Hi, Phil.  Sounds like an excellent idea, but beware of two common pitfalls.

 

First, the folks here tell me that 10-20% repsonse rate for any survey is quite normal.  You'll probably get a higher rate than that if your pastor pushes it from the pulpit, but be aware that 40% would be EXTREMELY high.  And what that means is that you'll likely hear from the people who have agendas or axes to grind on both sides (or multiple sides!) of ANY question, while you will NOT hear from the middle-of-the-road folks who just wish that everybody could get along.

 

And second, be VERY careful making out your questionnaire.  It is both a science and an art, and the pitfall is allowing it to reflect your own particular viewpoint rather than giving people a chance to express their own viewpoints.  And this can be insidious.  At one point in history there was a Sociology course here that had their students making out surveys and then inflicting them on their friends and their other teachers.  And one young lady brought me one where the only choices for "Church Choice" were Methodist and Baptist.  (She was from a very small town!)  When faced with a question like that, one of my Air Force colleagues would routinely write in, "Red Brick"!

 

All the best,

 

John

 

 

I'll echo John's caution to be careful in designing the survey. I analyze a lot of survey responses for one music organzation, and based on that experience, I'll offer these suggestions:

 

1. Think about what you really want to learn. Are you trying to gauge congregation response to existing offerings, or solicit ideas, or respond to specific concerns? Do you need data to support a budget request, respond to criticisms, or justify a program you have in mind? It could be any or all of these things - just be sure that you have a clear purpose. Don't do a survey just for the sake of doing it. Make a list of the things you want to know, then prioritize the list

 

2. Once you understand what it is you really want to know, design the questions to capture your most important ideas. Keep the survey as short as possible to elicit the greatest response. Respondents should be able to respond anonymously, unless they want a response (see item 3, below). Also, consider if you want to give the survey at regular intervals (say, every five years). If so, design the questions so that you can compare similar data (apples and apples) over time.

 

3. Include a mixture of questions: Multiple choice (a,b,c,d,e), ratings (scale of 1-5, best to worse), and open ended questions. Consider including a "fill in the blank" sort of question, such as "What I like best about the music program the way it is right now is_____" and "I wish the music program would__________"  Be sure to add a final item like "Please share any other thoughts, concerns, or ideas about our music ministry. If you would like me to get back to you, leave your name and contact info in the space provided.) Gather some demographic information; ask for age, number of years in that congregation, demonimation of upbringing, if different from your church, etc.

 

4. Test the survey to ensure that the questions are worded clearly and elicit clear responses. Ask 5 or 10 parishoners (not choir members) to test the survey; consider asking people who you know are interested (or critical) of the music program; they'll give you good feedback. Invite them for coffee after church and sit with them as they complete the sample; that way, you can answer questions and see how things go. Evaluate these sample responses carefully, assessing how well people understood the questions. Revise as needed, and proofread the entire document carefully.

 

5. Communicate with the congregation before, during, and after. A week/month or so before you administer the survey, put a notice in the order of service and in the church newsletter to let people know that they will have an opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions about the music ministry; offer some overview of what you hope to learn and how you intend to use the information. During the survey period (which might be a day, or a week), keep the reminders coming to urge participation. After the survey has been completed, be sure to publish a summary of results, including thanks to all who particiated; people like to know that you really did read them all and that you are taking them into consideration in your planning . When you introduce changes or improvements to the music program, tie them, if you can, to the survey results.

 

6. Follow up with a focus group. You could gather a group to talk informally about the music program. Though surveys are useful, they are necessarily limited to the questions you've thought of. In a conversation, synergies can develop and ideas emerge that might really be wonderful. Offer food and people will show up.

 

Have fun with it! It's a great opportunity for you and your congregation.

 

Sarah Hager Johnston

GraceNotes

 

 

 

 

 

In the demographic information, if you have multiple services, ask which service they usually attend.  If your church is anything like ours, the services can have very different flavours and the congregations, very different preferences.

 

Best wishes with your survey.

Phil,

 

Be careful with your expectations when doing a congregational survey.  I have spent hours preparing them and sorting through the information, only to realize how limiting they can be.  If you have been in your congregation for a few years, you should have an idea what is possible and what is desired.  To enhance your understanding, I would suggest that you take a few weeks to a month and conduct personal interviews with a wide variety of members.  Spend time with the Sunday School teachers and other members of the staff that communicate with members and get their opinions.  They will often hear the compliments and the complaints that you or the ministers may not.  

 

Concerning adding new ensembles.

Ask the following questions:  Is there a need?  What will will it offer to the ministry of the entire church?  What are the costs associated with the new ensemble and can we afford them?  Do I have a core group that will participate?

 

I have done this in the past few years with the addition of a Concert Band and a Handbell Choir.  With the band, I saw that we had a number of semi-professional players and All-State level kids in our church who were not involved musically.  I felt this would be an opportunity to get them involved.  We started in an inexpensive manner and only after some success began to spend money in this area.  A new handbell choir was started because I had a core of players that wanted to have a higher level group that met in the evening.  Many of these players are instrumentalists, who worked during the day, when our other ensemble met.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jay Arnn

 

 I have taken a few surveys of the congregation in the past and probably will conduct one again in the next few years.  I had more success using an email format for some folks, who found it easier to respond that way than to take pen to paper.  You do get some feedback that may have nothing to do with your survey, which is also useful.  Every congregation is so completely different in their willingness to express particular views, but since your emphasis to trying to see what should be developed in the future, you may get a bit more response.

 

I think you will have to be prepared to decide how you will handle the results.  For instance, if five parents of children who would like to play bells indicate that they would like to see a bell choir, and then seven people indicate that they don't like bell choirs, or don't see the need for one, what will your response be?  I think you have to say that the information will be used to assist your future music programming, but that it isn't going to be used as "votes" for one point of view or the other.  You are gathering information.  What you learn may prompt more questions, or you may have some clear signs of what is desired.  

 

I think surveys are a great idea.  I think it is important that you find a way to share the results with the congregation in some form, once you have compiled the responses, or at least share them with your Worship Committee.  People will want to know what was said by others.

 

I think Sarah's ideas are particularly helpful, and I wish you well in your process.  I would love to hear a report back!

 

Nan Beth Walton