Mennonite World Conference Global Anabaptist Profile: A study of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches |
GAP Survey
Dear member of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches,
You are being invited to participate in a study called the Global Anabaptist Profile sponsored by Mennonite World Conference. This study examines the beliefs and practices of ordinary church goers who belong to Anabaptist-Mennonite congregations in various countries of the world. The purpose is to gain a greater understanding of the similarities and differences among Anabaptist-Mennonites globally. All members of your congregation 18 years of age and older are invited to complete a questionnaire that asks questions about your faith journey and your church participation, among other questions. It will take you about one hour to complete the questionnaire. If you decide to participate, you are also free to withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time without penalty.
You are being invited to participate in a study called the Global Anabaptist Profile sponsored by Mennonite World Conference. This study examines the beliefs and practices of ordinary church goers who belong to Anabaptist-Mennonite congregations in various countries of the world. The purpose is to gain a greater understanding of the similarities and differences among Anabaptist-Mennonites globally. All members of your congregation 18 years of age and older are invited to complete a questionnaire that asks questions about your faith journey and your church participation, among other questions. It will take you about one hour to complete the questionnaire. If you decide to participate, you are also free to withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time without penalty.
It will take about one hour to answer the questions. There can be multiple surveys per computer. You will not be able to go back and edit once you have answered and question. Your participation in this project is voluntary and your responses to the questions will remain confidential. Your name will never be connected with your answers in any way. While we hope that you will answer all of the questions, you are free to skip questions that make you uncomfortable for any reason or to discontinue answering the questionnaire at any time.
The information you provide today will also remain confidential and will not be connected to any one individual when it is reported to church leaders.
We do not anticipate any risks to you in participating in this study other than those encountered in day-to-day life. While there are no direct benefits to you individually, the results of this study will help church leaders to understand your church better and to develop programs and activities that support the mission and vision of your church. These results will also help the global church to better understand its member churches and congregations, and to encourage their growth and development as a result.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Conrad Kanagy (kanagycl@etown.edu) or John Roth (johndr@goshen.edu). This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Goshen College and Elizabethtown College. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant or feel you have been treated unfairly, please contact Dr. Ross Peterson-Veatch, Curriculum Director, Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning, Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN, ph. (574) 535-7504 (rosspv@goshen.edu). When you have completed the questionnaire, please return it to the person who is administering the study in your congregation. Thank you so much for generously sharing your time to complete the questionnaire.
We do not anticipate any risks to you in participating in this study other than those encountered in day-to-day life. While there are no direct benefits to you individually, the results of this study will help church leaders to understand your church better and to develop programs and activities that support the mission and vision of your church. These results will also help the global church to better understand its member churches and congregations, and to encourage their growth and development as a result.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Conrad Kanagy (kanagycl@etown.edu) or John Roth (johndr@goshen.edu). This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Goshen College and Elizabethtown College. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant or feel you have been treated unfairly, please contact Dr. Ross Peterson-Veatch, Curriculum Director, Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning, Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN, ph. (574) 535-7504 (rosspv@goshen.edu). When you have completed the questionnaire, please return it to the person who is administering the study in your congregation. Thank you so much for generously sharing your time to complete the questionnaire.