Purpose of Ministerial Search Survey This survey has been designed to elicit thoughtful and reflective responses that will illustrate our identity as a congregation. The responses from this survey are your opinions about our direction as a congregation and how you see our next minister fulfilling those expectations. All responses will be reported in the aggregate and individual responses will not be identified. Your responses will be completely anonymous. This survey will take approximately 30 minutes with most questions being multiple choice. There are several open ended response questions that you will have the opportunity to answer here and discuss in our upcoming group meetings. Your responses are vital. This survey is just one of the tools that will be used to create our church profile. How to take the survey: Please follow the boxes at the end of each page. You will be allowed to return to the previous pages in the survey until the final page when you will submit your answers by clicking done. After submitting the survey, you will not be allowed to change your responses. The survey does not save your responses and allow you to continue later. You should set aside enough time to complete the survey in one sitting. Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. Survey Monkey does not allow the user to use the 'tab' key to scroll through the questions. You will need to use your mouse to move to the next question/page. Thank you for your input! If you have any questions about the survey, then please send an email to uuclsearchcom@gmail.com Page 1
Demographics Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. 1. Are you a member of the church? Membership is defined as signing the membership book. Yes No 2. What is your gender? Male Female Transgender Other Prefer not to answer 3. What is your Ethnic/Racial background? Mark all that apply. African American/Black American Indian/Alaska Native Asian Hispanic/Latino Pacific Islander White (not of Hispanic Origin) Prefer not to answer Other (please specify) 4. What is your age? 17 or under 18 29 30 49 0 or above Page 2
. What is your sexual orientation? Bisexual Gay Heterosexual Lesbian Other Prefer not to answer. What marital or partnership status best describes your situation? Single, never married Married or living with partner (includes formal domestic partnership) Divorced, separated, widowed Prefer not to answer Other (please specify) 7. Do you have children under the age of 18 that attend this church with you? Yes No 8. What is the highest level of education you have completed? Less than High School High School Graduate or GED Some post high school education Community or Technical College credential Bachelor's or Master's degree Ph. D. or professional degree (medical doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.) 9. What is your annual income before taxes? Less than $2,000 2,000 49,999 0,000 99,999 100,000 or more Page 3
Involvement with Church and UUA Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. 10. How long have you been a Unitarian Universalist? 0 2+ years 3 + years 1 years More than 1 years 11. How long have you been affiliated with this congregation? Less than 1 year 1 2+ years 3 + years 1 years 1 or more years 12. In addition to Unitarian Universalism, what faith traditions are important to your religious development? Mark all that apply. Buddhism Hinduism Islam Paganism Christianity Humanism Taoism Other (please specify) Page 4
13. In which of the following church activities have you participated during the past 12 months? Skip activity if it is not applicable. Once Weekly Monthly 2 3 times per year 1st Sunday potluck Sunday service attendee Music (choir/instrumental) Board/Committee/Task Force Fundraising events Social Justice activities Social events Children's RE(religious exploration) activities Congregational meetings Usher/Greeter Other Other (please specify) 14. In the past 12 months, have you attended any UU DENOMINATIONAL meetings (General Assembly, Regional,etc.)? Yes (please name below) No Name(s) of meeting: 1. How much is your affiliation with this congregation and/or Unitarian Universalism a source of strength or comfort to you? Not at all Somewhat A great deal Additional Comments Page
1. What current strengths does our congregation possess that you would like to either see maintained or developed in the immediate future? 17. Indicate the reasons you attend our church and the importance of each. Skip selection if it is not applicable. Most Important Somewhat Important Least Important Adult religious exploration Adult/youth groups Celebrating common values Children's religious exploration Community/Fellowship Family activities Intellectual stimulation Meditation/Prayer Minister Music Setting/Church grounds Social Justice activities Spiritual Growth Unitarian Universalist beliefs Welcoming congregation Worship Other (please list) Page
