1 2 3 4 5 6 Disagree Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Mildly Agree Mildly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly
Q 41 I believe this congregation seeks God’s direction and purpose.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 42 A successful church is a full church. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 43 When I think about this church, I think mostly about memories of past times here.
1 2 3 4 5 6
181
Q 45 I believe affluence/wealth is a sign of God’s favor. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 46 Suffering is caused by God’s anger. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 47 If I do not feel God’s presence, God is absent. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 48 I am most aware of God’s presence when things are going well.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 49 Natural Disasters are God’s will.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 50 This congregation takes risks to be more like Jesus. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 51 I believe that God has a purpose for this congregation. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Open Ended Question
Q 52 What ministries of GGLC do you think are most pleasing to God?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Q 53 Can you think of a time when you have felt unburdened (for instance: a sense of unexplainable freedom, joy, loosed from fear or distress, an “aha” moment about the grace and love of God, etc.) by something you learned about or experienced of God? Please briefly describe it.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Would you be interested in being contacted for an interview about this experience? If so, please provide
APPENDIX B. IMPLIED CONSENT LETTER FOR BASELINE SURVEY January 6, 2019
Dear Worshiper,
You are invited to participate in a study of
Liberated for Mission: Theology of the Cross Informing a Fresh Missional Imagination A Doctoral Research Project
I hope to learnmore about how this congregation views God’s activities in our
congregation and community through themes of hope, mission, freedom, and baptism. You were selected as a possible participant in this study because you are a participant in worship and/or other ministries of Grace of God Lutheran Church, Prairieville, USA. Your insights are important to me.
If you decide to participate, please complete the attached survey. Your return of this survey is implied consent. The survey is designed to establish a baseline for measuring change in our congregation’s beliefs and behaviors. It will take about five minutes. Most questions are multiple choice. Please complete and return the survey before January 21. Ideally, if you could stay after worship and finish it today before you leave, that would be greatly appreciated and potentially positively affect the number of surveys returned. Surveys may be returned in the basket provided at the front of the church or returned to the church office.
No benefits accrue to you for answering the survey, but your responses will be used to inform my research of our congregation. Any discomfort or inconvenience to you derives only from the amount of time taken to complete the survey.
Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and will not be disclosed.
Your decision whether to participate will not prejudice your future relationships with Grace of God Church or Luther Seminary. If you decide to participate, you are free to discontinue participation at any time without prejudice.
If you have any questions, please ask. If you have additional questions later, contact Pastor Pam Marolla,
You may also contact my advisors with any questions or concerns.
Dr Daniel Anderson Dr. Alvin Luedke
Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
183
APPENDIX C. END LINE QUESTIONNAIRE
Pre-Questions May 12, 2019
PQ 1 Did you participate in a survey like this in January? Yes No
PQ 2 Did you attend or participate in worship or faith formation on any of the following dates? Please check all that apply.
1/13/19 Baptism of our Lord worship faith formation
Sundays in Lent 2019
3/10/19 Exodus worship faith formation
3/17/19 Jesus’ Inaugural worship faith formation
3/24/19 Greatness and the Cross worship faith formation
3/31/19 Liberated by Reconciliation worship faith formation
4/7/17 Liberated by “the Least” worship faith formation
PQ 4 Have you, through your participation in these worship or faith formation events, come to any new insight about baptism, liberation, God’s mission, or faith concepts in general? Circle
Yes, Not Applicable No If yes, Please describe
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ PQ 3 Have you done (or plan to be part of a) formal interview for this research? Yes No
Part I. Background Information and Activity
Thank you for participating in this survey. Please check just one box per questions.
Q 1. How long have you been affiliated with Grace of God Lutheran Church? (Any type of affiliation, member, frequent visitor, non-member participant, etc.)
Over seventy years
Between fifty and sixty-nine years Between thirty and forty-nine years Between ten and twenty-nine years More than five but less than ten years Less than five years
I am not affiliated
Q 2 How long have you lived in the Prairieville area?
