Day 9 - Back of Survey Responses

Group A- Leaders/Team Members

Responded “Yes”:  Serves on Team, MVV are important to an organization, MVV encouraged them to serve. (32 surveys – 15 with comments on back.   8:30 – 9, 11:00 – 2 and Undisclosed-4)

1. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the Mission, Vision and Core Values at Westminster UMC.

• -          Don’t know the vision and values.  Mission is inspiring.
• -          Love the Mission statement
• -          This is something important to accomplish so we can focus the Biblical scriptures to the context of our church.  Do we have teams focusing on each item?  ‘Ministry minute” quick updates on progress of one item each week.  Keep the congregation focused and engaged.  On screen, bulletin, verbal.  When people church shop is this on the website.
• -          They are good for WUMC.  Church must have dialogue about them. There is little opportunity for this to happen.  Congregation is not “illegible” enough.  Not enough involvement and planning.
• -          So I was a large part of this. I am drawing a complete blank.  I keep the emails in a foler on my phone.  Now, I am looking at myself, as a leader I am failing at my own work.  What is leadership not doing?  Why, as leadership, are we not engaged(ing)
• -          Need younger members to step up to serve. We have an older membership.  Aside: Make sure doors are locked.
• -          WUMC reaches out to people through its mission in their community around the world.

2. Please share how excited are you about the direction of our church?

• -          Somewhat – more encouraged
• -          What do I need to improve?  How do I project that I need others to look at what they need to improve upon as well. What needs to be undone/broken down?
• -          I wish I was more excited but don’t really feel it!  Where’s the enthusiasm? We don’t involve our people enough.
• -          Great progress and atmosphere.  I like not knowing what to expect.  Keep grounded, in tradition while stepping out in faith.
• -          On one level I am very excited about increased efforts to make a difference in our immediate community.  Like pastor’s willingness and courage to address difficult issues with the congregation--- those issues that are sometime viewed as political.  Concerned about large percentage of grey haired individuals in the pews and need to attract younger families.
• -          Believe it is moving in good direction. I am excited about the church’s future.  I want to participate in its future.
• -          Love the direction they are going!  Pastor Malcolm and Shari are helping us go in the right direction. 
• -          I believe the pastors and Church council are doing very many things to encourage growth in membership and serving those of us long time members to be involved.  We hare see a few more new faces in the 8:30 service.  I think we are headed in the right direction. Can we encourage more to come and join us?  That is huge question with many distractions.
• -          Very excited may it continue to grow.
• -          Very excited that we are moving into the community.
• -          Excited but Cautious.  I feel like we are moving in the right direction but we have been on the right road before and lost our way or just stopped, went back to the old ways that lead to stagnant ways, lost of new members, unwillingness for new people to join church or involve in ministries.  Because their new idea and enthusiasm are not used.  PS. I love and very excited with what Ashley is doing.
• -          Very excited. We are in a good place and ready to move in God’s grace and power.  Now – Let’s move!
• -          We are growing and fell a good family unity.  A very caring community.
• -          I love the way you have the sanctuary decorated for the seasons.

Group B – Engaged

Responded “No”:  Serves on Team.  Responded “Yes”: MVV are important to an organization & MVV encouraged them to serve. (27 surveys – 2 with comments on back.   8:30 – 9, 11:00 – 3 and Undisclosed-1)

1. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the Mission, Vision and Core Values at Westminster UMC.

• -          It is always nice to attend a church who cares about the community and one another.
• -          Need written references to when and where lives are changed.  Examples: VIM happenings local cold weather shelter folks.  What to hear from youth. Re: Rock Event. How it affected them. Stephens Ministry
• -          Need to move ministry into the surrounding neighborhood.

2. Please share how excited are you about the direction of our church?

• -          Great momentum on encouraging one’s faith and sharing with the community here and abroad.
• -          Very!.  I am very committed and support in collaboration and local partners to maximize resources and talents.  The musical program in this church is incredible. It was what drew me to WUMC. Hearing/Singing some of the old and familiar hymns of my childhood can life my heart and thoughts for “illegible” it so warms my heart to see some of our struggling (poor/homeless, etc.) appear in a Sunday service.  Great job!
• -          I love coming to services. I learn so much from the sermon and hope to be able to fill out the front of this paper in due time.
• -          Very Excited
• -          Need better advertising re: events.  Use front street sign more efficiently. Use before church slides more efficiently announcements, people to pray for etc.

Group C – Attending

Varied results in engagement with the church.  The following is the responses on the back of those who submitted them ( The Notes in the parenthesis are how the individual responded to the questions 4-6.  Do you serve on a team, Are MVV Important to an organization, Does MVV encourage you to serve.  Y-Yes, N-No, A-Abstained  )

1. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the Mission, Vision and Core Values at Westminster UMC.

• -          (N,Y,A) Don’t need “To make a difference.”  That is already addressed by “Changing lives.”  (This is in mission statement)
• -          (Y,Y,A) Too much to remember. Aren’t the mission, vision and core values of church universal? Staff doesn’t always reflect the mission, vision, and core values – esp. (redacted but will be shared with employee)
• -          (Y,Y,N) The vision and core values need to be reinforced through throughout the whole year.
• -          (Y,Y,N) Cant tell you what Core values/Vision is.  I knew the mission statement because it was in the bulletin. I read the bible daily and find the bible guides my activity and mission in life.
• -          (Y,Y,N) These provide an objection for unifying our identity.
• -          (N.Y.N) As fars I can observe WUMC has a very effective outreach into the Westminster Community – Food collection, Soup Kitchen, UMCOR, etc.

2.. Please share how excited are you about the direction of our church?

• -          (N,Y,A) I am not a member but I enjoy worship here.
• -          (N,Y,A) I love it!
• -          (N,Y,A) I believe the church is at a standstill as far as growth (common issue with most churches) When older people are no longer able to support and be involved in the church, the younger generation is not there in numbers (common in most churches) All said I look forward to coming to church.  I attendance known by age group?
• -          (N,Y,N) City churches always have an exciting and challenging direction.  We notice more young families and singles attending.
• -          (Y,Y,N)  I am fairly excited about getting the people lving in the immediate radius of WUMC to join us for worship and other church sponsored events, after having read “The New Parish” book.
• -          (Y,Y,N)  I enjoy our church for friendship, bible study and conversation on different biblical interpretation/ education.
• -          (Y,Y,N) Pretty excited.  I’ve been here over 30 years and I feel more willing to invite someone to our church than perhaps any previous time.  The 11 o’clock service seems to be ready younger families.  I enjoy the music at 8:30, would just encourage to minimize non melodic difficult to sing hymns that seem to be picked because the words fit the message (this was written before today’[s unusual hymn)
• -          (Y,Y,N)  Love it!  Feels good to be part of a church – I feel valued and cared for by my church family. I look forward to coming each week.