ELCA Confirmation Survey (Pastors/youth directors)

This survey has been created as part of a student research project to attempt to get a pulse on the health and effectiveness of Confirmation programs within ELCA congregations. Thank you for taking the time to fill out this 16 question survey. Similar surveys are available for your congregations' parents and high school students to fill out. This survey will be active until the end of Feb. 2010. Results of the survey will be available to view at this surveymonkey link by mid-March 2010. Peace to you.

1. What is the average weekend worship attendance for your church?

What is the average weekend worship attendance for your church? 0-100

100-250

250-500

Over 500

2. What has been the average annual size of your Confirmation Program over the past 5 years?

What has been the average annual size of your Confirmation Program over the past 5 years? 0-10 students

10-25 students

25-50 students

50-100 students

More than 100 students

3. Which answer best describes the location of your church?

Which answer best describes the location of your church? Urban

Suburban

Rural/Small Town

Mid-size City

4. Geographical Location of your church:

Geographical Location of your church: Mid-West

North-West

South-West

North-East

South-East

Central Plains

Rocky Mountains

5. Which answer best describes the make-up of the Paid Staff at your church?

Which answer best describes the make-up of the Paid Staff at your church? One Pastor and One Office Administrator (full or part time)

Multiple Pastors, Program Staffers, and Office Administrators

One Pastor, a Youth Director/Pastor, and Other Part-timers

Pastor Only

Other

6. What percentage of students who complete your Confirmation Program stay actively involved in the church through regular worship and/or youth activities participation?

What percentage of students who complete your Confirmation Program stay actively involved in the church through regular worship and/or youth activities participation? Less than 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

7. The purpose of Confirmation Ministry is: (choose 1 or more)

The purpose of Confirmation Ministry is: (choose 1 or more) Christian Rite of Passage

Teach the Catechism

Affirmation of Baptism

Help People Experience God

Connect Youth to the Church

Create Adult Church Members

Opportunity to Engage Fringe Members/Friends

Hang out with Friends and Have Fun

8. Please Rate the following in order of importance for your Confirmation Program. (1-most important, 5-least important)

	1	2	3	4	5
Imparting Denominational Doctrines	*Please Rate the following in order of importance for your Confirmation Program. (1-most important, 5-least important) Imparting Denominational Doctrines 1	Imparting Denominational Doctrines 2	Imparting Denominational Doctrines 3	Imparting Denominational Doctrines 4	Imparting Denominational Doctrines 5
Developing Interpersonal Relationships	Developing Interpersonal Relationships 1	Developing Interpersonal Relationships 2	Developing Interpersonal Relationships 3	Developing Interpersonal Relationships 4	Developing Interpersonal Relationships 5
Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity	Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity 1	Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity 2	Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity 3	Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity 4	Inspiring Curiosity about Christianity 5
Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation	Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation 1	Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation 2	Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation 3	Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation 4	Continuing Lifelong Process of Faith Formation 5
Creating Faithful Members of the Church	Creating Faithful Members of the Church 1	Creating Faithful Members of the Church 2	Creating Faithful Members of the Church 3	Creating Faithful Members of the Church 4	Creating Faithful Members of the Church 5

9. In one or two words describe how you feel about your Confirmation Program right now.

In one or two words describe how you feel about your Confirmation Program right now.

10. Please rate the following for your Confirmation Ministry (1-excellent - 4-poor)

	Rank of Importance
Emphasizing Baptismal Promises	Please rate the following for your Confirmation Ministry (1-excellent - 4-poor) Emphasizing Baptismal Promises Rank of Importance
Service Work/Projects	Service Work/Projects Rank of Importance
Encouraging Committment to Worship	Encouraging Committment to Worship Rank of Importance
Building Authentic Relationships with Adults	Building Authentic Relationships with Adults Rank of Importance
Developing Parent/Student Conversations	Developing Parent/Student Conversations Rank of Importance
Encourages Students to ask Questions	Encourages Students to ask Questions Rank of Importance
Teaching Students to Pray	Teaching Students to Pray Rank of Importance
Learning the Bible	Learning the Bible Rank of Importance
Learning the Small Catechism	Learning the Small Catechism Rank of Importance

11. In your opinion, what is more important for your Confirmation students?

In your opinion, what is more important for your Confirmation students? Experiencing God's Presence

Learning Basics of Christian Faith

12. In reality, do students in your Confirmation Program most often:

In reality, do students in your Confirmation Program most often: Experience God's Presence

Learn Basics of Christian Faith

Neither

13. Most ELCA churches experience a significant drop off of active youth participation in youth activities and worship attendance at the completion of Confirmation. What do you attribute that to?

