Lets ask them Why do people join our

Let’s ask them! Why do people join our parish? Why don’t more people join our parish? But…how will we know if the answers of a few apply to all…? Why do people stay in our parish? Why don’t more people stay in our Perhaps we are asking the wrong parish? How can we measure our question… Why don’t more people serve in our Why do people serve in our parish? “disciple’s response” parish? accurately? Church of st. Gerard majella station, new york port jefferson

We first learned about measuring “A Disciple’s Response” when…

The answers came in this envelope… and we almost threw it away!

Our negative reaction to measuring “A Disciples’s Response was…

“Everything they taught you about building a spiritually healthy, vibrant, growing congregation was wrong. ” “OK…only half right. ”

Summit on Congregational Engagement The Gallup Building Washington, DC Rev. Al Winseman George Gallup Jr.

What changed our minds about measuring “A Disciple’s Response” was…

! Mem ber Eng agem ent: 4 O utco mes Gallup measures match our mission!

“Isn’t it great!? It’s all in the Bible!” George Gallup Jr.

Rev. Al Winseman Michael Cook Measuring “A Disciple’s Response” has benefited our parish by…

…Allowing us to measure the visible outcomes of our “disciple’s response”… “ 30, 60 100 fold…” …in relation to… …measuring the unseen causes of our “disciple’s response. ” “Good soil, …shallow soil, ……. trampled soil…”.

…Allowing us to measure the visible outcomes of our “disciple’s response”… • Inviting • Giving • Thanking • Serving …in relation to… …measuring the unseen causes of our “disciple’s response. ” Engaged Parishioners Not Engaged Parishioners Actively Disengaged Parishioners

Gallup’s Faith Practice Tools help us to measure… The Seed God has sewn within us: our Talents + Strengths Finder The Soil we prepare: our “disciple’s response. ” + Member Engagement Survey

Gallup’s Faith Practice Tools result in: A more grateful (eucharistic) parish… In 15 years $600, 000 in DEBT has become $3, 000 in SAVINGS A more serving parish, eager to minister… 100 people in service has become 600 people in service

Connectedness Ideation Learner Living our Strengths at St. Gerard Majella: Responsibility Self Assurance Maximizer Includer Communication Woo Strategic Input Positivity Disciples respond Futuristic to God’s Gifts Individualization Activator Arranger Belief

Gallup Research • Nearly 70 years, over one million people, thousands of questions about religion and spirituality • More than one million people, thousands of questions about successful and effective organizations — schools, workplaces, hospitals, etc. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Talent • Talents are naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. • Talents reflect who you are, not what you know. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2005 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Identification of Strengths/Talents Gallup’s Clifton Strengths. Finder • Based on over 30 years of research of 2 million individuals • Web-based tool • Identifies 34 main themes of Talent • Top 5 are your Signature Themes • One theme is not more valuable than another THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2005 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The Power of a Calling "What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful. “ Mother Teresa of Calcutta THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2005 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Growing Member Engagement at St. Gerard Majella Disciples respond to God’s Gifts step-by-step in faith…

• Why do people join their parish? • Why do people stay in their parish? • Why do people serve in their parish? Gallup has 70 years of research to answer these questions…

Gallup’s research shows that only 3 out of 10 people at Mass every Sunday actually care whether they are there or not! Here’s why…

Typically, Congregations Measure Three Things in Order to Attempt to Measure Spiritual Health: • Membership • Attendance • Giving • These are outcomes, not causes, of Spiritual Health. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Relevant Outcomes: Life Satisfaction: Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the way things are going in my personal life. Serving: Hours per week given to help and serve others in my community. Inviting: In the last month, I have invited someone to participate in my congregation. Giving: Percentage of income and actual dollars given to the congregation. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 1992 -1999 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Conventional Wisdom: Focus on the Outcomes in Order to Influence Spiritual Health. Life Satisfaction Serving Spiritual Health Inviting Giving THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The Reality: • Outcomes are the result of causes • Focusing on the causes will influence the outcomes Get the order right. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Causes of Spiritual Health Spiritual Commitment + Congregational Engagement = Spiritual Health THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Gallup Research Result: There is a difference between: • Spiritual Commitment (deep and personal) & • Congregational Engagement (broad and interpersonal) THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION

Spiritual Commitment • Reflects a personal depth of spirituality • Individual in nature • Seen in both attitudes and behaviors THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Spiritually Committed Attitudes • My faith is involved in every aspect of my life. • Because of my faith, I have meaning and purpose in my life. • My faith gives me an inner peace. • I am a person who is spiritually committed. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2001 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Spiritually Committed Behaviors • I spend time in worship or prayer every day. • Because of my faith, I have forgiven people who have hurt me deeply. • My faith has called me to develop my given strengths. • I will take unpopular stands to defend my faith. • I speak words of kindness to those in need of encouragement. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2001 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Commitment by the Numbers • Fully Spiritually Committed: “Strongly Agree” (5) to all nine items • 14% of adults in the U. S. are Fully Spiritually Committed • 18% of members • 5% of non-members THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION

