Have you ever considered conducting a church survey? At first thought, the idea might not appeal to you. Perhaps it seems too consumer-oriented or unnecessary. Think again. There are powerful benefits to conducting a church survey. A church survey is not a tool by which you can cater a church’s ‘services’ to fleshly appetites. It is a tool by which you can measure your church’s effectiveness or obedience to God’s Word, a thermometer by which you can understand your people’s spiritual status, and an administrative tool by which you can streamline the management of your assembly. While there are inherent dangers in any man-made tool, the church survey is an excellent means by which your church can improve.
What Can I Learn from a Church Survey?
The short answer is, you can learn whatever you want to. It’s up to you. Here are some specifics:
- The spiritual activity of your people. Gain a better understanding of their Bible reading, devotional habits, prayer life, etc.
- Church demographics. Learn about your people’s age, gender, occupation, income level, family information, and other metrics that can aid in your ministry.
- Church attendance or program effectiveness. How often do your people attend church? What service(s) do they go to? How many, if any, of your church’s program do they participate in?
The information you gain from a church survey can give you valuable information to help you more effectively shepherd the church. As you understand your church members better, you will be able to more effectively target their spiritual needs. For example, by knowing that few of your people have graduated from high school, you as a pastor will be advised to keep the teaching at a certain level. If your surveys reflect that few members read their Bibles each week, perhaps a greater emphasis should be placed upon personal devotions.
Church surv
eys work both ways. A church survey also informs the leadership as to their effectiveness in the ministry. Church leadership can learn a lot by listening to people. Using a survey to do so allows people to share their perception of the leaderships organization or efficiency. You can gain feedback as to how the people are understanding the preaching. You may also gain some much-needed feedback on the nursery program, youth group, or evangelism programs of the church. Surveys can alert the church leadership to their blind spots and help them know how to make corrections.
What Are Some Guidelines for Conducting a Church Survey?
- Keep it brief. Few people enjoy filling out long surveys. Be sure that your survey accomplishes your purposes and no more. Be cautious about asking for lengthy answers or asking too many questions.
- Make it optional. Don’t force a survey on your people. Sending the survey by email and reminding them that it is not a requirement, could make it more likely that they will fill out the survey accurately.
- Assure them of confidentiality. Your goal is not to snoop. Confidently and honestly assure them that their church survey answers will remain confidential, and will not be shared with anyone else.
- Not too often. People can get tired of surveys. After all, when people fill out surveys at a restaurant, surveys at work, and surveys for the Census Bureau, it can be a bit wearisome. Keep church surveys infrequent.
- Easy is best. A survey ought not to be difficult for people to do. Emailed surveys that are web based are the most ideal form of survey. The surveys we will discuss in upcoming posts are based on Constant Contact’s online survey tool