Parish surveys: developmental, routine, trivia, inconsequential
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 3:30PM 
More parishes are using some form of survey as they anticipate a transition. Some are focused, others scattershot; some well done, others confused; some developmental, others inconsequential. How to sort it out?
I’m using a model based on the work of Stephen Covey. It can help us distinguish surveys that can take a parish into a process of development from surveys that are about the parish’s routine business, or trivia, or about inconsequential matters. The questions about how well the surveys are being designed will need to hold for another time.
Here’s the grid. Also, a PDF of the grid
Focusing the parish's life and work
The general assumption is that, as much as possible, we want to keep our efforts on the normal parish business and parish development. It’s the important stuff.
And we want, as much as possible, to avoid getting caught up in things that are not really important for the well-being of the parish. Even if in some case they feel urgent to a few members.
Sorting things out
Normal parish business surveys
My impression is that that’s what most parish leaders are trying to do. So, we see questions like these.
1. We will be returning to some form of public worship. In order to plan for that we can use your help. It will give us an idea about the number of services to schedule and what precautions we need to take. In nay case, we want to assure you that the diocesan guidelines regarding safety will be carefully followed.
I plan to return to public worship as soon as that begins (check one)
No, not yet
I’m not sure what I want to do yet
Yes, I’ll be there
2. As it’s possible that a significant number of parishioners will not want to return until there is a cure, vaccine, or proven safety measures in place.
The parish should invest in a quality system for live streaming the services. We estimate the cost would be $_______
It’s not worth doing
I’m uncertain
We need to do it
The circumstances that cause us to ask this type of question may not be “normal” but asking them is normal parish business. This kind of survey allows us to do the regular work of the parish in these odd times. It is one aspect of managing the crisis.
Interruptions
These are surveys that tie up the energy of the parish over matters that are simply not very important. They are often driven by a feeling of urgency on the part of one or a few members. They are in fact inappropriate, frivolous or irrelevant to truly important parish matters. Leaders need to gently but firmly protect the parish from such survey questions.
Asking people to make judgments about how we have managed the crisis in the past three months, e.g., “How often did you attend the streamed Eucharist Sunday? How well was it done?” Such questions are not helpful for what we need to do in the time ahead. They may also be a needy seeking of approval because the leaders are feeling insecure. It’s now in the past. Move on! Don’t encourage a judgmental spirit in the parish. They are questions that might have been useful two months ago and if done then would have been “normal parish business.”
Or, asking questions such as, “Some members have shared how much they have appreciated doing Morning Prayer each Sunday. As we return to regular Sunday worship would you like us to make a permeant change to having Morning Prayer once a month? Or, some members dislike the common cup, would you be in favor of us using individual cups in the future? It’s 101 – don’t ask questions you will not act upon.
Trivia
This is most likely to be an issue in the process rather than the content of surveys. Asking too many questions; not focusing the questions; having a committee toss in everything that comes to mind; being excessively anxious about hearing from everyone.
Taking up people’s time and attention for trivia is disrespectful.
Parish development
In normal times it’s hard to get a parish to attend to developmental matters. Such things are left for “when we have time.” It requires the rector’s investment and leadership, the support of several respected lay leaders, and the willingness of a critical mass to go along with the effort. It’s even more difficult when we are meeting on Zoom.
Most of our parishes have devoted a lot of energy in the past three months getting the normal parish business done. It was a crisis. Developmental work could wait.
In the year plus ahead, some parishes will have developmental work that must be faced into. Trust was already low between the rector and many lay leaders; we need to do something about that even if these aren’t the best of circumstances. The priest had begun a process of interviewing parishioners about their 
spiritual life (all those willing); she now needs to pick up with that either on-line or in a socially distant setting at the parish. The nation is struggling with issues of racial equality; how do we engage in formation and how might we be a sanctifying presence in the wider community?
There may also be developmental opportunities that emerge from people’s experience with the virus. Many are thinking about illness and death. One that has caught my attention is the relationship among loneliness, hostility and illusion. I’ve heard clergy speak of the argumentativeness and antagonistic climate in clergy on-line meetings. After what seemed like a spirit of “we’re in this together” the nation seems to be shifting back into its angry polarizing behavior. Peter Wehner wrote, "But epistemological anarchy is a mortal threat to a free nation. If there are no knowable truths to appeal to, no common set of facts we can agree on, no shared reality that binds us together, then everything is up for grabs." That has to do with the relationship between hostility and illusion. Just the other day there was a report on a NORC poll regarding feelings of isolation and loneliness. In recent decades it’s been more and more of a concern. The difference between 2018 and 2020 is cause for concern, even if predictable given the impact of the virus.
These present opportunities to help people grow in the inner life, both spiritual growth and emotional intelligence. For example, don’t ask are you lonely? Ask if you’d like to be part of a group exploring it.
A survey could come at it this way.
Some people are experiencing an increased sense of isolation and loneliness, some are feeling more irritable and short-tempered, and some find themselves confused about what is true, factual, and worthy. We are putting together a group (or a couple of groups) around these concerns. You may be concerned about your own inner life or what is happening to a friend, or the trends in our nation. Would you like to participate in a study/reflection group on these concerns? We’d meet (in person or on Zoom) four times for one hour each time. There would be a short book to read (Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen) and a few articles. We’d also invite you to make use of spiritual practices that might help. Once we know who is interested, we’ll look for times that fit the group.
I want to participate. Not interested at this time.
Your name: Your email address:
The opportunities for developmental work during these strange days are likely to be around the inner life of members. Clergy will need to pick up on that and offer pathways for spiritual growth.
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