 2 Female 3 Non-binary/Third Gender 4 Prefer to Self-Describe as 5 Prefer not to say 6. Do you identify as transgender? Please check only one. 1 Yes 2 No 3 Prefer not to say 7. What is your sexual orientation? Please check only one. 1 Straight / Heterosexual 2 Gay or Lesbian 3 Bi- or Pansexual 4 Prefer to Self-Describe as 5 Prefer not to say 8. What is your age? Please check only one 1 Under 20 2 21-35 3 36-50 4 51-65 5 66-80 6 Over 80

9. What is the highest level of education you have completed? Please check only one. 1 Less than high school 2 High school 3 Trade school, associate degree or community college diploma 4 Bachelor Degree 5 Masters Degree 6 Doctorate or Post-Doctorate degree 7 Other 10. What is your employment status? Please check only one. 1 Full-time employment 2 Self-employed 3 Part-time or multiple jobs 4 Unemployed 5 Retired 6 Student 7 Other 11. How long does it take you to reach the church from home, by your most frequently used means of transportation? Please check only one. 1 Less than 10 minutes 2 10 to 30 minutes 3 31 to 60 minutes 4 More than 60 minutes 12. How do you normally travel to church? Please check only one. 1 Walk 2 Cycle 3 Personal Vehicle 4 Public Transit (including para-transit) 5 Other 3 Section B Your involvement with the congregation 13. When you first came to Ottawa First Unitarian. Please check a box to rate how important each aspect of congregation life was to you with regards to encouraging you to first attend. N = Not Important, S = Somewhat Important, Q = Quite Important, E = Extremely Important Why did you FIRST ATTEND this congregation? N S Q V Adult religious education 1... Campus/setting 2... Celebrating common values 3... Children s religious education 4... Choir/Music 5... Community and Fellowship 6... Involvement with the broader UU movement 7... Your Family 8... Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender support/interest 9... Intellectual stimulation 10... Meditation/prayer 11... Groups (men s, women s, young adults, youth 12... Minister 13... Community and Humanitarian Actions 14... Spiritual growth 15... Unitarian Universalist Beliefs 16... Worship 17... Other (specify) 18...

14. Now that you are here. Please check a box to rate how important each aspect of congregation life is to you now. N = Not Important, S = Somewhat Important, Q = Quite Important, E = Extremely Important 4 Why do you CONTINUE TO ATTEND this congregation? N S Q E Adult religious education 1... Campus/setting 2... Celebrating common values 3... Children s religious education 4... Choir/Music 5... Community and Fellowship 6... Involvement with the broader UU movement 7... Your Family 8... Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender support/interest 9... Intellectual stimulation 10... Meditation/prayer 11... Groups (men s, women s, young adults, youth) 12... Minister 13... Community and Humanitarian Actions 14... Spiritual growth 15... Unitarian Universalist Beliefs 16... Worship 17... Other (specify) 18... 15. Over the past two years have you served on committees or teams or participated in group activities apart from attending Sunday services? Please check all that apply. 1 Member of a committee or team 2 Sang in a choir 3 Assisted at Sunday service (e.g., sound technician, greeter) 4 Attended discussion, meditation or social groups 5 Volunteered in religious exploration or youth group 6 Assisted with manual tasks (in kitchen, in garden etc.) 7 Assisted at Fall Fair 8 Attended congregational meetings (e.g. AGM, Budget discussion, town hall) 9 Other 16. Over the past two years, how much time did you typically spend each month on the above activities? Please check only one. 1 Less than 3 hours 2 3 to 6 hours 3 6 to 10 hours 4 More than 10 hours 17. Over the past two years, how many fellowship/spirituality groups have you participated in? (e.g. Neighbourhood group, Women s group, Chalice Group, Young Adult Group, Men s Group) Please check only one. 1 None 2 1-3 3 4-6 4 More than 6 18. Over the past two years, how many Adult RE/Lifespan Learning groups have you participated in? (e.g. Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, Wrestling with God, Empower Dance, Film Group) Please check only one. 1 None 2 1-3 3 4-6 4 More than 6

