RenewalWorks Spiritual Inventory Results and Recommendations
P R E S E N TAT I O N T O T H E C O N G R E G AT I O N AUGUST 31, 2014
What is RenewalWorks? 2
• An Episcopal Planning tool that provides a process for: •
Assessing the spiritual vitality of a congregation
•
Training a task force from the congregation to interpret the results
•
•
Examining the life of the congregation in light of the survey results to discern how the congregation is and is not inspiring and supporting of people in their spiritual journey Challenging the congregation to better support the spiritual lives of its members through spiritual practices that are key predictors of a vital congregation such as regular worship, Bible reading, personal prayer, and service to people in need.
What is RenewalWorks? 3
• The RenewalWorks Spiritual Inventory is designed to answer two questions: •
What is the spiritual health of your church?
•
What is your Church’s role in growing Disciples?
What is RenewalWorks? 4 •
•
Spiritual Health is measured based on three key components: •
Your Church’s Role
•
Personal Spiritual Practices
•
Faith in Action
What Makes a Difference? •
Core beliefs that promote spiritual growth
•
Sources of dissatisfaction
•
Catalytic church activities
•
Basis to develop personal spiritual practices
Spiritual Continuum Profile 5
A Christ-centered Life with God Deepening in Life with God in Christ
Growing a Life with God in Christ Exploring a Life with God in Christ The people in this group have a basic belief in God, but they’re unsure about God’s role in their lives.
The people in this group have a personal relationship with God. They’ve made a commitment to trust God with their future in this life and the next, but they are just beginning to learn what it means to be in a relationship with God.
The people in this group depend on God, but they see God as someone who assists them in the things that are important to their life. On a daily basis, they turn to God for help and guidance for issues they face.
The people in this group would identify their relationship with God as the most important relationship in their entire lives. They see their lives as fully surrendered to God, subordinating everything to God’s will and desires.
Movement through the Spiritual Continuum 6
Center Deepen Grow Explore
Movement 3 Movement 2
Movement 1 • Helps me develop a relationship with Christ
• Prioritizes my spiritual growth over my church membership
• Engages me in the Sacraments in a way that helps me grow spiritually
• Helps me develop a prayer life that connects me with God regularly
• Provides training in how to share
• Provides training in how to share the gospel while serving those in need
• Church leaders are authentic about their struggles • Encourages me to take personal responsibility for my own spiritual growth • Consistently challenges me to engage with Scripture in new and interesting ways.
Five Categories of Catalysts that Advance Spiritual Growth 7
• Spiritual Beliefs and Attitudes • Organized Church Activities • Personal Spiritual Practices • Spiritual Activities with Others • Spiritual Virtues
Best Practice Principles 8
Best Practice Principles: Finding our story in the numbers 9
• Based on each respondent’s answers regarding the importance of the attributes underlying these Best Practice Principles and the respondent’s satisfaction with Saint John’s fulfillment of each attribute, a priority score is calculated. • This priority score is then compared to the EPS Norm and the All Church Norm (defined on the next slide) to determine those attributes which the congregation considers to be of: • Great Urgency • Concern but not great urgency • Not much of a concern • Not a concern at all • Interestingly, Saint John’s did not have one attribute that was “Not a concern at all”
Comparison Data 10
All Church Norm: The average from the more than 1,500 churches of all
denominations who have completed the survey since 2008 EPS Norm: The average from the 60 Episcopal Churches with approximately
6,000 congregants who participated in the survey since 2009 Your Church: The results of the Saint John’s Cathedral RenewalWorks Spiritual
Inventory.
Response Rate 11 Response rate is calculated as a percentage of responses to the survey compared with
average weekend adult attendance.
