Survey of Clergy Serving Local Churches

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched our creativity and capacity, and it continues to do so for the foreseeable future. As we find ourselves at the start of a third month impacted by this moment in time, as a Conference we would like to know:

How you and your Local Church are doing
What you and your Local Church have tried and continue to adapt, and that you are willing to share with others
Where the Conference, including Staff, Leadership Teams, and our covenant community as a whole, needs to be allocating time and other resources strategically

For Local Churches with multiple clergy, we are inviting all clergy to complete this survey with their own feedback.

Thank you for your prompt feedback by May 5, 2020.

Question Title

* 1. Who is completing this survey?

First & Last Name

Local Church

Local Church City

Local Church State

Email Address

Question Title

* 2. Are you offering online worship? (Select all that apply)

We are live streaming on Facebook

We are live streaming on YouTube

We are live streaming on Zoom

We are live streaming on another platform

We are recording and posting on our website

We are recording and posting on Facebook

We are recording and posting on YouTube

We are recording and posting on another platform

We are not offering online worship

We are doing something else (please explain)

Question Title

* 3. If you are offering online worship - are you able to tell the number of views you get, or number who view and stay for more than half?

I can tell how many views we get

I can tell how many view and stay for more than half

I don’t know either of these things

Question Title

* 4. If you are offering online worship, in terms of the number of people worshipping with you are you experiencing

More than our average Sunday morning participation for this time of year

About the same as our average Sunday morning participation for this time of year

Less than our average Sunday morning participation for this time of year

Unknown/not sure

Question Title

* 5. Your Conference provided Good Friday stations of the cross online. Did you (check all that apply)

Encourage your congregation to view it in its entirety as the main part of your congregation’s Good Friday plans

Encourage others to view it separately from your own Good Friday plans

View it yourself

Not know it existed

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. During Eastertide, your Conference Ministers have been recording sermons that can be used for worship services online. Have you (check all that apply)

Used the prerecorded sermon in its entirety as the sermon for your Local Church's worship service the week it is offered

Downloaded the prerecorded sermon to use at a later time

View it yourself

Not know it existed

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. What mid-week online gatherings are you providing, if any? (Please check all that apply)

Prayer and check-in

Study groups or other faith formation opportunities for adults

Outreach / Mission project gatherings (please specify in comment box below)

Faith formation resources or gatherings for children

Youth group gatherings

Confirmation Class

We are not currently providing mid-week on-line gatherings

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. What partnerships if any are you developing in order to serve your congregation at this time?

We are creating worship services with another church

We sharing bible study with another church

We have partnered with community agencies to offer community services such as meals or food pantries, etc.

We have partnered with other churches for youth ministry programs and activities

We are not currently engaged in partnerships with other churches or community agencies

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. Based on your income projections at the beginning of your budget year, is your church income overall (all sources) since the start of this pandemic (mid February to the present)

Significantly less than expected (decrease of 20% or more)

About what we expected

Significantly more than expected (increase of 20% or more)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 10. Based on your income projections at the beginning of your budget year, is your pledged/member offering income since the start of this pandemic (mid February to the present)

Significantly less than expected (decrease of 20% or more)

About what we expected

Significantly more than expected (increase of 20% or more)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 11. Have you had to layoff or furlough any employees?

Yes

Question Title

* 12. Did your church apply for the Paycheck Protection Program Loan?

Yes

Question Title

* 13. Does your church provide opportunities for electronic giving? (check all that apply)

Donate button on our website

Text to Give

Mobile giving through a church app

Automatic EFT draft

No, we do not provide any electronic giving options

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. If your church does provide electronic giving options, who is your payment provider?

Vanco

PayPal

Tithe.ly

Givelify

We have a merchant account with our bank

We use a system integrated with our church database (please specify in other)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 15. What lessons are you learning, as you adapt and innovate, that you want to carry forward once this crisis is over?

Question Title

* 16. What impact of your ministries during this crisis are you seeing in your church and community?

Question Title

* 17. Please tell us about any new community partnerships you are forming, and/or any ongoing partner relationships that are expanding or deepening during this time

Question Title

* 18. How are you doing this week? (Please check all that apply)

I am fine. I do well in times of crisis.

I am feeling pretty creative.

I am enjoying the opportunity to try new things without a lot of deliberation.

I had to figure out a lot in a few weeks. It was strenuous.

I am exhausted. This has been a lot in the last few weeks.

I am dealing with a lot of pastoral issues in my church that are not Covid-19 related

I am dealing with a lot of pastoral issues in my church that are Covid-19 related.

I am dealing with impactful issues in my family life as a result of Covid-19.

I feel like I am getting the hang of it.

I am feeling the weight of grief within and around me.

I am tired. But I am always tired after Easter.

I am feeling isolated.

I am feeling that so many online meetings and gatherings saps my energy.

Other (please specify)

Survey of Clergy Serving Local Churches

Question Title

* 1. Who is completing this survey?

Question Title

* 2. Are you offering online worship? (Select all that apply)

Question Title

* 3. If you are offering online worship - are you able to tell the number of views you get, or number who view and stay for more than half?

Question Title

* 4. If you are offering online worship, in terms of the number of people worshipping with you are you experiencing

Question Title

* 5. Your Conference provided Good Friday stations of the cross online. Did you (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 6. During Eastertide, your Conference Ministers have been recording sermons that can be used for worship services online. Have you (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 7. What mid-week online gatherings are you providing, if any? (Please check all that apply)

Question Title

* 8. What partnerships if any are you developing in order to serve your congregation at this time?

Question Title

* 9. Based on your income projections at the beginning of your budget year, is your church income overall (all sources) since the start of this pandemic (mid February to the present)

Question Title

* 10. Based on your income projections at the beginning of your budget year, is your pledged/member offering income since the start of this pandemic (mid February to the present)

Question Title

* 11. Have you had to layoff or furlough any employees?

Question Title

* 12. Did your church apply for the Paycheck Protection Program Loan?

Question Title

* 13. Does your church provide opportunities for electronic giving? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 14. If your church does provide electronic giving options, who is your payment provider?

Question Title

* 15. What lessons are you learning, as you adapt and innovate, that you want to carry forward once this crisis is over?

Question Title

* 16. What impact of your ministries during this crisis are you seeing in your church and community?

Question Title

* 17. Please tell us about any new community partnerships you are forming, and/or any ongoing partner relationships that are expanding or deepening during this time

Question Title

* 18. How are you doing this week? (Please check all that apply)

Question Title

* 19. How can we help you?