US Congregational Life Survey FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 637 total responses. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS ID Number: V567 24. Do you agree or disagree: "In general, there is a good match between our congregation and our minister, pastor, priest, or rabbi"? 3% Strongly 13% Agree 11% Neutral or unsure 3% Disagree 1% Strongly disagree 69% There is currently no leader here 25. Which of the following aspects of this congregation do you personally most value? (Mark up to three.) 20% Wider community care or social justice emphasis 4% Reaching those who do not attend church 65% Traditional style of worship or music 15% Contemporary style of worship or music 29% Sharing in Holy Communion, Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper 21% Social activities or meeting new people 40% Sermons, preaching, or homilies 18% Bible study or prayer groups, other discussion groups 29% Ministry for children or youth 5% Prayer ministry for one another 16% Practical care for one another in times of need 3% The congregation's school or pre-school 6% Openness to social diversity 5% Adult church-school or Sabbath-school classes 26. Before you started coming to this congregation, were you participating in another congregation? 14% No, I've come here for most or all of my life 14% No, before coming here I had not been attending any congregation for several years 5% No, before coming here I had never regularly attended 67% Yes, immediately prior to coming here, I was participating in another congregation 27. Before you started coming here, what type of congregation did you attend? (Mark only one.) <1% Assembly of God 2% Baptist 4% Catholic 1% Episcopal 5% Lutheran 14% Methodist 0% Nazarene 4% Non-denominational <1% Pentecostal 49% Presbyterian 0% Seventh-day Adventist 8% United Church of Christ 6% Other 9% I did not attend another congregation before coming here About You 28. Age of worshipers: 6% 15-24 12% 25-44 30% 45-64 53% 65 and above 29. Gender of worshipers: 61% Female 39% Male 30. What is your employment status? (Mark all that apply.) 29% Employed or self-employed full-time 13% Employed or self-employed part-time 2% Unemployed 48% Retired 8% Full-time homemaker 4% Student 1%
Could do more specific things – again the extra commitment opportunities Important to know costs to run the whole church Need to feel part of it & know what it costs to get the church together age of officers deciding may influence decisions most elders and trustees are education and are priorities like leadership from within the church needs are met when issues are raised, for example, roof, A/C need new blood with new ideas on committees Confidentiality on giving dollars by individuals is good Communication of budget and is important We do not stress tithe Presbytery control questioned take credit more for what our dollars do for mission Focus on why we give. Expectations of/relations with clergy Each minister has/had a set role Each should be open to talk with individual members Pastors can be spread too thin Congregation relies on clergy too much – should have more lay people involved Active visible present members; members have a special gift within themselves that clergy can help out; Pastors need to ask! All members have a ministry Do a better job with respecting pastor’s time including their days off and during their working hours Need a Sabbath for the pastors like pastors that you can talk to and relate to need to be sincere and approachable we expect too much from our pastors having a relationship with the pastors brings meaning to the service they need to be strong biblically everything to need role descriptions priorities for each position passion for faith and expresses it charismatic different gifts Head pastor needs to be a preacher! To be “all things to all people” Participate in events (spouses too) Be fantastic preachers, leaders, etc. Become involved when possible; exposure to all groups head pastor should be the conflict resolver All pastors need to preach about today's events in the world. Make sermons relate to issues of the day. People go on Sundays and want to hear wisdom and words about today's problems that affect their lives. We need at least 3 pastors. Head pastor has to be well rounded person and good leader
Good with checking in but don’t want to overwhelm; can lead to uncomfortable situations and awkwardness; some just want to participate or just attend Follow up procedures for New Members? Is this happening; is it working New Christians – not everyone familiar with the Service; hand a Hymnal to your neighbor if they seem confused; people new in their faith might t appreciate guidance; might add to the new member class some information on the actual service need to welcome people through people not programs or things be more welcoming to children and youth need to move process of getting new pastors along so we will attract new people want attendance pad back Needed to shake hands more with current and newer people Pass "peace of Christ" Change the mechanics of welcoming in our church Need more members involved in welcoming Pastor should walk up and down the before and after service, greeting people INVOLVE IN SERVICES. Contemporary and traditional services separate groups! Need dynamic exciting sermons Worship Wonderful – great staff on the music; music is a true corner stone Concerts/outside groups for the music are great Miss the chapel service – family values the contemporary worship service/informal style Want to bring the Chapel service but with real permanence Tough to meet all the needs of all the people Some have noticed a feeling of some members needs met for some time, and then some other groups of members needs met following a change Music at this church is awesome in all modes Diverse group of members Too many styles into 1 service results in nothing – doesn’t work, lose both styles Strong Preacher/Teacher key to worship; it’s the primary take away from Sunday morning Balance talents of the pastors within the service Strength in the past to understanding of today to make sermons/prayers current and relevant contemporary music and service is a MUST need to focus more on new members have one traditional and one contemporary space/music done in many other churches with no problem need preacher for sermon should deal with current ways to deal with things going on the world need variety congregation to be challenged do not emphasize material things want communion more often contemporary* (+define) more lay participation needed more lay readers Music in general Children’s message is important Visitors view – “church is not evangelical” Meaning of “evangelical”? Need a more modern hymnal Incorporate young people in service Don't let the separate services (traditional/contemporary) divide the church Do we need 2 traditional services??? Baptisms should be warmer/friendlier. Include young people in the front to see what's going on. Sermons RELEVANCE
Music is integral to the worship experience. It is holding the church together now. Chant and response parts of the service are too mechanical – too Catholic. Prayers of Confession are They seem overly harsh and not relevant. Don’t after membership. Reformed worship appeals to a certain group. To lose that experience would be very bad. of the Northwest” (Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago has tripled its membership while appealing to the traditional service minded folk, why and how?) A contemporary worship service is critical and needed for growth Needs to appeal to the children Need a stellar youth pastor – the children are our future Need a two minute meet-and-greet during worship Use of building An elevator in the Christian Education Building is a necessity. It is challenging to get around. The staff lounge has changed and now there is no space for the groom and his attendants to change and wait prior to weddings. A bench located on the outside of the north entrance to the church would be nice to have for people who are waiting to be picked up. (The Jollys have a bench they would be happy to donate to the church for this purpose.) We should be more open to the community and have more community events take place in our space. Maintaining the upkeep of the facility is critically important. Having the necessary funding for unexpected “rainy day” maintenance situations is important. The facility is big, old and expensive to maintain. a downtown church, it has a great location with excellent potential for community outreach. The facility is confusing and hard to get around. The facility is well used by many different groups. are so many doors which makes it difficult for newcomers to know how to navigate. Security issues make it challenging. The church an elevator in the Christian Education building. Many parts of the building are in assessable to handicapped No reserve fund for maintenance; many times it’s the first to get cut We need to keep the building It’s a beautiful building We need to better use fellowship hall