St John’s 2019 Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) Survey Summary

The summary is provided below or you can print the file to the right.

2019_cat_survey_results_-_summary.doc
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Number of respondents – 68, which is 87% of average worship attendance
 
The survey revealed 4 key indicators -

1. Category:  Overall Satisfaction -
2. :  On the whole, I am satisfied with how things are in our church

• Score is a little higher than 2016
• We have an average rating as compared with all churches in the database

 

1. Category:  Overall Energy
2. :  It seems to me that we are just going through the motions of church activity.  There isn’t much excitement about it among our members

• 62% of participants are ‘On the Fence’ for this question – Lower energy level than normally seen
• We have a low rating as compared with all churches in the database

 

1. Category:  Attendance Trend
2. :  Compared with 3 years ago, I attend worship …

• We have a 2% change to the positive in attendance.

 

1. Category:  Value of Activity Beyond Worship
2. :  On the whole, participation in church activities is very meaningful to me

• We have more people ‘On the Fence’ now than in 2016
• 54% agree, 44% are ‘on the fence’
• We have a low rating as compared with all churches in the database

 
The survey revealed these Top 3 Priorities
Where would you like additional energy placed to expand or improve our ministries?

1. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into life of the church.
3. Work to renew and revitalize the community around the church by building coalitions with partners that share this vision and commitment.

 
Drivers of Satisfaction – When we think about how satisfied we are with things in church, we focus most on the areas below – the degree of focus was High

1. Being part of this church community has given new meaning to my life.
2. Problems between groups in this church are usually resolved through mutual effort.
3. I sense an atmosphere of genuine care and concern among our members in time of personal need.
4. Our church does a good job supporting persons in ministry by reminding them that they are making a difference.
5. Persons who serve as leaders in our church are representative of the membership.

 
Driver of Energy – When we think about the level of excitement in our church overall, we tend to focus on the area below – the degree of focus was Moderate

1. Among most of our members there is a healthy tolerance of differing opinions and beliefs.

 
Energy Satisfaction - In 2016, we were a Low Energy with Low Satisfaction church.  Now, we have moved to be right on the line between Low Energy with Low Satisfaction and Low Energy with High Satisfaction. 
 

Critical Success Factors for Improving Satisfaction
We do not have any issues in the Urgent range.  Most of ours are in the Significant range which means we should discuss soon. 

• Care in times of Need
• New meaning to life
• Leaders representative
• Supported in ministry
• Disturbing conflict
• Friendly atmosphere
• Prepared to welcome guests

 
Priorities
The top 6 priorities are:

1. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.

• This ranks average as compared to other churches in the database

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.

• This ranks average as compared to other churches in the database

1. Work to renew and revitalize the community around the church by building coalitions with partners.

• This ranks higher than normally seen in other churches, but is the same as 2016

1. Create more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships (small groups, nurtured friendships, shared meals, etc).

• This ranks higher than normally seen in other churches, but is the same as 2016
• It ranked very high for the under 35 demographics

1. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.

• This ranks average as compared to other churches in the database

1. Provide more opportunities for Christian Education and spiritual formation at every age and stage of life.

• This ranks average as compared to other churches in the database

 
Top Priorities for Persons Under 35 Years – 11% of people who took the survey

1. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
2. Create more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships (small groups, nurtured friendships, shared meals, etc).
3. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.
4. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.
5. Work as an advocate for social and institutional change so that society might better reflect the values of the kingdom of God.

• ranked 12th on overall scale and average as compared to other churches in the database

 
Top Priorities for Persons 35 to 64 Years – 49% of people who took the survey

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.
2. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
3. Work to renew and revitalize the community around the church by building coalitions with partners.
4. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.
5. Strengthen the process by which members are called and equipped for ministry and leadership.

• ranked 9th on overall scale and low as compared to other churches in the database

1. Develop ministries that work toward healing those broken by life circumstances.

• ranked 7th on overall scale and low as compared to other churches in the database

 

Top Priorities for Persons 65+ Years – 40% of the people who took the survey

1. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.
3. Expand outreach ministries that provide direct services to those living on the margins of society. (homeless, immigrant, transient persons)

• ranked 8th on overall scale and average as compared to other churches in the database

1. Develop ministries that work toward healing those broken by life circumstances

• ranked 7th on overall scale and low as compared to other churches in the database

1. Work to renew and revitalize the community around the church by building coalitions with partners.
2. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.