The Conventional Wisdom Spiritual Commitment Congregational Engagement THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Spiritual Health Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The Reality More often than not, Engagement leads to Commitment. By focusing your efforts on increasing the Engagement level of your members, you have a better chance of increasing their Spiritual Commitment. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Get the Order Right! Congregational Engagement Spiritual Commitment Spiritual Health Engagement influences Commitment. Engagement is more actionable. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Activity Without Engagement Leads to Burnout Does this sound • “Filling slots” on committees • “Duty” and “responsibility” familiar ? ? ? • “It’s time for the younger members to take their turn. ” THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

s r e b m e m t u o d e n … e Bur v a e l y l l a u t n , y eve l l a c i g o l o h c psy , y l l a n o i t o m e , y l l a u t i. r i y l p l s a c i s y h p d n a THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION

When You’re Engaged. . . the gears mesh and you get somewhere! THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Engagement drives Spiritual Commitment and the outcomes of Inviting, Giving, Life- Satisfaction, and Serving Darc ey St einke I tried to engage (my father) in talks about God, the possibility of experiencing God not just now and then, but all the time. He’d shake his head as if I were crazy…”

Darc ke n i e t ey S “I came to Grace (Reformed Church, Brooklyn, NY) to worship with people on an elemental level. To experience the kind of care and connection one feels with strangers at the site of an accident or in an emergency room, where pulse and heartbeat mean more than status or wealth or whatever else people use to subdivide themselves. ”

Gallup research has discovered that there are 12 items that most effectively measure the engagement level of the members of your congregation. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The 12 Items of Engagement • • • As a member of my congregation, I know what is expected of me. In my congregation, my spiritual needs are met. In my congregation, I regularly have the opportunity to do what I do best. In the last month, I have received recognition or praise from someone in my congregation. The spiritual leaders in my congregation seem to care about me as a person. There is someone in my congregation who encourages my spiritual development. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2001 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The 12 Items of Engagement • • • As a member of my congregation, my opinions seem to count. The mission or purpose of my congregation makes me feel my participation is important. The other members of my congregation are committed to spiritual growth. Aside from family members, I have a best friend in my congregation. In the last six months, someone in my congregation has talked to me about the progress of my spiritual growth. In my congregation, I have opportunities to learn and grow. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2001 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

The Congregational Engagement Hierarchy Outcomes Opportunities to learn and grow Progress in last six months Best friend Members committed to spiritual growth Mission/Purpose of congregation My opinions count Encourages development Leaders care Recognition last month Opportunity to do what I do best Spiritual needs met I know what is expected How can we grow? Do I belong? What do I give? Spiritual Health Spiritual Commitment What do I get? THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION = Engagement Copyright © 2001 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Engagement Banners in Church More than 30 parishioners contributed artistic gifts to the design, construction, and installation of these 12 banners. 12 Items of Congregational Engagement illustrated with parish examples 13. Easter 2004 – Strengths-In-Action

Parish “Precious Blood” Test Front Cover for ME 25 Survey Brochure Back Cover for ME 25 Survey

“My Opinions Seem to Count” For each element of Engagement: • Gallup’s Words • Plain English • Description • National Average Score • St. Gerard Score • Parishioners’ Opinions

National Congregational Engagement Index • 2001 -2005 • Over 7, 000 adults nationwide over a five year period 9 items of Spiritual Commitment • 12 items of Congregational Engagement • 4 outcomes THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Three Types of Members • • • Engaged – These members are loyal and have a strong psychological connection to the organization. They are more spiritually committed, more likely to invite friends, family members, and coworkers to congregational events, and give more both financially and in commitment of time. Congregations need to develop more of these individuals. Not Engaged – These members may attend regularly, but they are not psychologically connected to their congregation. Their connection to the congregation is more social than spiritual. They give moderately but not sacrificially, and they may do a minimal amount of volunteering in the community. They are less likely to invite others and more likely to leave. Actively Disengaged – These members usually show up only once or twice a year, if at all. They are on the membership rolls, and can tell you what congregation they belong to — but may not be able to name the pastor, priest, or rabbi. However, they may also be regular in their attendance. If that’s the case, they are physically present but psychologically absent. They are unhappy with their congregation and insist on sharing that unhappiness with just about everyone. THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2004 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

What’s wrong with this picture? 29% Engaged 54% Not Engaged 17% Actively Disengaged THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION Copyright © 2003 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

Good Soil: Engaged Parishioners Shallow Soil: Not-engaged Parishioners Trampled Soil: Actively Disengaged Average of all churches in USA 29% 54% 17% Average of all RC Ch. s in USA 16% 49% 35% Actual of St. Gerard Majella 50% 40% 10% Research by The Gallup Organization

Spiritual Commitment (deep & personal) + Congregational Engagement (broad & interpersonal ) Spiritual Health (four Outcomes)

Contact Information: Cinda Hicks Faith Practice Associate at 1 -402938 -6304 (1 -800 -2888592 toll-free) Cinda_Hicks@gallup. c om Joe Cavanaugh Associate Partner The Gallup Faith Practice 1 -402 -9386173