Growth/Change Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. 18. What are your personal feelings about membership growth at UUCL? I prefer to open our church to more people. I prefer the current size of our congregation. No opinion Additional Comments 19. When it comes to change, which statement best describes your attitude? Change keeps life exciting, gets people fired up and engaged. Change is healthy but my motto is 'start low and go slow.' I am okay with change but only if a situation requires it. I appreciate tradition and routines. I am more comfortable with people, places and things I know. 20. Would you support a minister who wished to take our church in a new direction, for example, a sanctuary church for immigrants; a center for anti war protest? Yes No No opinion Additional Comments Page 7
21. Would you support a major advertisement campaign funded by our church to reach out to the non UU community? Yes No No opinion Additional Comments Page 8
Expectations of Minister/Administration Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. 22. Rate the importance of these various ministerial functions to you. Respond to each option in order to advance. Most Important Somewhat Important Least Important Administration Adult religious exploration Alternative worship Attendance/Involvement church events Campus/College ministry Children religious exploration (RE) Community presence Denominational (UUA) activities Finance/Budgeting Interfaith outreach and communication Leadership development Membership growth Music Pastoral care Scholarship/Intellectual development Sermon Social Justice Spiritual guidance Worship Young adult ministry (ages 18 3) Youth ministry (ages 13 17) Other (please specify) Page 9
23. Which of the following priorities for the next minister do you consider to be the most important? (Choose up to ) Assuring efficient and effective church administration Developing lay leadership and encouraging volunteers Encouraging social justice programs Fostering a sense of fellowship and community within the church Offering adult enrichment programs Participating in religious education for children and youth Presenting intellectually challenging Sunday services Presenting spiritually oriented Sunday services Promoting membership growth through publicity and outreach Providing pastoral care Providing visible leadership in the community beyond the church 24. What professional skills and expertise (group facilitation, counseling, etc.) should our next minister possess? 2. What expectations do you have about our minister's family and personal life? Page 10
2. What will make you say, "I am glad this minister is among us?" 27. Describe the worst mistake our new minister could make. Page 11
Sunday Worship Service Questions marked with an asterisk() will require an answer before you will be allowed to proceed to the next page. 28. Rate the importance of each of the following items which may be part of a Sunday morning worship experience. ALL items must be rated. Most Important Somewhat Important Least Important Announcements Celebrating religious holidays Chalice lightings Child dedications Children's story time Choir Community greetings Guest minister/speaker Instrumental music Joining hands at the end of service Lay participation (may include sermon) Meditation Multicultural sensitivity Prayer Readings Reciting congregational covenant Recognizing visitors Responsive readings Sermon by minister Sharing joys and sorrows Singing of hymns Welcoming statement Additional Comments Page 12
29. Rate the importance of these various Sunday worship sermon topics. ALL items must be rated. Most Important Somewhat Important Least Important Christian traditions Coping with life Creative and artistic abilities Current political events Discussing Unitarian Universalism Earth centered traditions Family relationships and values Ideas which inspire actions Jewish traditions Non western religions Personal growth Philosophical ideas Psychological perspectives of life's issues Religious implications of science and modern knowledge Spiritual growth Theological values Values and perspectives on social issues Other (please specify) 30. How often would you like the minister to preach? 3 times a month 2 times a month Once a month Additional Comments Page 13
31. Other than Sundays, do you expect our minister to be available for regular office hours? Yes No No Opinion Additional Comments Page 14
32. What current church problems or issues concern you? Page 1
33. Are there any additional issues that you would like your Ministerial Search Committee to consider? Page 1
Thank YOU! Thank you for the participating in the first step in our search for a ministerial candidate. Please CLICK DONE following the message below to make sure that your responses are submitted. We look forward to the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop on September 21. We invite you to attend and participate in this process. Other opportunities to voice your opinions about the ministerial candidate will be made available to you through Affinity Group meetings (Choir, CUUPS, Penny Circle and others) during the month of September, Rainbow Café (September 28) and 1st Sunday Potluck (October ). Please complete this survey by CLICKING DONE. Page 17