 
Priorities by Group
Top 6 Priorities for Infrequent Attenders (once a month or less)

1. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.
2. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
3. Work as an advocate for social and institutional change so that society might better reflect the values of the kingdom of God.

• This question was unique to those in the group Persons under age 35

1. Develop ministries that work toward healing those broken by life circumstances
2. Expand outreach ministries that provide direct services to those living on the margins of society.
3. Create more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships (small groups, nurtured friendships, shared meals, etc).

These seem to be more ministry focused
 
Top Priorities for Frequent Attenders (More than once a month)

1. Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.
3. Provide more opportunities for Christian education and spiritual formation at every age and stage of life.
4. Work to renew and revitalize the community around the church by building coalitions with partners.
5. Create more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships (small groups, nurtured friendships, shared meals, etc).
6. Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church.

These seem to be more internally focused
 
Descriptive Indices
Theological Perspective Index – is a measure of the degree to which members of the congregation hold more conservative or progressive views regarding such issues as the nature of the Scripture, the role of conversion in social change, and their relationship to the historic declaration of the church

1. Converting persons to Christ must be the first step in creating a better society.
2. Our congregation is committed to abide by the unchanging, historic faith as handed down through the centuries.
3. Scripture is the literal Word of God without error, not only in matters of faith, but also in historical, geographical, and other secular matters.
4. The main purpose of Christian education is to help people know whit is in the Bible.

In 2016 we were more conservative with Average diversity as compared to other churches in the database.  Now we are more homogeneous, answering toward the middle.  As compared to other churches in the database, our theological diversity is low. 
 

Flexible Style Index – registers the degree to which the church is willing to make adjustments in the way it goes about its ministry.  The more flexible a church, the more likely it is to adapt to the particular context in which it is serving to meet either the needs of its members or those of the community. 

1. Our members welcome changes in worship.
2. Our church tends to stay very close to established ways of doing things.
3. We are willing to adapt our worship to the needs and circumstances of the people we want to reach in our local community.
4. Our church changes its program from time to time to meet the changing needs of its members.

In 2016 we were in the 75th percentile as compared to other churches.  Now we are in the 73rd percentile.  Not much change. 
 
Performance Indices
Hospitality Index – seeks to measure the degree to which members perceive that the congregation is engaged in offering themselves and their resources to folks who are new, different, or in need. 

1. Our church welcomes and is enriched by persons from many different walks of life.
2. Being a part of this church community has given new meaning to my life.
3. A friendly atmosphere prevails among the members of our church.
4. I sense an atmosphere of genuine care and concern among our members in time of personal need.
5. Members in our church have been prepared to personally welcome guests in worship services.

Questions 2 and 3 are critical to success factor questions and question 4 is a driver of satisfaction question.  We ranked in the 20th to 35th percentile on those questions compared to the other churches in the database.  Yet we ranked in the 76th percentile in comparison to the other churches in the database on question #1. 
 
Morale Index – morale is the positive, passionate, and persuasive engagement of members in the mission of the church.  Morale is not as easily changed as the Hospitality Index. 

1. It seems to me that we are just going through the motions of church activity.  There isn’t much excitement about it among our members.
2. The whole sprit in our congregation makes people want to get as involved as possible.
3. On the whole, I am satisfied with how things are in our church.

We rank the same now as in 2016, the overall morale ranked in the 25th percentile as compared to other churches in the database.
 
Conflict Management Index – measures the degree to which members believe that conflict is appropriately managed and, where possible, resolved. 

1. There is a disturbing amount of conflict in our congregation.
2. Problems between groups in this church are usually resolved through mutual effort.
3. Among most of our members there is a healthy tolerance of differing opinions and beliefs.
4. There is frequently a small group of members that opposes what the majority want to do.

