Hello St. Paul’s,
Merry Christmas to one and all!
As most of you know, we asked you to complete a congregational survey in the fall, as the first step in our strategic planning process. I am very grateful to the 182 individuals who took the time to complete the survey. The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch is trained to interpret this particular survey and she led the strategic planning group in an interpretation session. The group (made up of Chapter members and representatives of various demographics) has been digesting the results of the survey and using them as a basis for determining goals and strategies for the next 3-5 years. We hope to present an almost-final plan to you at the annual meeting in January. Meanwhile, here are some of the key findings.
The top three priorities identified are:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.
- Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church.
- Create more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships (for example small groups, nurtured friendships, shared meals etc).
The first two priorities were predictable, as almost every survey taken by any congregation anywhere has identified the need for new members and young people as priorities. However, that doesn’t diminish their importance.
Other goals identified as unusually strong compared to other churches are:
- Work as an advocate for social and institutional change;
- Strengthen the pastoral response of the church in serving people in times of need; and
- Enlarge or improve the physical facilities of the church.
On a scale of how satisfied and how energetic parishioners feel about the most important areas of cathedral life, St. Paul’s rated well in the most desirable quadrant of high energy and high satisfaction: this is known as the “transformation quadrant” and identifies us as a source of new meaning and purpose for our parishioners, as well as being seen as a mentor to other churches. This is great news! It tells us that St. Paul’s is healthy and that we are motivated to do great things.
Even a “transformational” church can improve in some areas, and St. Paul’s is no exception. Parishioners identified a friendly atmosphere as an area where some added energy and focus could have a significant impact on making us an even better community. This is why my letter of two weeks ago focused on how we can do better at welcoming newcomers.
Given that as a whole we place a high priority on attracting new members and especially younger people, it’s important for us to pay attention to what the younger people who took the survey had to say. We had a very small number of respondents aged under 35, and unfortunately the survey instrument didn’t break down ages between 35 and 64 (a range which encompasses three very different generations). However, it’s notable that those under 35 identified different top priorities than their older fellow parishioners, naming as the top two:
- Expand outreach ministries that provide direct services to those living on the margins of society; and
- Work as an advocate for social and institutional change so that society might better reflect the values of the kingdom of God.
We know that we have significantly more under-40’s in the parish than those who self-identified as such in the survey, so we have been seeking out more of our younger members to gain understanding of their hopes and needs. Themes emerging from these conversations echo the survey’s findings about being more friendly and welcoming, and an interest in developing our young adult Bible study ministry alongside other social gatherings.
There are many more details that the survey provided, but I have shared the main points which will direct the development of the plan.
Overall, the survey was very good news. Unusually for a progressive cathedral congregation, we show a relatively high level of spiritual vitality. The congregation is flexible, adaptable, and open to constructive change. We score well on feelings about hospitality, morale, conflict management, governance, readiness for ministry, engagement in education, and worship and music.
One area that surprised many of the strategic planning group members was in personal generosity: given the high average income of those who completed the survey, the level of giving to the church was very low, ranking in the 3rd percentile of the many churches (of all denominations) that have taken this survey.
Finally, in the questions that were tailored to St. Paul’s, we learned that most respondents feel that the ministries we offer meet people’s needs, that parishioners enjoy telling their friends about the cathedral, and that our partnership with Voices of our City choir is an important aspect of our ministry. The reasons people gave for choosing St. Paul’s as their church vary widely, with Sunday morning worship and sermons coming out (barely) on top, with LGBTQ inclusivity and social justice ministries right behind.
Thank you again for participating in this important survey, and thanks to all who added personal comments, many of which included useful suggestions.
A blessed and peaceful New Year to each of you.
Your sister in Christ,
Penny
