Parish Survey Ideas and Examples

[cellodude]

Dear collective wisdom,
The adult education committee at my parish (of which I am a member) is composing a new parish survey. Our last survey, conducted just last year, yielded little participation, and no one even studied the results closely.

I’m hoping that things will be different this time around, and not just because we plan to distribute the survey through many more channels than we have in the past.

My questions are:

1. Do any of you have good ideas for how to distribute parish surveys, encourage participation, and collect results?
2. Can any of you recommend Catholic churches that publish survey results on their websites whose surveys contain questions we might consider asking? (A good example of what I’m looking for is found at the website of Our Lady of Good Council Parish in Plymouth, MI).
3. Finally, can anyone share any good wisdom or experiences about how to use survey results most effectively to make positive changes in parish life?

Thanks, and God bless,

Danny

 

[puzzleannie]

our survey is tacked on to the stewardship survey that is passed out during Mass in October each year. Not that the results are much better.
I also do my own survery of CCD parents (who are locked into some mandatory meetings, where they always ask for more adult ed, bible study etc) but again disappointing results, and those who ask for these classes always decline to participate when you do call them up. sorry my sugar is low and I am in a cynical mood at this hour

 

[Joannm]

our survey is tacked on to the stewardship survey that is passed out during Mass in October each year. Not that the results are much better.
I also do my own survery of CCD parents (who are locked into some mandatory meetings, where they always ask for more adult ed, bible study etc) but again disappointing results, and those who ask for these classes always decline to participate when you do call them up. sorry my sugar is low and I am in a cynical mood at this hour

We too did a survey regarding adult education and while we got a decent response to the survey and actually put together one of the better programs in the diocese, it is always the same few people who attend. Then we get those who complain that we don’t have programs for adults. When I give them the brochure they look at me with blank faces…and then they don’t show up anyway. We have tried all different kinds of classes, workshops, lectures and all are taught by priests or those with advanced graduate degrees in theology. Once we had a priest come to speak about a moral issue and no one showed up except two people who already had him in class at the seminary and just wanted to show support. It was embarrassing. We have offered sessions in the morning, afternoon, evening, at all different times of the year. We even offer mini classes for adults during CCD sessions. We get 4 people if we are lucky.

People say they want things on surveys but don’t follow through.

 

[Sherry_G]

Try Adoration instead of surveys. Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and enliven your parish. You know what they say about opinions… Your heart is in the right place with your intention. Surveys will not lead you closer to your goal. Start a prayer group or plan a fun event at your parish. In my experience, there has never been a spark that started from a survey.

 

[cellodude]

Thanks for your replies.

Sherry, I completely agree with you. At our meeting, I said that I didn’t think survey’s were going to get at what our parish really needs. First, people don’t easily see what is missing; they’ll most likely express pleasure at what is in place and dissatisfaction with things they wish were different. Further, who is going to ask for seminars on moral issues that would convict themselves of sin?

In our committee meeting, I suggested the same things you did, and praise God, there was no resistance given. So, one contingent of us will be starting with activities and try to let the Spirit lead from the ground up. The other is still interested in completing a survey, and so I’d like to do all I can to create a survey that is itself catechetical.

I’d add one thing to what you said: surveys carry the danger of implying, if only tacitly, that we set our own agenda as a parish. I agree that the real person we need to “survey” is Christ. What would he have us do with our time and talents?

Ultimately, wisdom probably lies somewhere in the middle, since it is nevertheless important to connect and understand people where they are, which leads to the question:

How have others been successful at interpreting survey data at other parishes? Does anyone have any good models to recommend?

 

[cellodude]

We too did a survey regarding adult education and while we got a decent response to the survey and actually put together one of the better programs in the diocese, it is always the same few people who attend. Then we get those who complain that we don’t have programs for adults. When I give them the brochure they look at me with blank faces…and then they don’t show up anyway. We have tried all different kinds of classes, workshops, lectures and all are taught by priests or those with advanced graduate degrees in theology. Once we had a priest come to speak about a moral issue and no one showed up except two people who already had him in class at the seminary and just wanted to show support. It was embarrassing. We have offered sessions in the morning, afternoon, evening, at all different times of the year. We even offer mini classes for adults during CCD sessions. We get 4 people if we are lucky.

People say they want things on surveys but don’t follow through.

This has largely been the experience at our parish as well. I would add that the people that do end up attending even the first meeting of a multi-part series have loved the experience and return for all later parts.

The problem, then, seems to be getting people to show up in the first place.

I’m hoping that someone out there can report on a parish that went from low to high involvement, and can give some insight into what might have helped turn that tide around.

God bless you all!

 

[puzzleannie]

Try Adoration instead of surveys. Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and enliven your parish…

we have adoration
the same people show up there as show up for bible studies, adult classes, parish events etc.

the trouble with surveys is the same as that with pledge cards for donations. People think if they check a box they have somehow accomplished something.
I checked $100 so I have already made a gift to the building fund
I checked “bible study” so I am already a student of the bible
I checked “volunteer to teach CCD” so I am already helping the parish RE program

 

[cellodude]

we have adoration
the same people show up there as show up for bible studies, adult classes, parish events etc.

the trouble with surveys is the same as that with pledge cards for donations. People think if they check a box they have somehow accomplished something.
I checked $100 so I have already made a gift to the building fund
I checked “bible study” so I am already a student of the bible
I checked “volunteer to teach CCD” so I am already helping the parish RE program

What do you all think about a survey that had questions along these lines:

How many people did I share the Catholic faith with others this week?
How many times did I pray the rosary (or similar devotional prayer) this week?
How great an effort do I make to invite friends and family to Mass each month?
How many new faces do I attempt to greet and meet after Mass each week?
How serious are you about your Catholic faith?

*Those survey questions *might reveal a lot more to parish surveys than the questions that are often asked, which seem to belay a tacit agreement between administration and parishioners that “we won’t ask you the hard questions and you give us the answers we are looking for.”

That being said, there is a time and place for asking the hard questions, and everything we do (even parish surveys) must be done with abundant love of neighbor and awareness of our own sinfulness.

Personally, I refuse to give up on this problem, so I’m still hoping others out there can report some success stories and strategies.

God bless!

 

[puzzleannie]

What
*Those survey questions *might reveal a lot more to parish surveys than the questions that are often asked, which seem to belay a tacit agreement between administration and parishioners that “we won’t ask you the hard questions and you give us the answers we are looking for.”

!

boy is that the truth, I see you have been down this road before

 

[asia53]

our survey is tacked on to the stewardship survey that is passed out during Mass in October each year. Not that the results are much better.
I also do my own survery of CCD parents (who are locked into some mandatory meetings, where they always ask for more adult ed, bible study etc) but again disappointing results, and those who ask for these classes always decline to participate when you do call them up. sorry my sugar is low and I am in a cynical mood at this hour

We have the same situation here.

It seems like the same 50 people sign up for adult ed, only 30 actually participate, by the end of the study, maybe 12 people finish. To date, no one has asked for their money back.

We’re trying a new approach this year. A group of us, who take and finish Bible studies, met with Father, and made suggestions. He was very supportive. We’re offering a Latin class taught by a parishioner, who is a Latin/German teacher. Two shorter Bible studies–10 or 12 weeks along with one 24-week Bible study course.

We’re right in the middle of registration. However, we’ve noticed more interest, especially in the shorter Bible studies, and the Latin course.