Church Experience Survey

Belief, Belonging and Church Experience Survey

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes. Your privacy is guaranteed.
Through years of coaching and a lifetime in the church, I have observed a consistent pattern of people and situations: too many have been hurt, let down or quietly sidetracked by their church experience.

This survey was created to better understand those experiences.

In my work, I have seen that healing often begins when a person is able to put their story into words. What has been carried in body, soul, and spirit - whether on paper or with a trusted listener - can, once expressed, begin to release what has been held.

This is my hope (and prayer) for you too.

Thank you for taking part.

Ruth Bell Asselin, founder of Allumévera

https://www.ruthbellasselin.com/
Section 1: Orientation

GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS
Current Age:
Age when you began attending church:
Age when you stopped attending church:
Type (religion/denomination) of church you attended:
Number of services you attended weekly:
Section 1: Orientation

PARTICIPATION
Were you baptized?

YesNo
Were you confirmed?

YesNo
Were you a member?

YesNo
Did you attend Sunday school when attending church?

YesNo
Did you attend a youth group when attending church?

YesNo
Did you attend a small group when attending church?

YesNo
Did you have meals or gatherings at other church members homes?

YesNo
Did you serve or volunteer at the church you were attending?

YesNo
If yes, did you serve in any of the following capacities? (please select all that apply)

PastorElder/DeaconTeacherPreacherLeaderMusicianTechnicianAdministrationOther
Was your church involved in other para-church activities? (please select all that apply)

CampBible CollegeMissionsCharitable OrganizationsSoup kitchen / Food BankDay CareOther
Did your church emphasize the following? (please select all that apply)

Bible teaching (passages/topics/biographical)Church doctrine (fundamental beliefs that explain the why behind the rules)Fear based teaching/preachingGod’s love for youPersonal relationship with GodReceiving grace and blessing from GodReligious rules (ethical/moral directives for behaviour within a religion or denomination)Theology (study of God)Working for God to gain or keep His favourWorking for the church to gain or keep their favour
Section 1: Orientation

RELATIONSHIPS
Did you make friends at your church?

YesNo
Did you make lifelong friends at your church?

YesNo
Did you lose friends because you stopped attending church?

YesNo
Did you lose family relationships because stopped attending church?

YesNo
Section 2: Belief and Faith

THEN AND NOW
Do you believe in God?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in Jesus birth?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in Jesus death?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in Jesus resurrection?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe the Bible entirely?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe the teachings of Jesus in scripture?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe differently than you were taught?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe differently than your parents?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in heaven?

YesNoUnsure
Do you believe in hell?

YesNoUnsure
When attending church did you believe what was preached and taught to you?

YesNoUnsure
Did you have doubts and questions when you were attending?

YesNoUnsure
Did you express your doubts or questions to anyone then?

YesNoUnsure
Have you had opportunity to express your doubts or questions to anyone since?

YesNoUnsure
Do you remember a specific time you began to have questions?

YesNoUnsure
Do you remember your age when you began to have questions?

YesNoUnsure
Were you experiencing other life changes (ex. moving/school/marriage/career) at the same time?

YesNoUnsure
If yes, please share the change you were experiencing:
Section 3: Experience with Church

TRANSITION POINT
Do you remember how or why you arrived at the decision to no longer attend?

Messages/SermonsMovedLife EventSomething someone said or didRelationship FractureOther
Do you wish to share details?
Did anyone invite you back?

YesNoUnsure
Who invited you back (please select all that apply)

FamilyFriendChurch Leader/sOther
Did any Church Leader contact you after leaving church?

YesNo
If yes, how many times?
If yes, was it a pleasant interaction?
In your experience, did the leaders of your church demonstrate:

Positional Authority (Positional Authority refers to influence that comes from holding an official role or title. EX. pastor, elder, or ministry leader)Personal Authority (Personal Authority refers to influence that comes from the leaders character, integrity and relational trust, regardless of title.)Both
When was the last time you attended church?

Special OccasionHoly HolidayFuneralOtherNever
Were you comfortable:

YesNoNeutral
During service/s did you feel engaged or simply as a passive attendee?

YesNoUnsure
Did your perspective on the messages or other aspects of the service change?

YesNoUnsure
Were you welcomed?

By SomeWidelyNot at All
Section 3: Experience at Church

CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES
If you are comfortable, please share any aspects of your church that you found challenging or satisfactory:
If you are comfortable, please describe any particularly significant experiences or situations you observed or encountered in/at your church:
Were there particular issues within your church experience - such as hypocrisy, inconsistency, conflicting messages, lack of transparency or other concerns that affected your level of trust or engagement?
Have you experienced challenges, generally or specificially in your interaction with other church members:
Were they in a position of authority at your church?

YesNoUnsure
Section 4: Reflections and Recommendations
When attending church, how would you rate your relationship with God?

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Worst, 5 is Best
Since NOT attending church, how would you rate your relationship with God?

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Worst, 5 is Best
Do you wish that you still attended church?

YESNOMaybe someday
Do you have any desire to return to church?