Individual church responses range from 5%-75% of weekend attendance with the average
around 40%
For larger churches, a good response rate is between 20–30%. Saint John’s Cathedral Response Rate Average Weekly Adult Attendance:
698
Number of RenewalWorks Surveys Completed:
356
Saint John’s Response Rate:
51%
Saint John’s Cathedral RenewalWorks Spiritual Inventory Data
Demographics of those who completed the survey 13
Age 80% 70% 60% 50%
Employment Status and Income 70%
69% 70%
59%
60% 43%
32%
20% 4%
10%
3%
9%
Age 30-49 EPS Norm
11% 10% 12%
10% 0%
0%
Your Church
Income under $30K
Age 19-29 All Church Norm
Income $30K $74.9K
Your Church
74% 57% 42% 30% 21% 5%
8%
8%
Diversity: Non-White, including Hispanics Your Church
Children under 18 at home EPS Norm
All Church Norm
Income $75K or more
EPS Norm
Diversity, Presence of Kids, Marital Status 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
45%
30%
20%
Age 50+
48%
39%
38%
40%
27% 27%
30%
54% 50%
50%
47%
40%
51%
Married
78%
Full-time Employment
All Church Norm
Church Tenure 14
Church Tenure Less than one year
11% 5% 9% 33%
One to five years
26% 37% 13%
Six to ten years
19% 20% 43%
More than ten years
50% 34%
0%
10% Your Church
20% EPS Norm
30%
40%
All Church Norm
50%
60%
Spiritual Continuum Profile of Saint John’s Cathedral 15 Life with God in the Center
Growing a Life with God Exploring a Life with God The people in this group are taking the first, small steps in an intentional spiritual journey.
19% EPS Norm
17%
All Norm
16%
The people in this group are more committed to their Christian faith, but still there are a lot of questions.
58% EPS Norm
56%
All Norm
45%
Deepening in Life with God The people in this group have a faith by which they rely on God’s presence and power in their daily lives.
19% EPS Norm
22%
All Norm
24%
For people living in this group, the Christian faith is the most important relationship in their lives.
4% EPS Norm All Norm
4%
15%
Spiritual Beliefs and Attitudes (Percentage of those who responded that they very strongly agreed)
16 Spiritual Continuum
Total Grace There is nothing I can do or have done to earn God’s love.
EPS Norm
EPS Norm
Authority of Scripture I believe the Bible has authority over what I say and do.
Relational God EPS Norm
Church
Center
35%
15%
31%
59%
90%
50%
21%
49%
76%
80%
10%
0%
9%
16%
70%
41%
16%
36%
70%
100%
29%
3%
24%
59%
90%
36%
16%
38%
43%
80%
All Norm
All Norm
Baptismal Identity
I believe I can grow as a Christian more fully as an active member of a local church.
Deepen
All Norm
EPS Norm
I believe God is actively involved in all my life.
I exist to know, love and serve God.
Grow
All Norm
Trinity I believe in the Trinity: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Explore
EPS Norm
All EPS Norm Norm
All Norm
Spiritual Beliefs and Attitudes (Percentage of those who responded that they very strongly agreed)
17 Spiritual Continuum
Total Single-Mindedness I desire God to be first in my life.
Stewardship I believe a Christian is called to sacrificially offer time, talent, and treasure. Spiritual Gifts I know and use my spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purpose. Giving Away My Life I am willing to risk everything that is important in my life for Jesus Christ. Baptismal Covenant I believe the Baptismal Covenant is the eternal guide for my spiritual life. Eucharist I believe that participating in Holy Communion gives me strength to persevere in my spiritual life.