19. Have you taught or volunteered in the Children s RE program in the past? If so, how recently? Please check only the most recent one. 1 Never taught or volunteered 2 In the current year 3 1-5 years ago 4 5-10 years ago 5 More than 10 years ago 5 Section C Your personal theology 20. What best describes your religious orientation? Please select the one or two beliefs closest to your own and check off in the box. 1 Theism: I find support and challenge in a God (Christian or otherwise) with whom I (long to) feel a personal relationship 2 Deism: I believe that there is a god, but with whom we cannot have a personal relationship 3 Atheism: I deny the existence of a god of any kind 4 Non-Theism: I don t relate to the notion of god, but I don t deny the possibility that god exists 5 Naturalistic Theism: The powers traditionally attributed to a supernatural deity are inherent in the natural world, which thus elicits my respect and devotion 6 Open Agnosticism: I am undecided about whether God exists or not 7 Strict Agnosticism, or Skepticism: I don t believe we are able to know whether God exists or not, such knowledge being beyond human capabilities 8 Humanism: I believe that human beings are responsible for goodness and meaning, and that we must rely on one another for support 9 Mysticism: I find support and value in the fullness and the connectedness of all things, with or without God 10 Traditions of Indigenous Peoples: I follow the path of my ancestors and find inspiration in their traditions. 11 Earth-Centered Spirituality: I celebrate the sacred circle of life, and the interconnected web of life, celebrating with the changing seasons. 12 Wicca/Energy-Based Spirituality: I hold the law of return: energy connects us all and each person, plant or emotion has its own energy, affirming the divinity in all living things. 13 Feminist spirituality: I join with others in reclaiming the Divine Feminine through honouring the sacredness of the earth 14 Pantheism: I equate God with the forces and laws of the universe 15 Buddhism, Taoism: I incorporate elements of Eastern religions into my UU spirituality 16 Other: Please specify and describe: - 21. Aside from Unitarian Universalism itself, to what other faith traditions do you currently relate? Please check all that apply. 1 Buddhism 2 Christianity 3 Hinduism 4 Islam 5 Judaism 6 Neo-Paganism 7 None 8 Other (Please specify ) 22. To what other faith traditions did you relate as a child? (Unitarian Universalist has been added as Choice 8) Please check all that apply. 1 Buddhism 2 Christianity 3 Hinduism 4 Islam 5 Judaism 6 Neo-Paganism 7 None 8 Unitarian Universalist 9 Other (Please specify )

Section D Your views on professional ministry 23. How important to you personally is each of the following ministerial activities? When answering, consider the entire ministerial team (Minister, Director of Lifespan Learning, Director of Music, Worship Associate) 6 Please check a box for each activity to show how important you feel each is. N = Not Important, S = Somewhat Important, Q = Quite Important, E = Extremely Important N S Q E Administration/Management (e.g. working with staff and board) 1... Adult Religious Education Leadership (e.g. coordinating programs) 2... Children s Religious Education Leadership (e.g. ministering to children, teachers and parents, coordinating curriculum development) 3... Team and Committee Support and Leadership (working with, supporting and leading committees and teams) 4... Community Outreach (e.g. reaching out to other faiths, promoting First Unitarian in the community) 5... Congregational Community Building (bringing us together) 6... Denominational Activities (involvement in wider UU community) 7... Facilitation (e.g. involving others in congregational life, promoting lay leadership, guiding and encouraging others) 8... Financial Management (budgetary development and financial monitoring) 9... Home and hospital visitation (e.g. visiting the sick, troubled, elderly) 10... Leadership (helping to establish congregational direction and vision) 11... Membership Growth (e.g. building a larger, vibrant congregation) 12... Music/Liturgical Arts (choirs, other music, dance, creative arts) 13... Personal Counseling (ministering to individual needs) 14... Preaching and Spiritual Leadership (e.g. leading worship services, promoting spiritual growth, offering spiritual guidance) 15... Scholarship and Promoting Intellectual Development (e.g. challenging and stimulating the thinking of the congregation) 16... Social Activism (e.g. promoting ethical values in the life of the congregation and the larger community) 17... Stewardship (marshalling financial and other congregational resources) 18 Welcoming Diversity (e.g. actively promoting acceptance, inclusion, understanding & equality for all) 19... Youth Work (maintaining an active youth program) 20... Other 21... 24. UU tradition and the congregation s historical practice is that the minister should have freedom of the pulpit. Please check a box for each statement to show how much you agree or disagree with it Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree A minister may express whatever reasoned views they may hold without censorship from the congregation 1... A minister may express political views without censorship from the congregation 2...

