The Settled Minister Search Committee would like to hear from you regarding your ideas and preferences
for what kind of minister we should be looking for.  Please take a few minutes to give some thought to
answering these questions. These survey questionnaires will be processed in an anonymous manner. 
Your identity will not be known to the search committee.   All survey data will be combined for statistical analysis. 
Your candor in answering will be very helpful in developing an accurate picture of who we are.

Additional copies of this survey will be available in the church foyer, and in the church office. 
We are mailing one to every member, and one to each non-member household on the mailing list.

Thank you.

Personal Statistics

1.       Are you a  ____ member or a  ____ friend of this congregation? 
Please indicate congregation location: ____Grand Junction or ____ Delta County.

2.       How long have you been associated with this congregation? ___________________

3.       Have you ever been associated with other Unitarian Universalist congregations? ____ yes  ____ no

If yes, what sizes of congregations were you associated with (check all that apply):
____ 0 to 99 members  ____ 100 to 199 members  ____  200 to 299 members
____ 300 or more members  ____ don’t know

4.       How long have you been a Unitarian Universalist? _____________

5.       What was your prior religious affiliation, if any? _____________________________

6.       Gender Identity:  ____ Male ____ Female

7.       Sexual Orientation:  ____ Heterosexual  ____ Gay  ____ Lesbian  ____ Other

8.       Your age: ____ 15-19   ____ 20-29   ____ 30-39   ____ 40-49   ____ 50-59   ____ 60-79   ____ 80+

9.       Education:(check highest level of achievement)
____ grade school   ____ high school   ____ some college   ____ college graduate   ____ post graduate degree

10.   Marital Status: ____ single   ____ married   ____ divorced   ____ widowed   ____ living with partner 

11.   If you have children, indicate the number of children in each age range:

Age	Number	Age	Number
0-3		7-11
4-6		12-18

12. What is your occupation? _____________________________________________________________
    (Please be as specific as possible without revealing your identity. 
    If retired please list your former occupation and indicate "retired").
     
13. How many miles do you live from the church building?
    ____ 0-5 mi.   ____ 5-10 mi.   ____10-25 mi.   ____ more than 25 mi.

The Congregation

14. Please indicate why you have attended this congregation. (Check all that apply)

	I first attended because of	I continue to attend because of
a. Worship
b. Family
c. Fellowship
d. Unitarian-Universalist beliefs
e. Choir
f. Children’s religious education
g. Building
h. Minister
i. Adult programs
j. Other: ____________________

15. How important to you are the following aspects of congregational life? .(Check all that apply)

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important
a. Worship
b. Fellowship
c. Celebrating common values
d. Meditation or prayer
e. Intellectual stimulation
f. Music/aesthetic satisfaction
g. Spiritual growth
h. Denominational involvement
I. Religious education program
j. Social concerns
k. Adult programs
l. Other ____________________

16. What are the main things that you would like to see the congregation accomplish or get involved with
    in the next three to five years?
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
     
17. How often would you like the minister to preach at the Sunday service, given on your location
    (GJ or Delta County)?  (Check only one)
    ____ Nearly every Sunday  ____ Three times a month  ____ Twice a Month   ____Once a month 
    ____ Less than once a month
    
     
18. How often would you like to have a guest or lay speaker for the Sunday service, given your location
    (GJ or Delta County)?  (Check only one)
    ____ Four times a year  ____ Two times a year  ____ Once a month  ____ Twice a Month
    ____ More than Twice a month   ____ Nearly every Sunday
    
     
19. How many times during the past year did you attend or spend time on each of the following events?

	Every week	Every month	Twice a year	Once a year	Never
a. Serving as an officer (board member)
b. Serving as a committee chair
c. Sunday services
d. Sunday coffee hour
e. Committee meetings
f.  Sunday morning greeter
g. Community service or social action
h. Adult education activities
i. Fundraising (auction, canvass etc.)
j. Social activities (potlucks, recreation, etc.)
k. Wednesday night pizza
l. Children’s religious education
m. Other ___________________________

20. Please indicate which of the following, or what combination, best describes your religious orientation.
    (Check all that apply.  If none seems adequate, add your own statement.)

a. _____	Theological Christianity: Jesus is a unique revelation of the divine.
b. _____	Ethical Christianity: Jesus is a great moral teacher.
c. _____	Some form of Judaism.
d. _____	Eastern Religions: Buddhism, Taoism, etc.
e. _____	Humanism: Human nature is the basis of all religion and ethics.
f. _____	Atheism or Non-theism: The concept of deity is not helpful.
g. _____	Skepticism: There is no way of knowing the truth with regard to theological matters.
h. _____	Agnosticism: I simply do not know "the truth" about theological matters.
i. _____	Ethical Religion: The function of religion is to encourage the development of ethical living.
j. _____	Theism: God (Christian or other concepts) is the center of faith
k. _____	Naturalistic Theism: The powers we have traditionally attributed to a supernatural god are inherent in the natural world. The natural world elicits our respect and devotion.
l. _____	Mysticism: It is possible for humans to have a vital identification with the Cosmos.
m. _____	Neo-Pagan: Earth centered spirituality which celebrates the sacred circle of life and instructs us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. A return to indigenous beliefs.
n. _____	Eclectic: Includes values from many different sources, including world religions
o. _____	Other: _________________________________________________________________________

