Insights from Community Engagement 2025 Survey Results and Plan

Community Engagement 2025 Survey SURVEY RESULTS AND PHASE 2 PLAN APRIL 7, 2025

Survey Context Survey Context First CE survey since 2016 Purpose: the survey aims to align our outreach with the congregation s priorities 15 questions, mix of open and closed Responses collected Feb 9-March 9 85 respondents

Q1: What do you consider to be the top Community Q1: What do you consider to be the top Community Engagement (CE) concerns of the parish? Please select Engagement (CE) concerns of the parish? Please select your top 5. your top 5. Top CE Concerns (85 responses) 61 50 37 33 33 30 27 27 25 22 19 16 10 9 1 1 1 1

Q2a. Which of these CE ministries do you value the most? Q2a. Which of these CE ministries do you value the most? Which are you not familiar with or need to know more Which are you not familiar with or need to know more about? about? Value of Ministries (85 responses) 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Most Value Least Value Unfamiliar

Q2a. (Continued) Which have you supported in the past Q2a. (Continued) Which have you supported in the past 3 years? 3 years? Ministries Supported (85 responses) 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Volunteered Donated $ Donated items

Q2b. Do you find the three Q2b. Do you find the three- -cluster format for spotlighting these CE Ministries to the parish to be spotlighting these CE Ministries to the parish to be helpful to you? helpful to you? cluster format for Comments that appeared repeatedly: Three-cluster Format (68 responses) More information on different ministries may be needed, though, so people can distinguish one from another 15% Yes No Unsure 16% What is the difference between Bethesda Cares and Bethesda Help? 69% Maybe reframe Looking to the Future , it s a bit vague

Q2c. Do you have any other suggestions Q2c. Do you have any other suggestions for how to present our CE Ministries? for how to present our CE Ministries? Suggestion No. Responses (29 overall) --- Keep doing what you are currently doing (i.e., use all current modes) 5 --- Display chart in Ludlum with sign-up sheets 3 --- Invite speakers to present during/after services 3 --- Consolidate focus on issues and reduce number of orgs 3 --- Frequent announcements from pulpit with ancillary print info 3 --- Use Multi-media short videos, slideshows 2 --- Highlight activities/short Q&A interviews with orgs on website 2 --- Prepare flyer listing all CE activities and histories of efforts 1 --- Hold Ministry Fair with opportunities for sign-ups after church 1 --- Prepare collage/drawings of beneficiaries to feature human faces 1

Q3a. Are there any other community related groups or initiatives Q3a. Are there any other community related groups or initiatives that you would like to see St. Luke s support? Please specify. that you would like to see St. Luke s support? Please specify. Q3b. If so, would you be willing to help us connect with the Q3b. If so, would you be willing to help us connect with the group/initiative to build that relationship with St Luke s? group/initiative to build that relationship with St Luke s? Youth & Family Support: Including ways to include youth action groups, mental health support, & family focused initiatives. Elder Care & Services: Including elder care groups/activities for the elderly. Environmental Initiatives: Mention of support for all that we do, but also Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Most respondents (approx 60%) indicated, No or N/A , suggesting general satisfaction with St. Luke s CE. Some expressed concern about over-extending ourselves. Among those who did suggest additional initiatives support for younger people, including mental health and elderly was highlighted. (The Mia Foundation was specifically mentioned as a potential teen/teen mental health support partner.) The opinions expressed suggest a parish that values depth and quality over spreading ourselves too thin. Quotes: For me, it is already meaningful in these dark times, I feel I am doing something to help. Get kids involved in the community!

Q4a. Have you participated in any of the all Q4a. Have you participated in any of the all- -parish "5th Sunday Be the Church events? Be the Church events? Q4b. If so, were any of these events particularly meaningful to Q4b. If so, were any of these events particularly meaningful to you that you would like to participate in again? you that you would like to participate in again? Most meaningful: Rise Against Hunger (47%) Blessings Bags (24%) Making lunches/snacks (14%) Environmental Cleanup (13%) Knitting scarves (4%) 81% parish "5th Sunday Participated in 5th Sundays? (83 responses) 19% Yes No Based on 70 meaningful responses: It seems like One and Done activities were popular/clear time commitments/ and sense of accomplishments.

Q4c: Do you have any suggestions for future all Q4c: Do you have any suggestions for future all- -parish events to be held on the Sunday following services? events to be held on the Sunday following services? parish 69% had no suggestions/indicated either they were satisfied with efforts or were unable to think of new ideas. Meal Preparations (sandwiches & lunches) were reported (9%) Community clean-up efforts (6%) Kid/family-friendly events (6%) Key takeaways: Rise Against Hunger is an overwhelmingly popular all-parish activity Most respondents had no specific suggestions (69%) Quotes: I d love to see more ways to get youth/teens involved in community outreach. Just continue to emphasize opportunities available. Better communication and clarity on how to get involved.

