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St. Mark's Church Parish Profile
Report on The Parish Survey
Presented at the Annual Meeting, April 1997
This report presents initial findings of the Parish Survey conducted
in January and February of 1997. The survey is part of the Parish Profile
process which began formally in September of 1996. The process has included
parish wide meetings on specific topics, general town meetings, and focus
groups. The Profile Committee has also received a number of individual
comments and correspondences.
How the Survey Informs the Profile Process
As a committee, we have heard parishioners raise a number of issues.
While listening, we have had two types of concerns. One is hearing a few
loud voices and mistaking them for the entire parish. The other is not
hearing the many quieter voices. These survey results help give both context
and proportion to all we have heard over the last several months.
This report contains two sections. The first section presents an overview
of the general findings. It provides a backdrop for subsequent discussion.
The second section takes an in-depth look at who we are. As this section
reveals, we are a diverse parish, by whatever measure is used - age, length
of membership, family types, activity interests, or attitudes. Results
from this section underscore a major theme of the parish profile - how
we have grown in thirty years from a small, dynamic parish to a large and
multifaceted one.
What Unites Us
As we examined these results, a question kept nagging at us, which was,
"If we are so diverse in our interests, activities and beliefs - what
unites us?" Clearly something does. As we looked closer at the results,
several areas emerged as a common ground for all at St. Marks. First, we
come together around a number of activities. Worship services and social
events, for example, provide gathering places for all parishioners while
smaller groups, such as the choirs, the arts, the St. Mark's Players, and
support groups enjoy enthusiastic support across a diverse range of parishioners.
Second, we may have different programmatic interests and even different
beliefs, but we are deeply united by our core values and traditions. Core
values include attributes such as openness to diverse spiritual beliefs,
acceptance of different family structures, and honesty with one another.
Our traditions include such things as lay leadership, open communion, Sermon
Seminar and worship in the round. These values and traditions are powerful
symbols of our community that speak to the way we, at St. Marks, share
the work, the sadness and the joy of our spiritual journeys.
Finally, the survey revealed that we are also united in the qualities
we seek in a rector. The most frequently mentioned include preacher, pastoral
care giver, teacher, celebrant/liturgist, one who understands our diversity,
and administrator. Parishioners understand that their particular programmatic
desires - such as youth or outreach - are subordinate to broader qualities.
We cannot divine the path we will take with a new rector, but we have a
strong and united sense of the qualities important in the person who will
join us in our spiritual journey.
I. General Characteristics of Parishioners
The demographic characteristics present a picture of a well-established
congregation. As table 1 indicates, the average age of parishioners is
49.1 years and a little more than half are female (56.1%). The majority
are in settled relationships (65.9%), that is, they are either married
or have long-term arrangements with a partner. The rest of parishioners
are either single (14.6%), divorced or separated (8.9%) or widowed (2.2%).
The mean household income is $87,723. Still, there are significant proportions
of parishioners who make well below the mean household income for the congregation
as a whole. Nearly a quarter have household incomes below $60,000 and over
one in ten have incomes below $40,000.
Table 1
Demographic Characteristics |
Gender |
Percentage |
Female |
56.1% |
Male |
43.1% |
Not Reporting |
0.8% |
Marital Status |
Percentage |
Single |
14.6 |
Settled Relationships |
73.2 |
Separated or Divorced |
8.9 |
Widowed |
2.2 |
Income |
Percentage |
Less than $20,000 |
3.5 |
$20,000 to $39,999 |
8.7 |
$40,000 to $59,999 |
10.0 |
$60,000 to $79,999 |
16.0 |
$80,000 to $99,999 |
12.2 |
$100,000 or Greater |
43.6 |
While a significant minority of parishioners have attended St. Marks
for two, three or more decades, the median year for attending is 11 (see
Table 2). In line with this finding is that the median year for confirmation
classes is 1985. Slightly more people say they attend the 9 o'clock service
than the 11 o'clock service (52.3% vs. 48.8%), with the most saying they
attend sermon seminar (55.8%).
Most parishioners at St. Marks were not raised in the Episcopal church.
Most say they were raised non-Episcopal Protestants (41.5%). The second
largest group said they were raised Episcopal (30.2%), followed by Roman
Catholic (17.3%). And what do we consider ourselves now? The great majority
of people at St. Marks say they are Episcopal (84.8%). The remainder say
that they are Other - Non-Christian (4.3%), non-Episcopal Protestants (3.5%),
Roman Catholic (2.7%), Agnostic (1.4%), Jewish (.8%) and other Christian
(.8%).
