7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

1/25

CMC Survey on Church Growth

June 47, 2012

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

2/25

Response Rate

This survey Other recent surveys

45%

16%

22%

51%Sexuality survey

128 responses in four days

Monthly gathering survey

Announcements survey

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

3/25

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

4/25

Optimal size for a worshipping

community

100-150

150-250

250-350

More than 350

Doesn't matter

Multiple answers allowed

Average of all answers is 218

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

5/25

Ways to respond to growth

Disagree AgreeCall groups to attend

smaller congregations

Plant another church

Form another worship

group at CMC

Renovate or

expand facilities

A good way of responding to growth is...

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

6/25

Open-ended responses

Add staff

Wait until sexuality decision

Delegate tasks

Embrace it

Talk about it

Are we really growing?

Pray, let Holy Spirit lead

Small group/house church

Do more with same space

Expand on previous options

Enjoy it/relax

Open-answer responses to growth (46)

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

7/25

One quote

There are many good ways to respond to growth. Insome cases, it is best to continue to allow continualgrowth (i.e., [like an] oak tree). In others, it is bestto divide and transplant (perennial flowers, herbs).

I'm not sure which is the best path for CMC, butgiven our values, I'd tend more to the transplantmodel than the oak tree model. We're more like aperennial food crop garden than a forest. As for

joining other small congregations, that soundsmaybe like grafting a branch onto another fruittree. That can be a good thing, but tricky. Graftsdon't always take.

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

8/25

A few more quotes

Look at why the growth is happening and decide how torespond. Not all growth is strictly about going to church.

More deliberate formation of small groups and ministry inthe community

We have no room to expand the facilities at the presentlocation and I feel we are called to stay at the presentlocation.

To celebrate it. (Or, as my husband says, "say somethingoffensive in front of church.")

To look at the numbers. Our actual growth has beenminimal and is mostly seasonal and dependent on what isgoing on in the community. Our attendance correlates veryclosely with attendance in 2007.

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

9/25

Is it cyclical?

20072008

2009

2010

2011

2012

L L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L L

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50R

E

E

E

E

E

E

Summer Schedule

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Normal Lent Easter Summer Advent

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

No Report Floor Balcony Over2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

(Partial)

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

10/25

Attendance at all services

Average

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

11/25

Maximum

attendance:

CMC2003VMC1999

District2003,

20110%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Percent of Maximum Attendance, 1992-2012

VMC Hbg District CMC

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007

VMC Hbg Dist CMC

Percent of Maximum Membership,

1972-2011Maximum

membership:

CMCnow

VMC2001

Districtnow

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

12/25

Open Answer Questions

June 47, 2012

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

13/25

Why do you think new people come to

CMC and make it their church home?

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

14/25

Why do you think new people come to

CMC and make it their church home?

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

15/25

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

16/25

Why do you think new people come to

CMC and make it their church home?0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%

Alternative to local churches

Lifestyle, sustainability

Casual, relaxed

Open minded, liberal

Engaged/energetic

Welcoming

Academic, educated

Diversity

Spirituality

Variety

People

Outreach, care for wider world

Location

Personal connection

Small groups

Children, youth programsMidweek activities

Lead Mennonite Church

Teaching, ask tough questions

LGBT friendly

Worship

Preaching/pastors

Music

Sharing

Atmosphere

Character

Mission

Other

Programs

Theology

Worship

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

17/25

One to three words that describe your

feelings about growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

18/25

One to three words that describe your

feelings about growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

19/25

Give one to three words that describe yourfeelings about growth in numbers at CMC.

101

9

People who used

three words or less

People who used more

than three words

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

20/25

Positive outcomes of growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

21/25

Positive outcomes of growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

22/25

Positive outcomes

Feeling of wellbeing

More growth

Change

Two services

Plant a new church

Meet needs of more

Money, budget

Meet new people

Diversity

More energy

New perspectives

New gifts, talents

More programs

One way that growth might benefit CMC is...

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

23/25

Negative outcomes of growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

24/25

Negative outcomes of growth at CMC

7/31/2019 CMC Survey on Church Growth Results

25/25

Negative outcomes

Less intimate

Less participation

No longer welcoming

Leader burnout

Lack of space, parking

People leave

Another service

New building

Change of priorities

None

Factions will form

One way that growth might harm CMC is...