Question #1 is a critical to success factor question.  We ranked near the 60th percentile in this question.  Overall, we are around the 52nd percentile as compared to other churches in the data base on these questions.  In 2016 we were in the 50th.  So not much change.
 
Governance Index – measures the degree to which members believe that the decision-making structures and processes of the church are open to their concerns and input.  

1. The leaders of our church show a genuine concern to know what people are thinking when decisions need to be made.
2. The same small group of people seem to make most of the important decisions in our church.
3. In important decisions in our church, adequate opportunity for consideration of different approaches is usually provided.
4. Persons who serve as leaders in our church are representative of the membership.

Question #4 is a critical for success question of which we ranked near the 40th percentile as compared to other churches in the database.  Question #1 took a large leap upward from 2016.  Question #3 was in the 85th percentile in 2016 and is now at the 50th percentile as compared to other churches. 
 
Spiritual Vitality Index – measures the degree to which members believe that their faith is central to their lives rather than peripheral or episodic.  The Spiritual Vitality Index relates strongly to the percent of household income that members give to the church. 

1. My spiritual experiences often impact the way I look at life.
2. My spirituality is really the basis of my whole approach to life.
3. I experience the presence of God in my life.
4. I work to connect my faith to all the other aspects of my life.
5. Although my faith is important to me, I feel there are other things more pressing in my life right now.

All of these answers are on the low side and have gone down since 2016.  Question #5 was at the 82nd percentile in 2016 and has gone up to 92nd now.  It is a negatively worded question and a lower percentile would be preferred. 
 
Readiness for Ministry Index – Its concept is that all members are called to ministry, and it is the responsibility of the church to help members identify their gifts and connect to ministries that best fit those gifts. 

1. Our church does a good job helping each member understand that he or she is called to ministry.
2. Our church prepares our members for ministry by helping them discern their gifts.
3. Our church provides opportunities for members to engage in active ministry within the church and to the world.
4. Our church does a good job supporting persons in ministry by reminding them that they are making a difference.
5. In our congregation the laity work with the Pastor in leading and planning worship services.

Questions 1 through 4 are all lower than in 2016.  Overall, we rank in the 50th percentile as compared to other churches in the database. 
 
Educational Engagement Index – measures the degree to which members share in the understanding that Christian Education is a life-long process that enriches a person’s spiritual life and prepares him or her for service in the world.  Recognizing that members are living with a variety of schedules and that education must be provided in a way that adapts to members needs. 

1. Our members understand that they have a spiritual responsibility for life-long learning and formation.
2. Our church provides opportunities for education and formation in a variety of ways so that I can find one that fits my complex lifestyle.
3. Our church provides high quality education that is appropriate to every age and stage of life.

We are on the low side in all questions.  The overall index is in about the 25th percentile and it was in the 55th percentile in 2016.  We need to find a way to connect with kids. 
 
Worship and Music Index – the worship experience is central to the vitality and growth of a congregation.  Research suggests that worship is a primary factor in the morale of a congregation and that when the worship experience of a congregation is vibrant, members also tend to feel energized about the work of the church. 

1. The music at our church is outstanding in quality and appropriate in style to our congregation.
2. The worship services at our church are exceptional in both quality and spiritual content.

This is our bright spot.  We scored high in this area.  The overall index is up from the 78th percentile in 2016 to the 85th percentile now. 
 

Financial Information
The financial information shows that our giving is down from 2016.  We felt that the average household income of $87,849 was much too high.  The annual percent of income given is .75% or in the 2nd percentile rank.  In 2016, we were at 2.21 percentile rank.  Average of all churches is at 2.5 percentile of income giving.
 
The report also included some demographic data which showed we have a younger than average church.
 
Transition Profile
During the transition period, 12% of the people said they would be more involved.  27% of the people said that they would be willing to take on additional responsibilities that may arise during the transition period.  25% said that they are willing to give more to help with additional costs during the transition period. 
 
95% of the people either tend to agree, agree, or strongly agree that we need to call a Pastor with the same skills and responsibilities as our former Pastor.  We all feel that Richard was good at preaching, pastoral care, and administration.  He was not as good at growing the church.