Table 2
Church Participation |
Service |
Percentage |
9 O'clock Service |
52.3 |
Sermon Seminar |
55.8 |
11 O'clock Service |
48.8 |
Frequency of Church Attendance |
Percentage |
Once a month |
5.7 |
Twice a month |
15.2 |
Three times a month |
20.9 |
Four times a month |
49.6 |
Less than once a month |
6.8 |
Median Years Attending |
St. Marks |
11 |
Median Year of Confirmation Class |
1985 |
Primary Religion |
During Upbringing (Percentage)
| Currently (Percentage)
|
Episcopal |
30.2 |
84.8 |
Protestant, Not Episcopal |
41.5 |
3.5 |
Roman Catholic |
17.3 |
2.7 |
Other Christian |
2.4 |
.8 |
Judaism |
1.1 |
.8 |
No Religion/Agnostic |
8.1 |
1.4 |
Other |
3.5 |
4.3 |
II. Results of the Cluster Analysis
Since an important question in the profile process was "Who are
we?", a statistical technique adept at describing groups was selected
for use in the first stage of the analysis. This technique is called Cluster
Analysis. Cluster analysis is a statistical technique for segmenting
a survey sample or a population into subgroups. Instead of segmenting on
only a few characteristics - as traditional segmentation methods do - cluster
analysis can develop subgroups using a large number of characteristics.
For the clusters, or groups, described below, a broad mixture of survey
questions was used as selection criteria. These include the demographic
questions, activity questions and the attitude and opinion questions. In
the latter case, questions from all sections were used.
Cluster analysis examines each person's answers to a preselected list
of questions. In this case, over fifty questions from the survey were included
as criteria for selection. The technique looks at each respondent's answers
and asks "who else answered these questions similarly." In this
fashion, it builds statistically distinct groups. What defines these groups
then is not their response to a single question, or even a small set of
questions, but their response to over 50 questions.
The analysis yielded six distinct clusters or groups in the parish.
They are described below.
Cluster 1: Founders of the Tradition
Many members of this cluster were once the backbone of the parish. Along
with members of Cluster 6, they were partners, with Jim Adams, in building
the organizational and programmatic foundation on which St. Marks rests
today. Now, however, their involvement in parish activities is decreasing
due probably to such factors as age - this is the oldest group - and retirement.
They are content with the parish, have the highest proportion of skeptics
and identify very strongly with St. Mark's core values and traditions -
not surprising since they are the ones who had a strong hand in developing
them.
Demographics
Nearly one in ten parishioners at St. Marks fall into this cluster (8.7%).
This group has the oldest average age (69.1), the second longest tenure
at St. Marks (27.4 years), and the greatest proportion of males (56.3%).
The great majority (71.9%) of them attend the 11 o'clock service and has
the second highest proportion with persons reared as Episcopalians (40.6%).
This group has the lowest average income, ($73,571.43), probably because
there are more retirees in this group. Not surprisingly, this group has
the second highest proportion of adult children (68.8%) and the fewest
young or school age children.
Activities
In terms of activities, a significantly lower proportion of this group
has attended adult Christian education classes in the last year compared
to the rest of the parish (21.9% vs. 45.2%), and is far less likely to
have participated in outreach activities, the players or intro class. In
respect to other activities they participate at the same rates as the rest
of the parish. For example, 12.5% sing in one of the choirs compared to
14.9% of the rest of the parish and 18.8% are in some type of support group
vs. 17.3% of the parish.
Attitudes and Opinions
In many regards, this group's responses to the attitude and opinion
questions are typical of the parish as a whole. For example, their satisfaction
both before and since the transition was virtually the same as the parish's
(8.8 vs. 8.4; 7.9 vs.7.2);
What defines them as a unique group? While they take fewer Christian
education classes than the rest of the parish, they are more satisfied
with the Christian education program (8.3 vs. 7.2) than most others. They
disagree much more than most with the statement that "I personally
want to be more active in social ministry at St. Marks" (3.84 vs.
5.30). This group includes significantly more skeptics than believers,
both within their ranks and compared to the parish as a whole (2.83 vs.
3.55). And they agree more strongly than others with the statement that
"Functional Education embodies a philosophy that underpins many non-educational
activities" (7.9 vs. 6.9).
