The Pastor Nominating Committee’s
Summary of the Pastoral Search Survey
In April and early May, the Pastor Nominating Committee asked the entire congregation to participate in a pastoral search survey to help assess who we, as Fourth Presbyterian Church, are; where we see ourselves going; and how this informs our evaluation of candidates for the next Pastor of our congregation.
The survey was developed by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research in Connecticut and asked not only several sets of direct questions about the kind of pastoral leader you would
like to see chosen but also included a few broader questions regarding our congregation's ministry and your own involvement and demographics.
After the Hartford Institute completes a detailed final report later this summer, we will have more information to share, but this summary overview in itself provides an interesting look at our congregation.
To all who participated, thank you. Your contributions are invaluable in helping us develop the evaluative criteria we will be using throughout the review and interview processes of the pastoral search, and they will also offer the new Pastor a glimpse into the life of Fourth Church.
Demographics | Church Participation | Congregational Identity
Expectations of the Role of Pastor | Expectations for the Style of Ministry
Qualities of a Good Sermon | Religious Belief Statements
Ministry Orienting Roles
Demographics
Of the 700 individuals who participated, they were—
Gender
65% women; 35% men
Relationship Status
50% married; 25% single;
15% widowed or divorced;
5% living in a committed relationship
Age
Range: 20 years old to those over 75
Demographic responding the most: those age 55–64
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Church Participation
Membership Status
- Range: Nonmembers to those who have been members for more than 20 years
- Demographic responding the most: Those who had been members 10–19 years
Geography
- Average travel time to Fourth Church is 16–20 minutes
- Nearly 10% take fewer than 5 minutes or more than 45 minutes to get to Fourth Church
- Nearly 50% indicated it would be very unlikely that they would move from the Chicago area
- Nearly 10% indicated they will definitely or likely move
Invitation
- Nearly 40% have not invited any person or families to visit
or join Fourth Church in past year
Involvement
- More than 70% attend Fourth Church at least twice a month
- Nearly 50% have not been involved in any of Fourth Church’s committees or groups
- Nearly 50% indicated their participation has remained the same over the past few years
- Of those indicating an increase in participation, for nearly 50% it was because they had accepted a new church responsibility or office
- Of those indicating a decrease in participation, for a little more than 60% it was because they had less time available
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Congregational Identity
- The largest percentage of respondents feel Fourth Church is equally influenced by history and tradition and by contemporary ideas and trends
- Respondents feel the congregation is very involved with the community around the church
- The largest percentage of respondents feel Fourth Church is equally oriented toward serving its members and serving the world
- Respondents feel Fourth Church is slightly more like a loose-knit association than a large family
- In terms of social issues, respondents feel Fourth Church s slightly more activist than educational
- Respondents feel very comfortable with our church’s identity
- Respondents feel strongly that it is easy to tell friends what is unique about Fourth Church
- 93% of respondents have a clear understanding of what Fourth Church stands for
- Respondents feel strongly that Fourth Church has made a difference in their spiritual life
- 87% of respondents say that an effective effort has been made to instruct the congregation on the church's mission
- 83% of respondents have a strong sense of belonging to Fourth Church
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Expectations of the Role of Pastor
Very High Priorities
- Preaching inspiring sermons
- Leading worship sensitive to congregational needs
High Priorities
- Administrative leadership
- Stewardship program
- World mission of church
Holding social justice issues before members
- Directly involving laity in the planning and leadership of church programs and events
- Participating in local community activities, issues, and problems
- Emphasizing spiritual development of members
- Participating in denominational activities beyond the local church
Moderate Priorities
- Planning and leading a new member recruitment program
- Visiting the sick, shut-in, and bereaved
- Pastoral counseling of members
- Developing and supporting religious education programs for children and youth
Low Priorities
- Visiting members at home
- Developing and leading adult education programs
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Expectations for the Style of Ministry
Strongly Prefer
- Thought-provoking and challenging interactions to comforting and reassuring interactions
Slightly Prefer
- Strong emphasis on spiritual development to biblical expertise
- A contemporary issues emphasis to a Bible emphasis
- New approaches and ideas to the way things have always been done
- Congregational and lay leadership decision-making to the pastor being a strong force in decisions
- A relaxed interpersonal style to a formal interpersonal style
- The idea that the cost of goals should set the priorities (means determine the ends) to the idea that set goals should be achieved regardless of their cost (ends justify the means)
- Helping people figure things out for themselves to advising people what to do
- A pastor who maintains a private life to a pastor who gives his or her whole self to the life of the church
- Outgoing and socially engaging to reserved and reflective
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Qualities of a Good Sermon
Essential
- Makes me reflect on issues and events that go beyond my personal life and local community
- Is challenging and thought provoking, carefully composed and skillfully delivered, spiritually moving and inspirational
Essential to Important
- Touches directly on my everyday life
Important
- Sets forth a clear faith position as a guide for making decisions and living a faithful life
- Contains scholarly or literary illustrations
- Is biblically based and illustrated
- Flows from the depth of the preacher’s own personal faith and spiritual convictions
- Is comforting and reassuring
- Sets forth various sides of an issue without advocating one position as the only Christian position
Not Very Important
- Based on a clear, unambiguous religious authority
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Religious Belief Statements
Strongly Agree
- Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life
- Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was an actual event
Agree
- All religions are equally good ways of helping a person find ultimate truth
- Social justice is at the heart of the gospel
Neutral
- There is no other way to salvation but through belief in Jesus Christ
- The Bible has answers for all of the basic questions of life
Disagree
- It is often difficult to live out my faith in daily work, leisure, and community life
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Ministry Orienting Roles
Essential
- Minister of the Word/teacher of the congregation
- Celebrant/worship leader
- Friend/fellow traveler
Very Important
- Social activist
- Spiritual guide
Moderately Important
- Church administrator
- Group facilitator
- Witness/evangelist
- Community chaplain
Not Very Important
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