Explore
Grow
Deepen
Center
3%
24%
53%
90%
36%
15%
35%
53%
90%
10%
1%
9%
16%
50%
10%
0%
6%
26%
70%
3%
19%
30%
50%
13%
37%
61%
90%
28% EPS Norm
EPS Norm
All Norm
All Norm
EPS All Norm Norm
EPS All Norm Norm
19% EPS Norm
39% EPS Norm
Best Practice Principles 18
Best Practice Principles: Finding our story in the numbers 19
Red
=
Great Urgency
Yellow =
Concern but not great urgency
White
=
Not much of a concern
Green
=
Not a concern at all
Best Practice Principles: Get People Moving 20
VS. All VS. EPS Church Norm Norm
Your Church
Episcopal Norm
B1: Provides a clear pathway that helps guide my spiritual growth
4.2
3.6
B2: Encourages me to take personal responsibility for my own spiritual growth
3.6
2.6
y
y
B3: Prioritizes my spiritual growth over my church membership
4.4
3.1
y
r
B4: Senior church leaders are actively engaged in helping people get started on their spiritual growth
4.9
3.2
y
y
y
Best Practice Principles: Embed the Bible 21 VS. EPS Norm
VS. All Church Norm
Your Church
Episcopal Norm
C1: Helps m e understand the Bible in greater depth
4.1
3.5
C2: Helps m e develop a prayer life that connects m e with God regularly
5.2
3.7
C3: Church leaders provide sound doctrine rooted in Biblical truth
1.5
1.9
C4: Provides worship that is challenging and thought provoking
4.4
4.4
C5: Consistently challenges m e to engage with Scripture in new and interesting ways
4.0
3.2
r
C6: Scripture engagem ent is part of every experience people have at our church
1.7
1.7
y
C7: Engages m e in the Sacram ents in a way that helps m e grow spiritually *
3.2
2.3
C8: Provides liturgy that encourages encounter with God in worship *
2.9
2.9
C9: Provides liturgy with m usic that feeds m y spirit *
1.4
2.3
C10: Provides liturgy that encourages spiritual practices throughout the week *
3.5
3.0
r
r
y
r
Best Practice Principles: Create Ownership 22 Your Church
Episcopal Norm
VS. EPS Norm
VS. All Church Norm
D1: Helps m e in m y tim e of em otional need
6.6
3.8
r
r
D2: Helps m e develop relationships that encourage accountability
3.7
2.4
y
D3: Helps m e feel like I belong
6.0
3.4
r
r
D4: Provides opportunities to grow spiritually through relationships with others
5.0
3.0
r
r
D5: Sets clear expectations about what it m eans to be part of the church
2.5
2.2
D6: Inspires such a sense of ownership that the church becom es an im portant part of who I am
4.4
2.4
r
r
D7: Encourages m e to be respectful and welcom ing to people of other faith traditions *
1.3
1.4
D8: Deepens m y sense of com m unity by serving alongside others *
4.0
3.1
Best Practice Principles: Pastor the Community 23 Your Church
Episcopal Norm
VS. EPS Norm
VS. All Church Norm
E1: Provides opportunities for m e to serve those in need
4.0
1.5
r
r
E2: Prom otes a strong serving culture that is widely recognized by the local com m unity
4.0
2.3
y
y
E3: Em powers m e to go out “ on m y own� to m ake a significant im pact in the lives of others
3.4
1.9
r
E4: Allows m e to use and develop m y spiritual gifts
4.8
2.8
r
r
E5: Provides training in how to integrate m y faith with service to those in need
4.5
2.5
r
r
E6: Church leaders are a recognized voice on im portant local com m unity issues
3.0
1.5
r
r
E7: Encourages m y participation in faith-based political advocacy *
1.4
-0.1
E8: Encourages m y participation in inter-faith conversations *
1.5
1.1
Top 5 Reasons for Dissatisfaction Based on Priority Score
24
1. Helps me feel like I belong 2. Helps me in my time of emotional need 3. Church leaders model and consistently reinforce how to grow spiritually 4. Prioritize my spiritual growth over my church membership 5. Church leaders are authentic about their struggles
What people want most from Saint John’s Cathedral Measured by Importance Score
25
1. Provides worship that is challenging and thought provoking 2. Helps me feel that I belong 3. Helps me in my time of emotional need 4. Provides liturgy with music that feeds my spirit 5. Encourages me to be respectful and welcoming to people of other faith traditions 6. Provides liturgy that encourages encounter with God in worship 7. Church leaders model and consistently reinforce how to grow spiritually 8. Church leaders are authentic about their struggles 9. Provides opportunities to grow spiritually through relationships with others 10. Engages me in the Sacraments in a way that helps me grow spiritually 11. Challenges me to grow and take next steps spiritually
What works best at Saint John’s Cathedral Measured by satisfaction score
26
1. Provides liturgy and music that feeds my spirit 2. Encourages me to be respectful and welcoming to people of other faith traditions 3. Provides liturgy that encourages encounter with God in worship 4. Provides worship that is challenging and thought provoking 5. Engages me in the Sacraments in a way that helps me grow spiritually 6. Church leaders provide sound doctrine rooted in Biblical truth 7. Provides liturgy that encourages spiritual practices throughout the week 8. Church leaders model and consistently reinforce how to grow spiritually 9. Deepens my sense of community by serving alongside others 10. Promotes a strong serving culture that is widely recognized by the local community 11. Empowers members of the congregation to serve in leadership roles
RenewalWorks Committee Recommendations
The Process 28
• Formed a committee of 25 lay persons • Met five times from March to June • Reviewed the data and developed recommendations based on the following
criteria: •
Does the recommendation address a Best Practice Principle? • • • •
• • • •
Get People Moving Embed the Bible Create Ownership Pastor the Community
Does the recommendation satisfy a need expressed in data? Does the recommendation address a dissatisfaction? Is the recommendation realistic? Can we measure the results of the recommendation?
