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Thank you for your participation in the survey.  I had hoped for 60 responses and 60 is what was received. 
The purpose of the survey was two-fold:

     1) To gather information deemed helpful for a prospective Lead Pastor candidate.  The candidate is given
     a look into the beliefs and dreams of our church community.  This in turn makes for a more informed
     candidate.

     2) To gather information so that those who consider FBC their home church will have an idea what are
     the shared beliefs and dreams of our body of people and who we feel will help to make those dreams a reality.

The survey results below are condensed and abbreviated from the original version for publishing purposes, however
the numbers are correct and the percentages are accurate.   A link to download the complete results is available at
the bottom of this page.


Doug Muraki, Interim Senior Pastor

 

Personal

 

1

 

78%

47

Member

 

17%

10

Attendee

 

 

2

Gender:

 

35%

21

F

 

65%

39

M

 

 

3

Marital Status:

 

15%

9

Currently single but never married

 

13%

8

Currently single and divorced

 

17%

10

Currently single and widowed

 

37%

22

Currently married and never divorced

 

12%

7

Currently married/previously divorced

 

5%

3

no answer

 

 

4

Age:

 

18%

11

18-39

 

3%

2

40-45

 

20%

12

46-54

 

25%

15

55-69

 

32%

19

70+

 

 

5

Highest level of education:

 

12%

7

High school

 

27%

16

some college

 

25%

15

College graduate

 

20%

12

College graduate w/post college study

 

13%

8

Masters

 

2%

1

PhD

 

 

6

FBC history:

 

20%

12

less than 2 years

 

10%

6

 2 yrs but less than 5 years

 

20%

12

 5 yrs but less than 12 years

 

48%

29

over 12 years

 

 

7

This best describes my tithing/giving level to FBC:

 

3%

2

I don't give anything

 

15%

9

I give 1-4%

 

28%

17

I give 5-9%

 

40%

24

I tithe- 10%

 

8%

5

I give more than a tithe

 

2%

1

no answer

 

 

8

Attendance on average:

 

2%

1

less than 1 service a month

 

3%

2

1 service a month

 

12%

7

2 services a month

 

80%

48

3-4 services a month

 

2%

1

no answer

 

 

9

I feel confident that:

 

82%

49

I know how to study the Bible for myself

 

52%

31

I know how to share my faith

 

53%

32

I know how to help a young Christian grow in basic Christianity

 

60%

36

I know how to discern wrong teaching and false doctrine

 

52%

31

I know how to get the most out of my prayer life

 

 

10

Check as many as are true to your situation. What keeps me at FBC is (are):

 

85%

51

Friendships

 

45%

27

I live nearby (location)

 

30%

18

I have always attended here

 

63%

38

I believe in what is being done here

 

45%

27

It is a church I can bring other people to

 

68%

41

I like the worship services

 

5%

3

Other responses

 

 

Pastor Qualifications

 

1

Gender:

 

45%

27

Gender doesn't matter

 

2%

1

Female only

 

45%

27

Male only (gender breakdown: 11 M; 16 F)

 

7%

4

no answer

 

 

2

Age:

 

68%

41

Age doesn't matter

 

5%

3

35-45

 

7%

4

35-55

 

10%

6

35-60

 

3%

2

35-65

 

5%

3

no answer

 

 

3

Race:

 

92%

55

Any race

 

 

4

Denominational Affiliation:

 

55%

33

Doesn't matter

 

12%

7

Must be American Baptist

 

25%

15

Must be Baptist

 

7%

4

no answer

 

 

5

Marital Status:

 

65%

39

Accept a divorced person who is healed and restored and not recently

 

13%

8

Not accept a divorced person if it was his/her fault

 

13%

8

Not accept a divorced person regardless of fault

 

7%

4

no answer

 

 

6

What FBC needs in the next pastor in order of ratings

 

most needed

 

Strong, gifted preacher and teacher of the Word

 

Personal, relational skills, can work with all people

 

One who can disciple and train up new leaders

 

least needed

 

Counseling skills

 

Visionary leader

 

A committed American Baptist

 

 

8

I would prefer the pastor to have: children

 

80%

48

doesn't matter

 

 

9

I would expect the pastor to live:

 

47%

28

in the general vicinty of the church (12 of these live close by themselves)

 

48%

29

doesn't matter

 

3%

2

no answer

 

 

10

I would expect the pastor's family:

 

25%

15

to be moderately involved in the church

 

43%

26

to be as committed as the most committed family

 

22%

13

doesn't matter

 

 

11

If the pastor's wife had a job outside of the church, it would:

 

60%

35

wouldn't care (let her have a life of her own)

 

 

12

If the pastor showed an R rated movie clip on a morning service:

 

20%

12

it's ungodly

 

62%

37

it's OK as long as it was appropriate

 

17%

10

no answer

 

 

Personal Beliefs

 

1

So a candidate can know what the church believes

 

90%

54

The Bible is God's Word, it comes from God, without error in the original manuscripts, our sole authority

2%

1

I do not believe the Bible is God's Word

 

7%

4

no answer

 

 

2

 

97%

58

I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God

 

2%

1

no answer

 

 

3

 

17%

10

I believe that political issues have absolutely no place at FBC, should not be mentioned

 

42%

25

I believe that political issues can be mentioned at FBC as long as it has a biblical basis

 

33%

20

I believe that political issues should be mentioned at FBC as long as it has biblical basis

7%

4

no answer

 

 

