“We want to do a comprehensive congregation-wide survey.” Bad idea
~650 words – 2 ½ minutes.
A colleague told me he lost a generosity contract to a competitor because the other company promised a wide-scale survey of the congregation.
(PS. I don’t do Generosity initiatives for Generis.)
“Be happy you don’t. Those normally create more issues, lead you in the wrong direction, and rarely help. You dodged a bullet.”
OK. That’s my answer, and I am sticking to it.
Similarly, I get the same request in consulting in the Pastor Smart Succession Process or Storycrafting for Church Strategy. “Why don’t we just ask the whole congregation about the range of these issues?”
At the bottom, I will give my view of when they ARE appropriate.
Why not do a comprehensive, congregation-wide survey regarding future thinking for your congregation? My reason is that I rarely see it work.
It focuses on internal concerns, not external issues. These surveys tend to ask respondents to comment on what they like/dislike about the current ministry program and priorities. The bulk of the congregation will answer to meet their own needs, not the outsider’s needs.
It asks the wrong people. A congregation-wide survey asks everyone currently in the church database whether they are engaged in ministry, leadership, or involvement. It will overweight the concerns and desires of those less engaged with carrying the ministry forward.
It produces a boatload of data that can be sliced and diced ad nauseum. This makes it hard to interpret. Or it will be used as a talking point for some changes, but not others.
It will focus on problems and weaknesses rather than building on strengths. Most surveys of this type will shift the momentum and energy to “fixing things.” In some cases, things need to be fixed. But in other cases, much time, energy, and focus are lost on trying to act like another church rather than being the church God has called this congregation to be.
Respondents will want to see the data to give an interpretation for themselves. Even when churches design clear reports from the data, ax grinders will find ways to spin the data and results to their own agenda. Surveys tend to be great gatherers of loud negative voices and elevate extraneous issues.
Additionally, some will accuse leaders of hiding specific data they feel would reveal fodder for their cause.
It raises expectations from participants that their concerns will be addressed in completing the survey. But that is not always the case.
My experience is that those who want to change the leadership and direction often call for surveys to be done. That change may need to happen, but it needs to come through other means than a weaponized survey.
Finally, they tend to raise many more issues than can be addressed in the coming season of ministry. They often find so many problems and pathways that make choices harder, not easier.
Where do I find them helpful? Read after the ad
Two great offers today:
Proper preparation prevents future exasperation.
The June FREE webinar for Senior Pastors of larger churches is for those between 45 and 55 years of age. (Though we will allow others to participate)
What should I do now to prepare my family and the church for eventual succession?
You must be registered to attend. 25 minutes long.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 5 PM Eastern, 4 CT, 3 MT, 2 PT.
We will have some freebies for those that do!
Maybe even a door prize.
It’s a no-recording, cameras off webinar for participants. So don’t be embarrassed; join in.
I have this great interview with David Ashcraft on his new book “What was I thinking? How to make better decisions so you can lead with confidence.”
View that right here.
Story continues
Where I do find congregational surveys helpful:
Inventories of skills and passions of congregants and where they can engage in ministry and mission.
Surveys of leaders and key impact volunteers to set priorities and future focus.
As mentioned above, rank-ordering pathways for a future in which there are four alternatives, but none is “stay the same.” Make sure you weigh the responses accordingly.
And if the survey is less than two questions and more directional than specific. For example - The Congregational Confidence Score.™ They are focused on one or two issues of relevance.
I feel similarly about “Town Halls” by the way. I rarely ever commend them. I will write that article for a future issue.
I am a big believer in surveys of leaders. As the former CEO and program leader at Leadership Network, I worked extensively with Warren Bird, our Research Director, to execute wide-scale surveys of church leaders on various issues.
Those were not focused on one congregation but a wide variety of congregational leaders, often resulting in one response per congregation.
When it comes to wide-scale congregational surveys, use them with extreme care.
Feel free to disagree and send in your comments to me by hitting reply!