1

2

3

4

5

1 is NO, 5 is YES
Do you consider attending another church

YESNOUNSURE
If yes, what kind of church?
Is there anything you miss about church? (ex. music, friends, community)
What would prevent you from returning?
In which of the following categories, would you like to see changes for the way churches approach:

Charitable Work (helping the poor and broken)CommunityCurrent EventsHoly Sacraments / Eucharist / Communion / Breaking of BreadExpectation toward youLeadership behaviour and approach toward youMessages / Sermons / HomilyMusicProgramsParticipation RequirementsRelationshipsSocial Climate (political / world events)Teaching related to your denominationWorship / PraiseOther/s
If you are comfortable, please elaborate on any responses from the above question:
Do you think church has influenced how we perceive God?
Do you think church has influenced us in a different way that scripture states?
Do you think church has influenced how we perceive Jesus?
Do you think church has influenced us in a different way than scripture states?
Do you think church has influenced how we perceive the Holy Spirit?
digging a little deeper...

optional
If you could share one message with every church, what would it be?
If you could share one message with your former church, what would it be?
If you could share one message with church attendees, what would you want them to know?
If you could share one message with a specific person from you church, what would it be?
If you could express one heartfelt hope or prayer to God, what would it be?
Section 5: Current Practice/s
Do you pray?

RegularlySometimesRarelyNever
Do you read scripture?

RegularlySometimesRarelyNever
Do you listen to sermons, podcasts or any church-related content online?

YesNo
If yes, what?
Do you listen to faith-based or spiritual music?

RegularlySometimesRarelyNever
Are you comfortable discussing faith or church matters?

RegularlySometimesRarelyNeverDepends with who
Open Expression - WHILE COMPLETING THIS SURVEY

Please select every emotion felt while completing this survey
Belonging

AcceptedConnectedValuedExcludedDiscouragedLonely
Safety and Trust

RespectedSafeSupportedAfraidBetrayedDisrespected
Personal Worth

AuthenticImportantEmpoweredInferiorInsecureDemeaned
Faith and Meaning

FaithfulHopefulGratefulSkepticalHopelessResentful
Inner Response

PeacefulReflectiveRememberedAnxiousConfusedOverwhelmed
Other/s
Open Expression - WHEN THINKING ABOUT GOD

Please select every emotion felt when thinking about God
Belonging

AcceptedConnectedValuedExcludedDiscouragedLonely
Safety and Trust

RespectedSafeSupportedAfraidBetrayedDisrespected
Personal Worth

AuthenticImportantEmpoweredInferiorInsecureDemeaned
Faith and Meaning

FaithfulHopefulGratefulSkepticalHopelessResentful
Inner Response

PeacefulReflectiveRememberedAnxiousConfusedOverwhelmed
Other/s
Open Expression - WHEN THINKING ABOUT YOUR CHURCH

Please select every emotion felt when thinking about your church
Belonging

AcceptedConnectedValuedExcludedDiscouragedLonely
Safety and Trust

RespectedSafeSupportedAfraidBetrayedDisrespected
Personal Worth

AuthenticImportantEmpoweredInferiorInsecureDemeaned
Faith and Meaning

FaithfulHopefulGratefulSkepticalHopelessResentful
Inner Response

PeacefulReflectiveRememberedAnxiousConfusedOverwhelmed
Other/s
Closing
Have you been surprised by any thought during the completion of this survey?
Have you been surprised by any emotions/feelings during the completion of this survey?
Do you have any unanswered/unaddressed questions?
Do you have any unique concerns to share?
Do you have any unexpressed reflections?
Do you have any recommendations for how families could better support faith beyond the walls of a church building - for you personally and/or for others in general?
Do you have any recommendations for how the Allumévera Group could beter support faith beyond the walls of a church building - for you personally and/or for others in general?
Do you have any recommendations for how churches could better support faith beyond the walls of a church building - for you personally and/or for others in general?
FINALLY
Do you wish to receive additional messages?

YESNO
If YES, please provide your email address -
example@example.com
Do you wish to receive a copy of the survey results?

YESNO
If YES, please provide your email address -
example@example.com
Please find the following email address as a safe space to reach out if you ever wish to discuss specific points that you shared. ruth@allumeveragroup.com
Please find the following email address as a safe space to reach out if you ever wish to discuss specific points that you shared.

ruth@allumeveragroup.com
Thank you for taking the time to share and participate with this exercise.

As I try to gain understanding for what takes precious individuals away from Christian community and out of the church pews, it would be my heartfelt prayer for you to know that your voice matters and someone cares about your faith journey.

May you find hope fo each day and healing from every hurt.

Ruth Bell Asselin
Should be Empty:

Belief, Belonging and Church Experience Survey

Section 1: Orientation

Section 1: Orientation

Section 1: Orientation

Section 2: Belief and Faith

Section 3: Experience with Church

Section 3: Experience at Church

Section 4: Reflections and Recommendations

digging a little deeper...

Section 5: Current Practice/s

Open Expression - WHILE COMPLETING THIS SURVEY

Open Expression - WHEN THINKING ABOUT GOD

Open Expression - WHEN THINKING ABOUT YOUR CHURCH

Closing

FINALLY