21. During the past year have you attended any denominationally related meetings?
    (Mountain Desert District or National UUA sponsored - Please list)
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Services

22. How important to you are each of the following specific items which may be a part of the Sunday Service?

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important
a. Reciting congregation covenant
b. Singing by congregation
c. Singing by choir
d. Instrumental music
e. Dance
f. Candles of concern
g. Chalice lighting
h. Responsive readings
i. Silent or guided meditation
j. Prayer
k. Sermon
l. Readings
m. Children’s story
n. Discussion of sermon
o. Coffee hour
p. Other____________________

23. Of the specific parts of the Sunday Service in question # 22 just above, please indicate the letter of the one item
    you consider the most important to you: _______
     
24. What Sunday Service format do you prefer most of the time?(Check one)

a. _____	A fixed format that is the same each week.
b. _____	A fixed format with variations when desired or for special Sundays
c. _____	An informal format to meet the topic or focus of the day.
d. _____	Unusual and experimental services every week
e. _____	Other __________________________

25. Objectives of the worship service: (Please Rate the importance to you.)

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important
a. To inspire reverence and awe
b. To help us understand ourselves better; self-reflection
c. To show new paths for individual growth and change
d. To provide a supportive environment for developing and sharing of individual feelings and beliefs
e. To promote feelings of self worth and individual dignity
f. To spur individuals to act on their convictions
g. To build community
h. Other_________________________________________

26. Content of the worship service: (Please rate your interest.)

	Very Interested	Somewhat interested	Not interested
a. Theological values
b. Values and perspectives on social issues
c. Judeo-Christian traditions
d. Eastern religions
e.  Earth Centered traditions
f. Coping with life
g. Religious implications of science and modern knowledge
h. Philosophical ideas
i. Family relationships and values
j. Creative and artistic activities
k. Spiritual Growth
l. UU History
m. Other ______________________________________

The Minister

27. Which statement best describes the Minister’s role in church management, supervision, and decision making?
    (Please check only one)
    
    ____ Minister is very involved      ____Minister is somewhat involved     ____ Minister is not involved
     
28. A variety of functions comprise the minister’s work.  Enter a check mark according to the importance to you.   
    Then, go back and indicate an overall ranking of importance from 1 (highest)  to ?? (lowest) of only those items
    you have checked as “Very Important”.

Ministerial Functions	Very Important		Somewhat Important	Not Important
	√  Check	Rank	√  Check	√  Check
a. Preaching
b. Personal counseling
c. Social action
d. Religious education: adult
e. Religious education: children
f. Administration
g. Expansion of membership
h. Making pastoral calls
i. Fundraising
j. Participation in denominational activities
k. Building community
l.  Intellectual Development
m. Facilitator (involves others in congregation life)
n. Spiritual Leadership (including preparation for worship services and celebrations)
o. Other ______________________

29. Leadership style: Which leadership style would you most prefer in your next minister? (Please check only one)

a. ____	An in-charge, charismatic leader with definite objectives
b. ____	A facilitative leader whose objective is to aid the congregation in reaching its objectives.
c. ____	Whatever leadership style is the minister’s natural style is satisfactory to me.
d. ____	Other.__________________________________________________________________

Focus Groups

30. Given the questions above, you have had an opportunity to think a lot about what UUCGV means to you. 
    SO – on the next page, indicate which issues you would choose for discussion at a focus group for the ministerial
    search.  Please think carefully about this complex question.  We want your input in organizing the focus groups.

For example: I have two small children. The main reason I come to church is to give my kids a place to learn an ethical code. I also want them to be exposed to many religious traditions and ideas, and to learn to think about their choices regarding religion. The issues I would like to discuss at a focus group include:  What will the minister have to do with religious education? I want my kids to learn the universal equivalents to the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. How will the minister interact with the R.E. program? How can my kids be involved in the worship service itself? Will the minister offer a child's version of different religious experiences as part of the worship service? How can I learn more about working with my children, to engage them in thinking about choices? Will the minister offer adult R.E.? How would it work?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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31. Is there anything else you would like your search committee to know in regard to the ministerial search?

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for completing this survey.  Please return using the self-addressed envelope by September 5^th.