Cluster 2 - The Traditional Believers
This group feels, in many ways, outside the mainstream at St. Marks.
While similar in age and family characteristics to two other clusters,
3 and 6, they do not share these groups' interest and satisfaction with
such traditional St. Marks activities as Functional Education or Worship.
In fact, this cluster is the least satisfied of all six. Why? The answer
seems to lie in this group's religious traditions and current belief systems.
They were raised overwhelmingly in non-Episcopal Protestant denominations.
Currently, they consider themselves believers and would like to see more
traditional programmatic elements included at the parish. Since this has
not been a characteristic of St. Marks, what has kept this group at the
parish for two decades or more? The answer to that question is St. Mark's
core values and characteristics. This group, like all others in the parish,
believes they are important or extremely important.
Demographics
This is the smallest of the six clusters (7.3%). This cluster has the
second greatest proportion of males (55.6%) and the greatest proportion
of persons in settled relationships (85.2%). This cluster is typical of
the parish as a whole in both its attendance patterns and choice of services
(53.8% at 9 o'clock and 50.0% at the 11 o'clock). Nearly half this group
has school age children and about the same proportion have college age
or adult children (46.3% and 42.3%, respectively). A significant majority
were raised in Protestant denominations other than Episcopal (65.4%). The
average age of persons in this group is 56.0 years.
Activities
In nearly all respects, this cluster's participation in activities mirrors
the pattern for the parish as a whole. Not surprisingly, however, none
are members of the 20's and 30's . Also, no one in this group is currently
a vestry member or officer, and none belong to the Lavender Lions or music
studio.
Attitudes and Opinions
The one quality that typifies this group's attitudes across all areas
is lower satisfaction compared to the rest of the parish. This group reports
the lowest satisfaction level before the transition (7.6) and one of the
lower ones since (7.4). These types of ratings typically indicate satisfaction
but not necessarily enthusiasm.
They are generally lukewarm in their satisfaction with worship. For
example, they express low satisfaction with the amount of quiet and contemplation
(5.1), the use of visual and performing arts in the services (6.3) and
the quality of the children's music program (6.5). Low satisfaction or
dissatisfaction was reported with the Christian Education questions. This
cluster expressed the lowest overall satisfaction with Christian Education
(5.9). They also expressed dissatisfaction with questions concerning Christian
Education serving children (4.3) and gave a strong expression of dissatisfaction
with the statement about St. Marks' willingness to consider other approaches
to Christian Education (3.1). The other areas where these persons are barely
satisfied or dissatisfied are around parish programs and activities.
Interestingly, this cluster contained more believers than skeptics,
with a third saying unequivocally that they are believers. While this group
is unenthusiastic about a number of programs and practices at St. Marks,
they feel very positively about our core values and characteristics.
Cluster 3 - Keepers of the Tradition
This cluster is one of the most active and involved at the parish. This
cluster contains a high proportion of teachers, supervisors and participants
in Christian Education programs as well as dedicated members of worship
task forces, finance committees and canvasses. While middle aged, this
is not a group of "old timers." Many came to St. Marks in the
early to mid eighties when lay leadership and Christian Education programs
were already firmly established. They played a central role in building
St. Marks from a medium sized parish to the large and diverse place it
is today. Members of this cluster have some of the strongest positive feelings
about many St. Marks' programs and feel the strongest about the importance
of St. Marks core values and characteristics.
Demographics
This cluster is the third largest group, representing nearly one in
five parishioners (19.5%). While the average age of this group is similar
to that of Cluster Two (55.7 vs. 56.0, respectively), members of this cluster
have more children in college and adulthood (59.7%), fewer who are of school
age (20.8%) and very few who are young (6.9%). The majority of members
in this group attend the 9 o'clock service and sermon seminars (62.5% and
50.0%). This cluster has the second highest average household income ($95,294).
Activities
Members of this cluster are the types that have helped St. Marks earn
the term "Church of the Holy Activity." 4 out of 6 have taught
or supervised an adult class in the last year, half have taken an adult
class, over half have participated in a worship activity and nearly half
attended Shrinemont.
