Skip to content

Shared Services Task Force Survey

Thank you on behalf of the Shared Services Task Force for completing this survey! It should take about 20 minutes of your time. We are asking at least one person from each congregation to respond. Congregational leaders may respond separately based on their own areas of expertise or work together as a team to respond for the whole congregation.
Section 1: Congregational Profile
1.Congregation name(Required.)
2.Deanery/Clericus
3.Role of the person(s) completing this survey(Required.)
4.Average Sunday attendance (from 2025 Parochial Report)(Required.)
5.Approximate 2026 operating budget(Required.)
6.Paid clergy staff (full-time-equivalent)(Required.)
7.Paid lay staff (full-time-equivalent)(Required.)
8.Number of buildings the congregation is responsible for maintaining(Required.)
Section 2: Finance & Stewardship
9.Approximately what percentage of your annual operating budget goes to administrative & maintenance costs (bookkeeping, payroll processing, audit, insurance, IT, facilities maintenance contracts)?(Required.)
10.Which of the following services do you already use in your congregation and which would you be interested in accessing through a diocesan vetted, shared, or discounted version?
In use at congregation
Would be interested in diocesan shared service
Bookkeeping / monthly close
Annual audit or financial review
Stewardship & annual pledge campaign support
Planned giving / legacy giving support
Online giving platform
Legal assistance/document review
Accounts Payable/Expense management platform
Grant writing support
None of the above
Other (please specify)
Section 3: Buildings & Property
11.Does the congregation rent space to outside users (day schools, community groups, other congregations, etc.)?(Required.)
12.Which of the following building and property services do you already use in your congregation and which would you be interested in accessing through a diocesan shared arrangement?
In use in congregation
Would be interested in diocesan shared service
Contracts for snow removal / landscaping
Contracts for HVAC / boiler service
Contracts for cleaning
Facilities condition assessments
Capital project / construction consultation
Standard rental and lease agreement templates
Property insurance review
Accessibility & compliance consulting
Property management
Directory of vetted contractors
None
Other
Section 4: Staff, Volunteers, and Human Resources
13.Which of the following HR and volunteer-management functions do you use in your congregation and which would you be interested in accessing through a diocesan shared arrangement?
In use in congregation
Would be interested in diocesan shared service
Employee handbook
HR policy templates
Background check coordination
Volunteer recruitment tools / templates
Performance review templates
Job descriptions for employees
Employment law compliance assurance
Contracts (for contractors)
HR consulting
Other
Don’t know
14.Which platforms does the congregation purchase or license for core operations?
15.Who provides IT support for the congregation?(Required.)
16.Which of the following technology shared services would benefit your congregation? (check all that apply)(Required.)
Section 5: Communications & Outreach
Section 6: Administrative Operations
17.Which of the following communications services do you use at your congregation and which would you be interested in accessing through a diocesan shared arrangement?
In use in congregation
Would be interested in diocesan shared service
Bulletin & newsletter templates
Shared graphic design / marketing support
Social media strategy & content creation (templates, campaigns)
Bulk printing services (bulletins, newsletters, stewardship, reports)
Bulk mailings
Website & SEO support
Grant writing support
Press & media relations
None
Other
18.For each of the following functions, rate your congregation’s current operational capacity.
Robust: multiple capable people, real backup in place, robust documentation.
Adequate: reliable day-to-day, limited depth, some documentation.
Stretched: working, but fragile under stress, limited documentation.
Fragile: one person holds most of it, no real backup, no documentation.
Not keeping up: we're falling behind on this function, no documentation.
Bookkeeping / bill pay
Bulletin and publications
Website and social media
Livestream
Scheduling and calendar
Facilities and maintenance coordination
Marketing
HR/employee management
Rental/building use management
Legal compliance
19.What is your congregation’s single biggest administrative pain point right now?(Required.)
Section 7: Procurement
20.Which of these are your most expensive recurring operational purchases? Do not consider utilities, property insurance, and building maintenance. (Select your top 3)(Required.)
Section 8: Current Collaboration & Partnership
21.Is your congregation currently involved in any formal or informal shared arrangements with other Episcopal congregations, congregations of other denominations, or community partners? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
22.If you selected any of the above shared arrangements, briefly describe what's working well and what has been difficult in those arrangements.
Section 9: Summary & Follow-up
23.To what extent do operational burdens currently limit your congregation’s mission and ministry capacity?(Required.)
Not at all
Slightly
Moderately
Considerably
Significantly
24.If your congregation were freed from one or more of these operational burdens, what mission, ministry, or community-facing work would you invest in more deeply?(Required.)
25.Where does your congregation have specific strength or expertise that could benefit other congregations?
Can recommend a tool/resource
Can help someone else one-on-one
Can help create a shared service
Financial management / bookkeeping
Property and facilities management
Rental and lease arrangements
Grant writing / fundraising
Stewardship & annual pledge campaigns
Planned giving / legacy giving
Communications, design, or social media
Volunteer coordination / lay leadership development
Music / liturgical planning
Technology / digital ministry
Community outreach / advocacy / justice ministry
Other (please specify)
Not sure
26.Please briefly describe one strength or best practice your congregation would be willing to share, either informally through a knowledge network, or through a diocesan-hosted resource library.
27.Would you be potentially willing to participate in a follow-up interview, listening session, or focus group?
28.Contact information for follow-up (Name and email)
If you have any additional questions, comments, or would like to receive a copy of your responses, please contact Shared Services Task Force co-chair Emily Nevill at nevill.emily@gmail.com.