7 25. Which qualities and skills in a new minister are most important to you personally? Please select the three most important qualities and circle in the right-hand column. 1 Admirable role model 2 Creative 3 Enthusiastic 4 Flexible, adaptable 5 Friendly, approachable 6 Good at communicating 7 Good at organizing 8 Good at team building 9 Inspirational speaker 10 Open-minded, co-operative 11 Scholarly 12 Skilled at counselling 13 Visionary 14 Willing to deal with conflict v5 Other 26. How accepting would you be of a minister who is: Please check a box for each statement. This would be a problem for me This would not be an issue for me This would be an advantage for me Male 1... Female 2... Visible Minority 3... Non Visible Minority 4... Gay or Lesbian 5... Bi/pansexual 6... Transgender 7... Physically challenged 8... Non-Canadian 9... Younger than 40 10... Older than 60 11... Section E Your views on worship 27. What are the most important reasons for you to attend worship services? Please choose two or three and circle in the right-hand column. 1 Building community 2 Celebration of common values 3 Fellowship period after services 4 Help us understand ourselves better 5 Intellectual stimulation 6 Music 7 Mystical, spiritual experience 8 New paths for individual growth or change 9 Personal reflection and meditation 10 Support and encouragement for social action 11 Affirming emotional experience 12 Other 28. Please check the extent to which you agree with the statement: I am comfortable with traditional religious language such as God or prayer. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

29. To what extent do you agree with this statement? A minister should integrate personal experiences, learning and growth into their sermons. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 30. How important to you is each of these Sunday worship service sermon topics? Please check a box for each topic to show how important you feel each is. Not Important Somewhat Important Quite Important Extremely Important Social Justice and Action 1... Unitarian Universalism 2... Other Faith & Spiritual Traditions 3... Philosophical Ideas 4... Current Political Events 5... Spiritual Growth 6... Help with challenges of everyday life 7... 8 Reminder: These questions are optional and your responses are anonymous. Section F Household information NOTE: The following questions apply to households. If another person in your household is completing this questionnaire, please agree which one of you will answer these questions. If you both answer, the information will be duplicated and thus misleading. 31. Please describe your present household structure in total 1 Number of adults, including yourself but excluding adult children? 2 Number of children under age 13? 3 Number of children aged 13 to 18? 4 Number of children living at home over age 18? 32. Please describe your present household structure currently participating at Ottawa First 1 Number of adults, including yourself but excluding adult children? 2 Number of children under age 13? 3 Number of children aged 13 to 18? 4 Number of children living at home over age 18? 33. What is your annual household income before tax? 1 Less than $25000 2 $25000 to $50000 3 $50000 to $100000 4 More than $100000 34. What is your total household pledge and/or contributions for the current year? 1 Less than $400 2 $400 to $600 3 $601 to $1200 4 $1201 to $ 2000 5 $2001 to $4000 6 More than $4000

Section G Open-ended questions 9 35. What would be the worst mistake the new minister could make? 36. What are our congregational strengths? 37. What are our congregational weaknesses? 38. Name the committees or teams that have had the greatest success. 39. Name the committees or teams that have had the greatest challenges. 40. What is at the heart of our congregation?

41. What congregational issues are likely to be most pressing within the next couple of years? 10 42. What congregational issues are likely to be most pressing over the next ten years? 43. What congregational issues may never be resolved? Thank you for your participation! Please add any further comments if you wish.