Attitudes and Opinions
In contrast to cluster 2, members of this cluster express a high degree
of satisfaction with nearly all aspects of St. Marks. This group has the
highest satisfaction rating for before the transition (9.0) and the second
highest since (7.0). Whether it is Christian Education (8.6), parish programs
and activities (8.5) or Worship (8.6), this cluster is very satisfied with
the way things are now. Like many members of the parish, this cluster does
not have a strong interest in seeing St. Marks become more active in outreach
activities.
Their responses to the belief system questions are interesting. On the
one hand they typically say that "non-traditional approaches inform
about my faith" and yet they are more likely than most to also say
that "I receive spiritual sustenance through activities at St. Marks."
This probably reflects their strong investment in all activities.
Cluster 4 - Seekers of a New Direction
The largest of the six clusters (30.4%), this cluster represents the
newer families and singles who question the value of some of St. Marks
programs and philosophies. They are not content with the Christian Education
program, especially as it serves their children, and are not sure that
St. Marks programs and activities are relevant to their lives. In short,
they want to see some changes and modifications. But they do not want to
throw out the baby with the bathwater. They feel strongly about St. Marks
core values and characteristics - something all groups seem to agree on.
Demographics
Cluster 4 is the largest of the six clusters (30.4%) and typically represents
early middle aged (average age = 48.1) couples, and some singles, with
the largest proportion of parents with preschool and school age children.
Household income is $92,545.
This group is like the parish in that a little over half attend the
nine o'clock service and a little less than half attend the 11 o'clock
service. Average years of attendance are 9.6. Fewer in this cluster were
raised in the Episcopal Church (23.4%) and more were raised in the Roman
Catholic Church (27.0%). Like the rest of the parish, a little less than
half (45.0%) were raised in Protestant denominations other than Episcopal.
Activities
Members of Cluster 4 are more likely than others at the parish to participate
in one of the adult choirs (21.4%) and the youth committee (10.8%), and
less likely to teach, supervise or take an adult education class (17.9%
and 33.9%). In other respects, their participation in activities at St.
Marks is typical of most parishioners, for example, participation at Shrinemont
(33.9% and 37.2%, respectively), the Vestry (8.0% and 4.6%, respectively)
and the arts (8.0% and 8.2%, respectively).
Attitudes and Opinions
This is a group who are currently tepid in the enthusiasm for St. Marks.
This group reported the second lowest satisfaction rating before the transition
(7.9) and the lowest since (6.6).
The three areas where they are less satisfied than most of the parish
are Christian Education, Parish Programs and the Changing Family. Their
overall satisfaction with Christian education was barely satisfied (6.3),
and they were clearly dissatisfied with Christian Education serving their
children adequately (4.9) and being open to new approaches (3.9). While
they were a little more satisfied with parish programs, they reported low
or minimal satisfaction with the statement "Feeling involved even
when not a current member of a parish activity or group (5.9) and gave
low satisfied ratings to "the relevance of parish programs and activities
to my interests" (6.7) and "parish groups being friendly and
welcoming toward new members" (6.7). To the Changing family questions
they reported ratings that were barely satisfied for convenience of the
times activities are scheduled (6.0), parish programs addressing issues
faced by my family (6.2) and the needs of their family considered in policy
and decision making (6.1). The one other notable score was a low importance
rating given to the idea that "functional education providing a philosophy
that underpins many non-educational activities" (5.6).
Cluster 5 - The New Believers
This cluster contains singles, young families and a plurality of St.
Mark's gay and lesbian members. Many in this group have a traditional religious
bent. They have both the greatest proportion of any groups raised in the
Episcopal church and the greatest who say they are believers and not skeptics.
This group is generally satisfied with the parish but is firm in its desire
to see more outreach activities at St. Marks.
Demographics
This cluster represents the youngest (average age is 33.7 years) and
some of the newest members (tenure is 5.6 years). This cluster is the second
largest (24.4%), has the greatest number of singles (33.3%) and the second
greatest proportion of parents with preschool age children (25.6%). The
average household income is $76,117. This cluster has the greatest proportion
of members raised in the Episcopal church (41.1%) with the rest being raised
in other Protestant denominations (30.0%) and Roman Catholic (22.2%).
Activities
This group's activity pattern is in line with their tenure at St. Marks
and their age. While half (50.0%) have taken an adult education class in
the last year, significantly fewer than the rest of the parish has taught
an adult class (17.9%). This cluster has the greatest proportion of members
in the Lavender Lions (14.4%) 20's and 30's (16.7%), and the significantly
lowest participation in Shrinemont (28.9%), worship committees (12.2%)
and worship service activities such as lay serving and beadling (31.1%).
