2007
Worship Survey
St. Anne’s Church
Methodology
Reasons for Attending Services
§
Convenience
of time is the most
important reason parishioners attend a particular worship service. For eight o’clock worshippers, length of
the service and quiet are also important. For 10:00 worshippers, music and people
I know are also important.
§
Convenience
of time was also the
factor mentioned most frequently as a reason parishioners would possibly switch
from one service to another.
About Contemporary Services
§
Parishioners
were divided on the issue of the importance of offering some type of
contemporary service at St. Anne’s.
Slightly less than one-half (45%) feel it is important (very/somewhat),
and slightly more feel it is not important.
§
Subgroups
most likely to feel a contemporary service is important include those <35
years of age (69%) and those <18 (82%).
§ The importance of offering a
contemporary service increased when parishioners were asked to re-evaluate its
importance in light of the scope of St. Anne’s
§
Two-thirds
(66%) indicated they would be likely (very/somewhat) to attend a
contemporary service if it were added at a convenient time, with those in the
<35 age group most likely to say they would attend (86%). Two-thirds (69%) of those in the 35-54 age
group also indicated they would be likely (very/somewhat) to attend.
§
Overall,
once a month received the highest number of mentions for desired
frequency for contemporary services.
However, among those <18, the highest number of mentions was for once
a week.
§
Members
are very much divided on the time slots that would be most convenient for
them. The time slot with the highest
number of mentions is Saturday at 5:00, but this time is not as convenient for
the youth, who prefer Sunday at 4:00 or at noon.
§
About
one-quarter of respondents overall would attend a contemporary service only if
it were offered at the time that they normally attend.
§
When
asked what action parishioners would take if a contemporary service were held
once a month at the 10:15 Sunday service, two-thirds of the 10:15 attendees
indicated they would be happy to attend this service. One-quarter said they would attend but would
prefer to keep the Sunday 10:15 service as is.
Only 3% said they would attend the 8:00 service instead on that day.
§ Offering a contemporary service at a
time other than the traditional times would probably result in somewhat lower
attendance at
Environment/Space
§
Parishioners
generally feel that the space in the worship setting is comfortable and
inviting and that it helps them to experience a sense of the sacred during
worship. They are somewhat less likely
to be aware that the services reflect a theme.
§
Very
few (11%) feel strongly that the space is over-crowded.
Liturgical Ministers
§
Most
parishioners agree that the various liturgical ministers perform their duties
reverently and in a way that enhances the worship service. The ministry most in need of improvement is
the ushering. Just over one-half agree
(54% rating 8-10) that ushers are helpful in finding seats to accommodate
members and visitors.
Preaching
§
Overall,
most parishioners rated the quality of sermons at St. Anne’s excellent
or very good. 10:15 attendees
gave higher ratings than 8:00 attendees.
No one rated the sermons very poor.
§
The
highest proportions of excellent ratings came from those <35
(57%).
§
The
majority of parishioners agree that the sermons help them to understand the
scripture readings and usually get them thinking about their relationship with
God. They also generally come away
feeling inspired by the sermons. Fewer
(47%) feel they are generally challenged by the sermons.
Music
§
Overall,
almost two-thirds of parishioners rated the quality of music at St. Anne’s excellent
or very good. No one rated the
music very poor.
§
Those
55+ gave the higher proportion of excellent/very good ratings (78%).
§
The
majority of 10:15 worshippers rather equally enjoy services that feature guest
instrumentalists, the praise band, acoustic guitars/quiet contemporary music,
the senior choir, and the junior choir.
They are less enthusiastic about both of the hymnals.
§
About
eight in ten of the 8:00 attendees strongly agree (rating 8-10) that they
prefer a service with no music.
Church Life
§ Eight in ten respondents with
children (80%) indicate that their children attend Christian education classes.
§ Almost all of the youth surveyed
(91%) indicate they attend Christian education classes.
§ The highest number of mentions for
church activity participation is for social events such as dinners and theater
(62%). About one-half have participated
in fundraising (auction, barbeque), adult forum, and some type of church
team. Fewer are involved in other church
activities. About one-fifth (18%) have
never participated in any of these activities.
§ About one-half of survey respondents
classified themselves as active members, and one-third as regular
attendees. Eight in ten (86%) could
be categorized as attending regularly, since active members and leaders/team
members most likely attend regularly as well.
§ About one-half of survey respondents
attend church activities once a week or more.
10:15 attendees are more likely than 8:00 attendees to attend once a
week or more.
§ Two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed
have invited guests to St. Anne’s.
Eighty percent of those who invited guests indicated their guests chose
to attend.
§ Most parishioners (79%) feel that St.
Anne’s is helping them grow in their personal relationship with God. 10:15 attendees are more likely than 8:00
attendees to feel they are growing spiritually.
§ A similar proportion (82%) feel that
God has been at work in the life of the church recently.
Demographics
§ About six in ten survey respondents
(62%) were female, while 38% were male.
§ The mean age of survey respondents is
51.2. The mean age of the 10:15
attendees is 47.6; the mean age of the 8:00 attendees is higher at 57.3.
§ About one-half of respondents first
came in contact with St. Anne’s 6 or more years ago and one-half less than 6 years ago. One-quarter (28%) of respondents who attend
the 10:15 service first came into contact with St. Anne’s in 2006 or 2007.
§ Most respondents (84%) live within 10
miles of St. Anne’s. 8:00 worshippers
are more likely than those who attend the 10:15 service to live within 3 miles.
§ One-third (32%) of survey respondents
have children under age 18.