Q5. Are there any CE Activities you or members of your Q5. Are there any CE Activities you or members of your family have participated in that would appeal to youth or family have participated in that would appeal to youth or young adults? (26 responses) young adults? (26 responses) Suggested activity No. responses Suggested activity No. responses Bag Food; Prepare meals for Rise Against Hunger/Bethesda Help 10 World Food Day Demonstrate sample of small meals poor people eat 1 Prepare hot meals; Loaves & Fishes/ Women s Shelter/ Shepherds Table 4 Habitat for Humanity Project 1 Assemble Blessing Bags for homeless 4 Visiting Senior Citizens Center/ Helping Seniors 1 Clean-up Projects 4 Making no-sew blankets for homeless shelter 1 Working in Pollinator Garden 2 Making dog toys 1 Juneteenth Social Action Committee 1 Tech Support - Young digital natives helping us help the community 1

Q6. What rough percentage of our parish CE budget do you Q6. What rough percentage of our parish CE budget do you think should be held in reserve for unanticipated needs or new think should be held in reserve for unanticipated needs or new initiatives that arise during the year as opposed to being initiatives that arise during the year as opposed to being earmarked for a specific program or organization? earmarked for a specific program or organization? Parish Budget Reserve (77 responses) 3% 6% 13% Less than 10% 10-20% 21-33% More than 34% 78%

Q7a. Do you think St. Lukes as an institution should take Q7a. Do you think St. Luke s as an institution should take public advocacy positions on its priority issues? public advocacy positions on its priority issues? Public Advocacy Positions (80 responses) Yes, on broad issues 9% 21% Yes, on broad issues and/or on specific positions or pieces of federal or state legislation 33% No, but encourage parishioners to advocate 37% No, St. Lukes should not take public positions

Q7b. Please elaborate (taking advocacy positions). Q7b. Please elaborate (taking advocacy positions). I believe that specific issues should be left up to the individual. Educating the greater community about how Jesus welcomed strangers, helped the poor and lowly and considered everyone a beloved child of God can be used to advocate for many issues as they arise. Just be sure to stick to issues - do not get too political. It's too easy for worthy/needed legislation (bills that support God's kingdom on earth) to be defeated by money/lobbyists/indifference. SLC should advocate. I believe in separation of church and State. Episcopal Public Policy Network is taking the lead on public policy issues. I like the way St. Luke's is encouraging parishioners to advocate to policymakers. We should be bipartisan. IMHO, St. Luke's, as an institution, must be apolitical because as God's house, it must be open and welcoming to ALL, including those who think differently from the majority of St. Lukers. Yes, on broad issues Yes, on broad and specific issues No, but encourage parishioners No, St. Luke s should not take positions

Q8. Would you see yourself or others in your family becoming Q8. Would you see yourself or others in your family becoming more involved with St. Luke s CE activities and programs in the more involved with St. Luke s CE activities and programs in the near future? If so, which of the following would appeal to you? near future? If so, which of the following would appeal to you? Check all that apply. Check all that apply.

Q9. What other thoughts do you have on how to make Q9. What other thoughts do you have on how to make St. Luke's CE activities more meaningful to you? St. Luke's CE activities more meaningful to you? Key themes: 28% had no suggestions, indicating they thought we were working to achieve balance. Time constraints appeared as common theme 22% cited logistics and time constraints as something they struggled with. Almost 13% recommended more consistent communications and clarity of what needs are most pressing/how to get involved. Almost 10% would like more activities for family participation/kids and teens/community involvement. You ll get many more of us to help with one and done efforts throughout the year. We don t have time for meetings throughout the year.

Q11. Age Q11. Age Q12. Gender Q12. Gender Q15. How many years have you Q15. How many years have you been a member of St. Luke s? been a member of St. Luke s? Gender (85 responses) 6% Man 2% Woman 30% Age Non-binary (85 responses) 62% Prefer not to answer 5% 4% 1-25 26-40 41-55 56-70 71+ Prefer not to answer 2% 19% Years at St. Luke's (84 responses) 28% 0-5 6-10 1% 42% 16% 11-15 33% 16-20 19% 20+ 12% 19% Prefer not to answer

Q13. Is your spouse or partner a Q13. Is your spouse or partner a member of St. Luke s member of St. Luke s Q14. Do you have children under 18 Q14. Do you have children under 18 living with you that are members of living with you that are members of St. Luke s? St. Luke s? Children St. Luke's members? (83 responses) Spouse/partner St. Luke's member? (83 responses) 5% 11% 13% Yes No Other Yes No Other 28% 61% 82%

What surprised you? What messages did you take away from the survey results? Questions for Questions for Discussion Discussion What needs further exploration or probing? Who and how should we engage the congregation in further analysis and recommendations? Any volunteers to manage the next phase of this process?

CE Survey, Phase 2 CE Survey, Phase 2 Key Issues Follow-up Activities Interview w Jessica Vestry presentation/discussion FGDs with parish (general) FGDs with affinity groups (families, youth) FGD with reps of other ministries (eg Garden Guild) Key informant interviews (Michelle Dibblee, EDOW; Lesley Krauland) CE ministries and parish concerns Communication of CE events 5th Sunday/All-parish events Family participation in CE Advocacy How to make CE more meaningful

CE Survey, Phase 2 Schedule CE Survey, Phase 2 Schedule April May June April 9 (TBC), Jessica interview April 22, Vestry presentation Parish FGDs: May 4, 11am May 11 evening zoom Affinity group FGDs to be scheduled Key informant interviews June 1: CE Q2 mtg to plan response June 15: Presentation of CE response to parish