Attitudes and Opinions
In many respects this group's attitudes and opinions are similar to
the parish as a whole. There are a few areas of difference, however. This
group agrees much more strongly with outreach statements such as "I
would like issues to be more integrated into the life of the parish, including
worship and Christian education" (6.9) and "I would like St.
Marks to address social needs in the Washington area more vigorously"
(7.1).
Generally, this group is as satisfied as the rest of the parish around
Christian education issues. There are two areas, however where they differ
significantly. They are not very satisfied about the amount of Biblical
reference in adult functional education classes (5.7) as well as the availability
of adult classes incorporating the Bible, Christian tradition and Christian
history into the curriculum (5.9). It is easy to understand one reason
for their position on these questions. This is the cluster with the highest
proportion of members saying that they are believers.
Cluster 6 - Adams' Army
While this group is similar in age to Clusters 2 and 3 (55.6 years),
their tenure at St. Marks is the longest of any group - 30.6 years. These
were the young Turks of the sixties and early seventies, who along with
members of Cluster 1, joined Jim Adams in the task of building on the foundation
started by Bill Baxter. They are very active but are more diverse in their
activities than many other groups. The one area where they have greater
proportions active than any other group is Shrinemont attendance which
is not a surprise. For many longer standing members this is a central social
and spiritual event of the church year.
Demographics
This cluster comprises one in ten members at St. Marks (9.8%). They
are the most well-to-do cluster with an average household income of $95,625
and have the longest tenure (30.6 years). A number of people in this group
go back to the early Jim Adams and Bill Baxter years. Given that the average
age of this group is 55.6, many were in their twenties or early thirties
when they started here. Not surprisingly then this group has the highest
proportion of children who are grown or are in college (77.1%).
This cluster overwhelmingly attends the 11 o'clock service (85.7%).
Their religious upbringing is similar to most of the parish with about
a third raised as Episcopalians (31.4%) and 4 in 10 raised in other Protestant
denominations (42.9%). Like the other clusters that are primarily old timers,
however, this cluster has significantly fewer members who were raised Roman
Catholic (8.6%).
Activities
This group's participation in activities is very typical of the parish
as a whole. About the same proportion as the rest of the parish take, teach
or supervise Christian Education classes (52.8% and 38.9%, respectively),
participate in finance or canvas activities (27.8%) and take part in worship
planning (44.4%). There are two areas where they differ significantly.
More have run pub lunch in the last year than others at the parish (41.7%)
and more attend Shrinemont (55.6%).
Attitudes and Opinions
This cluster gave some of the most positive and enthusiastic responses
to the questions of any cluster. They had the highest reported satisfaction
before the transition (8.8), the highest satisfaction with Christian Education
(9.0), and some of the highest importance ratings to Core Qualities and
Characteristics. This group also expressed the least interest in outreach.
For example, they gave the lowest agreement rating to the statement about
integrating issues of a social ministry into the parish (5.1) and the lowest
agreement rating to the statement concerning St. Marks addressing social
needs more vigorously (5.1).
Conclusions
As the survey results indicate, we are a diverse parish - in our personal
and family characteristics, our interests and our opinions. Our traditions
encourage this. We start our spiritual journey at St. Marks in the Adult
Confirmation Class, where each of us looks at our basic beliefs in light
of how we behave. We discover, as the Apostles did, that we sometimes fall
short. We each must then decide what we will do. Our responses are inevitably
different. It is from this common experience that we enter into parish
life.
As the survey results indicate, we often follow different paths at St.
Marks. But we share a set of values and traditions built out of our struggles.
These values and traditions are powerful symbols of our community, that
speak to the way we, at St. Marks, share the work, the sadness and the
joy of our spiritual journeys. We also share a deep sense of community
that supports and celebrates our spiritual journeys. Whether it is in broader
programs like Worship and Christian Education, or more intimate settings
like support groups or the arts, there are many places to connect with
one another and explore our uniqueness. Finally, we are united in the qualities
we seek in a new rector.
While the formal profile process is drawing to a close, we, as a parish,
will certainly continue exploring our identity. As this exploration and
dialogue continues, the Profile Committee hopes you will find the information
contained in this report useful. It has given us perspective on the different
voices heard in profile sessions, town meetings and personal contacts.
We hope it will provide you with the same.
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