4

The legality of "Same Sex" marriages -

 

13%

8

should not be mentioned from the pulpit

 

20%

12

should be mentioned from the pulpit but no position taken

 

48%

29

should be mentioned from the pulpit with a position taken

 

17%

10

no answer

 

 

5

Homosexuality -

 

78%

47

is a sin

 

2%

1

is a sin only if the person has changed from being heterosexual

 

3%

2

is not a sin as long as a person was born with it

 

15%

9

no answer

 

 

6

 

28%

17

I see no problem with wine being served at a church function as long as it is missional in nature

62%

37

I would never want to see wine being served at a church function

 

8%

5

no answer

 

 

7

 

88%

53

I believe that women can be on the church board and would expect a male pastor to welcome qualified women

5%

3

I believe that women are not to be on the church board but ok if the pastor allowed

 

5%

3

no answer

 

 

Worship Style

 

1

Everything you desire/want/need in a worship service

 

92%

55

Greeting/Welcome

 

93%

56

Baptisms

 

90%

54

Announcements

 

95%

57

Scripture Reading

 

 

2

FBC currently has a "blended" service. Is this working for you?

 

82%

49

Yes

 

10%

6

No

 

7%

4

no answer

 

 

3

Is the blended service working for others?

 

73%

44

Yes

 

13%

8

No

 

12%

7

no answer

 

 

4

I would want the next pastor to use more multimedia.

 

47%

28

Yes

 

30%

18

No

 

22%

13

no answer

 

 

Ministry Style

 

1

 

7%

4

do not care if the church grows numerically as long as my needs are met and I am happy

83%

50

FBC needs to grow numerically otherwise it is reasonable to assume FBC will not survive

 

8%

5

no answer

 

 

2

 

60%

36

I really want to see FBC become community-minded in focus, willing to sacrifice my comfort level

28%

17

I really want to see FBC become community-minded in focus, no hardship or division on FBC

 

3

 

12%

7

I want my pastor to preach expositionally, occasionally topically

 

8%

5

I want my pastor to preach topically, occasionally expositionally

 

73%

44

I don't care what the style is, just as long as it is from the Bible

 

5%

3

no answer

 

 

4

 

62%

37

I want the preaching to challenge, convict, and be practical for believers, less emphasis on the un-churched

13%

8

I want the preaching to have more emphasis on the un-churched, even if it means not feeding God's people

23%

14

no answer

 

 

5

 

47%

28

I want FBC to give at least 10% to missions

 

35%

21

Meeting the needs of our own church is more important than giving a tithe to missions

 

17%

10

no answer

 

 

6

I believe a pastor should be given funding for ministry in the following way:

 

10%

6

As long as FBC is growing, all the $ needed to sustain growth, empty the Foundation, sell assets

2%

1

If FBC is not growing, all the $ needed to get FBC growing, i.e. empty the Foundation, sell assets

45%

27

As long as FBC is growing, some $ from the Foundation should be given

 

23%

14

Even if FBC isn't growing, some $ from the Foundation, should be given

 

18%

11

no answer

 

 

Morale Questions

 

1

This best describes my attitude concerning FBC:

 

77%

46

I am very happy and very hopeful and I sense a "new day"

 

18%

11

I am very upset that FBC lost its recent pastor

 

 

2

If your current level of satisfaction with FBC is acceptable what best describes your commitment level?

55%

33

"It is my church and it will always be my church"

 

23%

14

"I will wait for the next pastor and if I like her/him, I will stay"

 

20%

12

no answer

 

 

3

If your level of satisfaction is not acceptable, what best describes your commitment level?

 

5%

3

"I stay because my children are happy here, otherwise I would leave"

 

18%

11

"I will wait for the next pastor and if I like her/him I will stay"

 

25%

15

"It is my church and it will always be my church"

 

50%

30

no answer

 

 

4

Answer this if you feel there is an "antagonistic" or an "unhappy" cloud surrounding the ministry of FBC. Major factor is:

25%

15

a suspicion about what really happened with the pastor's resignation

 

10%

6

a lack of confidence in the Board

 

30%

18

too many people have caused disruptions and problems because they have refused to see or pursue the facts

12%

7

a nagging feeling that things will never be right with this church

 

 

5

For FBC to grow again and to be able to sustain its growth, it will require:

 

85%

51

a visionary leader who understands midtown/urban ministry

 

25%

15

a potential merger with another church

 

32%

19

a change in CBLs allowing the pastor to lead w/o being micromanaged

 

 

6

In the past 5 years I have invited the following number of friends and/or family to FBC:

 

13%

8

None

 

38%

23

1-3

 

25%

15

4-6

 

3%

2

7-9

 

5%

3

more than 10

 

3%

2

more than 20

 

10%

6

no answer

 

 

7

If you answered "None" to question #6, what would best explain your answer:

 

12%

7

I don't have any friends or family to invite

 

3%

2

I have already asked some and the results haven't been good. Why try again?

 

 

8

How many outreach programs and ministries are you aware of which are currently happening through FBC?  These

should not include the attempts during  Sunday morning worship to reach the lost nor individual efforts such as ministering

at St. John's Shelter.  I am aware of:

 

13%

8

1

 

18%

11

2

 

35%

21

3-4

 

13%

8

None

 

18%

11

no answer

 

 

 

 


Complete Congregational Survey Results
First Baptist Church, Sacramento - Congregational Survey
First Baptist Church, Sacramento - All rights reserved