Recommendations 29
Our broad rubric for recommendations was that of Spiritual Growth
Outreach Large Groups Small Groups Personal Spiritual Pracitices
The clergy, staff, and lay leaders will work together to implement
programmatic responses to the data. We will continue to communicate as effectively as possible about
opportunities for going deeper with God.
Outreach 30
Recommendation
Best Practice Principle
Share with the congregation what Saint John’s Cathedral is doing through its outreach ministries
Pastor the community
Use the Dream Together Conference to harvest data about what hopes there might be for our life of outreach or use of our facility within the surrounding community and Denver
Pastor the community
Engage in the training of mentors and lay leaders in outreach ministries
Create Ownership
Large Groups 31
Recommendation
Best Practice Principle
Fellowship opportunities like a coffee hour with no purpose beyond socializing and getting to know one another
Get People Moving
Lay leaders "moment" minutes as a different way to offer the announcements & invite congregation
Create Ownership
Increase awareness about opportunities for prayer and our Eucharistic services
Get People Moving
One Sunday a month invite the person in the pew next to you to come with you to coffee hour
Create Ownership
Small Groups 32
Recommendation
Best Practice Principle
Form a curriculum-based small groups program. The small groups will be organized by demographics, and will engage in either book or bible study with the assistance of a trained lay leader to facilitate study and conversation around the chosen study materials. Location and timing of the small group meetings will vary based on the availability of the group members.
Embed the Bible
Create a small group program focused on volunteering as a group in the community, and include purposeful reflection on their service together linking it with their faith.
Pastor the community
Personal Spiritual Practices 33
Recommendation
Best Practice Principle
Expand resources and knowledge of the bible (for example, pew bibles, bulletin information, handouts).
Embed the Bible
Interactive Bible Workshop or Various Bible Studies
Embed the Bible
Tie sermons more closely to the bible readings for that week
Embed the Bible
Education on elements of our worship services
Embed the Bible
Personal Spiritual Practices 34
Prayer • Names of people with prayer requests in the bulletin • Give people the opportunity to submit prayer requests by placing their request in the offertory plate • Offer prayer workshops • Communicate existing online and other resources for prayer life development
Next Steps 35
1. RenewalWorks Committee began its work in March 2014 2. RenewalWorks Survey results presented to the Vestry at its June meeting 3. RenewalWorks Committee Recommendations presented to the Vestry at its August meeting 4. Various programs have been developed and are being immediately implemented to address some of the issues raised by the survey 5. A smaller group of lay people from the RenewalWorks Committee has agreed to continue their work with this project as an implementation team to assist with and a be resource for those tasked with developing programs based on the data and these recommendations
Many thanks to the members of the RenewalWorks Committee!! 36
Chris Alexander Joan Barker David Barr Ashley Bracken Megan Bradley Andrew Britton Sophia Burris John Chenier Annie Croner Amy Davis Jack Denman Everett Engstrom David Grey
Leigh Grinstead Jennifer Harrelson Heidi Harris Seth Kent John Lake Eric Lazzari Leah Lazzari Tyler Mahan Carolyn McCormick Mike Orr Brian O'Shea Eileen Rizzo Susan Sweeney