St. Peter Catholic Church

St. Peter Church and the U.S. Congregational Life Survey

Background

In 2008, St. Peter's accepted an invitation to participate in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey conducted by the international Presbyterian Church.  This 2008 survey of approximately 1500 churches and synagogues was a follow-up to a study first conducted in 2001 in England, Australia and the United States.  The U.S. portion of that first study consisted of a survey among 2,306 American Protestant and Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues.

The study was designed by theologians, sociologists, psychologists and other academics to better understand religious life as found in today's Christian and Jewish congregations. This national random sample of parishes and congregations completed a questionnaire addressing their members' personal involvement with religion through their parish or congregation ("personal faith journey") and the types of and participation in church activities relative to the faith journey.

Specific Study Objectives

The study's purposes center on the study's design to help congregations:

1      Obtain a profile of congregation members' personal faith journeys

2      Identify congregational strengths that assist members in their faith journey

3      Provide a framework to build a more effective parish utilizing these strengths

 St. Peter Parishioners' Personal Faith Journey

The St. Peter Church study, conducted in October 2008, is based on 468 respondents' answers to the 10 questions specifically addressing their personal faith journey topic by describing

             - the elements of the faith journey

 - the parishioners' position on this journey - their involvement with St. Peter Church as  part of this journey

             - their assessment of this involvement

St. Peter Parishioners' Personal Faith Journey Profile Summary

"Time spent in private prayer/meditation/devotion" is a measurement of the personal time willing to be spent on one's faith journey.

Everyday or most days                  46%

A few times a week                        21

Once a week/occasionally             23

Rarely/never                                  10

"Readiness to talk with others about my faith" is an indication of the comfort level with one's faith journey.

Feel at ease about sharing                         76%

Hard or very difficult to share                        9

I do not talk about my faith                          14

An element of the journey is to personally experience a moment of "conversion" or "decisive faith commitment."

Yes                                    46%

Not sure                            22

No                                     32

Amount of personal faith growth over the past 12 months and St. Peter's role in that growth.

Very much - attributed to St. Peter Church                                                        20%

Very much - through my own activities, other churches or groups                    20

Some growth - not attributed to any one source                                                49

No growth                                                                                                           11

"Always" or "Usually" experience the following during worship services at St. Peter's.

God's Presence                                                80%

Fulfilling my religious obligation                        79

Inspired                                                             75

Joy                                                                    66

Awe or Mystery                                                 35

Spontaneity                                                      18

Nothing                                                             13

Currently a registered member of St. Peter Church

Yes                                                            61%

No, but am becoming a member                 3

No, but I regularly come here                    18

No                                                                8

No Answer                                                  10

Involvement with group activities*

Faith centered                                                28%

Socially centered                                            29

None                                                               57

* Multiple responses allowed

Actively take a role in parish activities*

Liturgy (Music, EM, Lector, etc.)                        17%

Parish leadership                                               10

Religious education                                             7

None                                                                  68

*Multiple responses allowed

Extent worship services or other activities at St. Peter's help you with everyday living

A great extent                                                51%

Somewhat                                                     36

Small extent                                                    7

Not at all                                                         6

My spiritual needs are being met by this parish

Strongly agree                                                32%

Agree                                                              49

Neutral or unsure                                            15

Do not agree                                                     4

Parish Benefit Profile: Comparing St. Peter's to the 67 participating Catholic parishes 

on 5 benefits provided by participating in a parish

Growing Spiritually

(Benefit)

                                                                                                                      St. Peter      Catholic

                                                                                                                       Church       Churches

                                                                                                                      (N=468)      (N=63,000)

Benefit Elements:

Growth in faith through participating in parish activities                                  20%                         32%

Spend time at least a few times a week in private devotions                          67                            61             

Feel their spiritual needs are being met in the parish                                      81                            83              

Report Bible study and prayer groups are one of three most                           6                              9

   valued aspects of the parish                        

Report prayer ministry is one of the three most valued                                    4                              5

   aspects of the parish

Overall Scores                                                                                                  36                          38

Sense of Belonging

(Benefit)

                                                                                                                      St. Peter        Catholic

                                                                                                                       Church          Churches

                                                                                                                      (N=468)       (N=63,000)

Benefit Elements:

Have a sense of belonging to the parish that is strong and growing                 34%                   48%

Most of closest friends attend the same parish                                                   3                      15             

Participated in parish activities more than two years ago                                  24                      28              

Overall Scores                                                                                                    20                     30

Participating in the Parish

(Benefit)

                                                                                                                        St. Peter        Catholic

                                                                                                                        Church          Churches

                                                                                                                        (N=468)       (N=63,000)

Benefit Elements:

Attend worship serves usually every week or more often                                          65%               80%           

Involved in one or more small groups                                                                        43                   42

   (e.g., Sunday school, prayer or Bible study, discussion groups, etc.)

Hold one or more leadership roles in the parish                                                         32                  42

   (e.g., board member, teacher, leading worship)            

Often participate in decision making in the parish                                                       6                   14            

Gives 5% or more of net income to the parish                                                           29                   44

Overall Scores                                                                                                            35                  44

Focusing on the Community

(Benefit)

     St. Peter         Catholic

                                                                                                                          Church           Churches

    (N=468)       (N=63,000)

Benefit Elements:

Involved in social service or advocacy groups                                                     14%                 20%

   through the parish

Involved in social service or advocacy groups                                                       50                  28

   outside the parish            

Contributed money to a charitable group other                                                     80                    65

   than the parish            

Report the parish's wider community care and advocacy                                     26                     14

   are among the three most valued aspects of the parish            

Report the parish’s openness to social diversity is one                                        15                      10

   of the three most valued aspects of the parish            

Work with others to try to solve a community problem in last year                       28                      23            

Voted in the presidential election                                                                          89                      70

Overall Scores                                                                                                      43                      33

Caring for Young People

(Benefit)

                                                                                                                       St. Peter        Catholic

                                                                                                                       Church          Churches

                                                                                                                       (N=468)       (N=63,000)

Benefit Elements:

Are satisfied with program offerings for children and youth                              45%                  54%

Report ministry for children and youth is one of the                                          17                      9

   three most valued aspects of the parish             

Percentage of children and youth living at home who worship                          89                     74              

   in the same parish

Overall Scores                                                                                                   50                     46