Over seventy years
Between fifty and sixty-nine years Between thirty and forty-nine years Between ten and twenty-nine years More than five but less than ten years Less than five years
I do not live in the area
Q 3 What is your affiliation with GGLC? Member
Not formally a member, but worship and regularly participate in at least one other ministry of the congregation such as (but not limited to) choir, food pantry, faith formation, volunteer in other ministries here.
Not formally a member, but worship here regularly. Loosely affiliated, worship here occasionally I do not have any affiliation with GGLC Other __________________________________ Q 4 How often do you participate in worship
Once a week plus additional services as they are offered (Advent/Lent) Once a week
Two or three times a month Once a month
A few times a year, but less than once a month I am visiting today
Q 5 How often do you participate in faith formation activities such as Sunday adult Bible studies, Kid Connection or Friday conversation groups?
Once or more a week Two or three times a month Once a month
A few times a year
I have not participated in faith formation activities.
Q 6 Other than attending worship, how often are you involved in serving the congregation through volunteering your time for committee work, activities, events, congregation council, choir, lectoring, ushering and other ministries of the congregation?
More than once a week Once a week
Two or three times a month Once a month
A few times a year I have not participated.
Q 7 In what faith tradition did you spend your most formative years? ELCA Lutheran or its predecessors
Other Lutheran, specify _____________________ Roman Catholic
Episcopal Presbyterian
185 Methodist Baptist ____________________ Disciples of Christ/Christian Pentecostal/Holiness Non-denominational Christian None Other _______________________________________
Q 8 What is your birthday? _____/_____/_______ data used for research and statistics, and not for
identification.
Month/day/year
Part II. Mission and Ministry – Baptismal Identity
In Holy Baptism, we are given promises and assurances from Holy Scripture. Read the following statements from our baptismal liturgy and from Holy Scripture and give your feedback. Your honesty is welcome. Please circle only one number per question.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Has no meaning in my life Mostly Indifferent Somewhat Indifferent Somewhat meaningful Meaningful Deeply Meaningful in my life In Baptism, you are –
Q 9. Born again/born from above (John 3:3-8) 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 10 A child of God, baptized in God's name (Matthew 28:19;
Galatians 3:26-29)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 11 Forgiven your sin (Acts 2:38-39; 22:16) 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 12 Given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will enable you to call upon Jesus as Lord and make you a joint heir with Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:14-17)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 13 Promised new life (Peter 3:21-22; Romans 6:3-7) 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 14. Made a member of the body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 12:12-13)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 15. By water and the Word, delivered from sin and death and raised us to new life in Jesus Christ. (Baptismal Liturgy, ELW, p. 227)
1 2 3 4 5 6
When a baptized Christian affirms their faith, the presiding minister asks the question: Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism? (ELW p. 237)
• live among God’s faithful people;
• hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper;
• serve all people following the example of Jesus; and • strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
Response: We do and ask God to help and guide us.
Our five-fold responses are five gifts from God—Spirit-filled gifts given to guide our walk in the newness of life in Christ. (see ELCA.org) They are also referred to as faith practices.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Disagree Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Mildly Agree Mildly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly 1. Live among God’s Faithful People
Q 16 I feel confident that I understand this faith practice. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 17 In this congregation, I have role models and leaders who exemplify faithfulness to this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 18 In this congregation, I have opportunities and encouragement to live out this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 19 In this congregation, I am encouraged to help others to grow into this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 20 This faith practice is a priority in my daily life. 1 2 3 4 5 6
2. Hear the Word of God and Share in the Lord’s Supper
Q 21 I feel confident that I understand this faith practice. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 22 In this congregation, I have role models and leaders who exemplify faithfulness to this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 23 In this congregation, I have opportunities and encouragement to live out this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 24 In this congregation, I am encouraged to help others to grow into this faith practice.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 25 This faith practice is a priority in my daily life. 1 2 3 4 5 6
3. Proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
Q 26 I feel confident that I understand this faith practice. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q 27 In this congregation, I have role models and leaders who exemplify faithfulness to this faith practice.