Most ELCA churches experience a significant drop off of active youth participation in youth activities and worship attendance at the completion of Confirmation. What do you attribute that to?

14. Should Lutheran churches be doing Confirmation Ministry like we currently do?

Should Lutheran churches be doing Confirmation Ministry like we currently do? yes

15. Please comment further on your response to #14:

Please comment further on your response to #14:

16. Rate your own Confirmation experience as a youth on a scale of 1-4 with 1 being amazingly awesome to 4 being really stunk. (5 is did not attend Confirmation)

	1	2	3	4	5 - did not attend
My Own Confirmation experience	*Rate your own Confirmation experience as a youth on a scale of 1-4 with 1 being amazingly awesome to 4 being really stunk. (5 is did not attend Confirmation) My Own Confirmation experience 1	My Own Confirmation experience 2	My Own Confirmation experience 3	My Own Confirmation experience 4	My Own Confirmation experience 5 - did not attend

ELCA Confirmation Survey (Pastors/youth directors)
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1. Pastors/Youth Directors

1. What is the average weekend worship attendance for your church?

2. What has been the average annual size of your Confirmation Program over the past 5 years?

3. Which answer best describes the location of your church?

4. Geographical Location of your church:

5. Which answer best describes the make-up of the Paid Staff at your church?

6. What percentage of students who complete your Confirmation Program stay actively involved in the church through regular worship and/or youth activities participation?

7. The purpose of Confirmation Ministry is: (choose 1 or more)

8. Please Rate the following in order of importance for your Confirmation Program. (1-most important, 5-least important)

9. In one or two words describe how you feel about your Confirmation Program right now.

10. Please rate the following for your Confirmation Ministry (1-excellent - 4-poor)

11. In your opinion, what is more important for your Confirmation students?

12. In reality, do students in your Confirmation Program most often:

13. Most ELCA churches experience a significant drop off of active youth participation in youth activities and worship attendance at the completion of Confirmation. What do you attribute that to?

14. Should Lutheran churches be doing Confirmation Ministry like we currently do?

15. Please comment further on your response to #14:

16. Rate your own Confirmation experience as a youth on a scale of 1-4 with 1 being amazingly awesome to 4 being really stunk. (5 is did not attend Confirmation)

ELCA Confirmation Survey (Pastors/youth directors)Exit this survey

1. Pastors/Youth Directors

1. What is the average weekend worship attendance for your church?

2. What has been the average annual size of your Confirmation Program over the past 5 years?

3. Which answer best describes the location of your church?

4. Geographical Location of your church:

5. Which answer best describes the make-up of the Paid Staff at your church?

6. What percentage of students who complete your Confirmation Program stay actively involved in the church through regular worship and/or youth activities participation?

7. The purpose of Confirmation Ministry is: (choose 1 or more)

8. Please Rate the following in order of importance for your Confirmation Program. (1-most important, 5-least important)

9. In one or two words describe how you feel about your Confirmation Program right now.

10. Please rate the following for your Confirmation Ministry (1-excellent - 4-poor)

11. In your opinion, what is more important for your Confirmation students?

12. In reality, do students in your Confirmation Program most often:

13. Most ELCA churches experience a significant drop off of active youth participation in youth activities and worship attendance at the completion of Confirmation. What do you attribute that to?

14. Should Lutheran churches be doing Confirmation Ministry like we currently do?

15. Please comment further on your response to #14:

16. Rate your own Confirmation experience as a youth on a scale of 1-4 with 1 being amazingly awesome to 4 being really stunk. (5 is did not attend Confirmation)

ELCA Confirmation Survey (Pastors/youth directors)
Exit this survey