• Church Leader Survey

    This survey contributes to research being conducted by Revd. Dave Criddle, as part of a project for a Doctor of Ministry programme with Asbury Theological Seminary. The project is investigating principles and practices relating to discipleship and membership in Baptist Union of Great Britain churches.

  • INFORMED CONSENT – Church Leader Survey

    RE-MEMBERING DISCIPLESHIP

  • You are invited to be in a research study about discipleship and membership in Baptist churches being done by Dave Criddle, a doctoral student from Asbury Theological Seminary. You are invited because you are a leader within a Baptist Union of Great Britain church.

    If you agree to be in the study, you will be asked a series of questions related to yourself and the church in which you are a leader. You will not receive any compensation for your participation.

    It is important that you know these things about your participation in this study:

     

    1. Your identity will remain confidential. Identifying information is collected only for the purpose of being able to follow up (some participants will be invited to an interview), but will be otherwise disregarded in data analysis and presentation.

    2. Any data reported in studies or presentations will be grouped across participants. If your comments are included in the report, a random number or random initials will be used.

    3. All data from this study will be maintained securely within password-protected accounts and documents. It will be destroyed and/or deleted within a year of the publication of the research

    4. There are no risks to participating in this study. If something makes you feel uncomfortable in any way while you are in the study please tell Dave who can be reached at dave.criddle@asburyseminary.edu.

    5. The benefits of this study are to contribute to Baptist understanding and practice, and for you to reflect on important aspects of your own local ministry.

    6. You may refuse to respond to any or all of the questions, and you are able to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

    7. If you have any questions about this study, please contact Dave who can be reached at dave.criddle@asburyseminary.edu.

    8. If at any time you feel pressured to participate, have concerns about the study, or questions about your rights, please contact Dr. Janet Dean, Chair of the Institutional Review Board at Asbury Theological Seminary, at irb@asburyseminary.edu.

     

    By giving consent, you are saying several things: (1) you have read this form; (2) you are satisfied with your understanding of this form; (3) you are satisfied with your understanding of the research study, as well as its risks and benefits; (4) you are 18 or older; and (5) you want to be in this study.

  • Please indicate your consent.*

  • If you do not consent, you are not able to complete the survey. This is to ensure that appropriate academic and ethical standards are met in the research. If you would prefer not to take part, please close this page.

  • 1. Basic Information

  • Are you the leader (or a leader within) a recognised church affiliated with the Baptist Union of Great Britain.*

  • This survey is intended only for those who lead in recognised BUGB churches. If this is not you, please close this window.

  • The researcher would be grateful if you would complete this voluntarily, as they hope to follow-up a number of respondents with an invitation to participate in a small amount of further research. However, the published findings of this research will be contain no recognisable indicators of you or your ministry context, so your identity and specific context will not be known.

  • 2. About You

    If you would prefer not to answer any question in this section, just click ‘Next’. Answering these questions about yourself are a big help in understanding the make-up of those who respond, but if you would rather not do so please skip to the next section.

  • 3. About Your Church

    These questions help the researcher to understand the shape and recent experiences of your church.
  • What "shape" do church gatherings take in your context?
  • If overall numbers have remained roughly similar, which of these best describes your situation?
  • Which of the following statements are true in your context in the last 5 years (tick all that apply)?

  • 4. Discipleship Culture

    The following questions relate to the discipleship principles and practices of your church.
  • How would you complete this sentence? "Discipleship in our church is seen by regulars as _________" (Select all that apply).
  • Have you developed your own language (or adopted language from elsewhere) to promote and articulate discipleship?
  • In what context(s) would people regularly see or hear about discipleship – including your own language if relevant? (Select all that apply)
  • What tools does your church use to help develop disciples?
  • In the last 5 years, has your church held or run specific training events to further people's personal spiritual development? (Outside the regular rhythms of church life)
  • In the last 5 years, has your church held or run specific training events to help people share faith with others? (Outside the regular rhythms of church life)
  • Do you have any mechanisms in place to track or measure the spiritual growth of disciples who are part of your church?

  • 5. The Disciples in Your Church

  • For the questions in this section, please consider the kinds of people who would represent the majority of your church. Think about the way they respond in discussions related to different aspects of discipleship, what they value, enjoy and seem interested in, and what you are able to observe of their spiritual lives.

    Then, rate from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree" the statements about the discipleship of average members of your church.

  • Most would know and live out of their IDENTITY as a child of God.
  • Most would be able to confidently engage with SCRIPTURE for themselves.
  • Most would have an active PRAYER life.
  • Most would consider themselves to have a close RELATIONSHIP with God.
  • Most would regularly demonstrate lives of OBEDIENCE to God.
  • Most would be actively seeking to grow in CHRIST-LIKE character, including the Fruit of the Spirit.
  • Most would live in RADICAL rather than worldly ways.
  • Most would know and regularly use their SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
  • Most would regularly seek God's EMPOWERMENT for personal transformation.
  • Most would evidence FINANCIAL surrender, including generosity in giving.
  • Most would be able confidently to share the GOSPEL with non-Christians.
  • Most would be able confidently to share their own TESTIMONY with non-Christians.
  • Most would be able confidently to READ THE BIBLE with non-Christians.
  • Most would regularly invite God's empowerment for MISSION and evangelism in their everyday lives and contexts.
  • Most would be confident to personally DISCIPLE a new Christian.

  • 6. Membership Culture

    This section relates to the principles and practices related to formal membership in your church.
  • How would you complete this sentence? "Membership in our church is seen by regulars as _________" (Select all that apply)
  • Have you developed your own language (or adopted language from elsewhere) to frame or explain membership?
  • In what context(s) would people regularly see or hear about membership – including your own language if relevant? (Select all that apply)
  • What is your church's position on Open or Closed Membership?
  • What requirements or expectations are set of members in your church? (Select all that apply)
  • Which of these best describes the approach to monitoring these expectations?
  • Who might be considered appropriate for membership in your church? (Select all that apply)
  • What parts of church life are non-members unable to take part in?
  • Think about non-members who are in some way connected with your church. To the best of your knowledge, how do you believe they feel about membership? (Select any which apply)
  • Which of these are parts of the process used for someone becoming a member in your church? (Select all that apply)
  • Which of these statements is most true of membership in your church?

  • The Baptist Declaration of Principle (clause one), states: "That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws."

  • How much do you agree that is reflected in the nature of your church membership meetings?
  • Which of these statements about membership and DISCIPLESHIP do you believe is most true in your church?
  • Which of these statements about membership and MISSION do you believe is most true in your church?

  • Thank you for your interest in taking this survey. This survey is only for those who:

    1. Give their consent to take part.
    2. Are leaders in a recognised Baptist Union of Great Britain church.

    Your answers indicate you have suggested otherwise. If this is incorrect, please go back, correct that, and you can continue. If this is correct, please close down this window as unfortunately you are not able to take part.

  • Thank you for completing this survey. Please click "Submit" to finish.

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