POWER SURVEY RESULTS

POWER Ministry Survey

Results

Sept 11, 2022

Methodology

On Aug 19, 2022 the survey was sent out to all people in the POWER database (203). This included 159 (as of today) in the POWER membership database as well as another 44 who were in the POWER database, but were not categorized as members. This latter group of folks had shown interest in work or an event that POWER had hosted over the last 5 years.

Through this process email addresses bounced back as invalid and one or two people asked to be taken off the email list. Currently the database is at 196 of which 159 are POWER members.

The link to the ten-question survey was sent out through email to all the above asking for their participation.

The recipients were informed that their responses would be confidential. The email addresses of those who participated were not accessible.

Response rate of 19% (of total 203) and 23% of those who were designated as POWER members with 37 respondents in total. Very strong response rates which indicates members are engaged.

83% of the respondents are members of OSLC and 95% are local to the Chicago northwest suburban area.

Key Findings

Action and Education- People joined POWER because they wanted to take action and advocate for, as well as become better informed on, social issues born out of frustration of the direction society was heading at that time (2017, shortly after Charlottesville incident). Members also wanted to be educated on social. This is a pervasive theme we see throughout the responses given throughout the survey.

Still Valid – Given high response rate and the very high percentage of folks who classified themselves as involved it would appear this ministry is still important to its members. (Be aware that those who are active/involved are more likely to complete this survey, potentially overinflating the level of excitement for the ministry.)

Ways to be Involved – Action and participation in activities are more important to the members versus attending meetings. Although the latter is important if they are of high quality given speakers, topics, and ways to advocate.

Activities and Concerns– POWER seems to be hitting on the issues that are important to its members (Affordable housing, immigration, LGBTQ+, Racism. Sexism, and Voting) with the exception of gun violence issues where there is a strong response requesting POWER do MORE on this concern or issue. In fact, that concerns is the only one that is ranked as needing and getting more attention in the future versus getting the same amount. In addition, there seems to be an appetite for educating OSLC members at large on issues and hosting forums in election years. Partnering with other local churches is encouraged while doing the same with Metropolitan Chicago Synod or ELCA is not.

Meetings Need to be Improved – Fewer, but more high-quality meetings are fine with the membership. The meetings need to be more interesting, informative, action oriented and better run.

Implications

· POWER appears to be an appreciated and worthwhile ministry at OSLC, at least by those who are members and/or involved with it. It should continue on.

· Less often held, but better, AND better run meetings need to happen.

· Action oriented events or meetings need to take place. – needs to be offered versus meetings.

· Need to have more than one person dedicated to getting out advocacy notices as needed.

· LEADERSHIP needs to focus on the above to keep the members engaged.

Detailed Findings

Question 1 – Why initially drawn to POWER (more than one answer was allowed)

· 86% Advocacy

· 73% Frustration about direction of society

· 57% Education about social justice issues

· 20% Curiosity

Question 2 – Current level of involvement with POWER (only one answer allowed)

· 20% Very involved

· 24% Often involved

· 43% Occasionally involved

· 14% Not involved

Question 2a – Explaining current level of involvement

· Those who are interested and believe in POWER do what they can given other responsibilities in their life; most support POWER in some way and approve of the work being done

· In addition, COVID, moving away from region, low energy, are also mentioned for reasons for not being more involved.

· One person is very much against POWER for political reasons.

Question 3- One’s future involvement with POWER (more than one answer was allowed)

· 84% Receive informative emails

· 76% Remain on the roster

· 65% Participate in other POWER activities

· 60% Attend POWER meetings

· 13% Serve on POWER Leadership team

Question 3a – Explanation of one’s future involvement with POWER (more than one answer was allowed)

· Want to receive information to reach out to government officials (local and otherwise) on areas of interest to me

· Will try to attend meetings

· One person is very much against POWER for political reasons and will NOT be participating in the future.

Question 4 The meaningfulness of POWER’s broad category of activities (Scale of 1-5 with 5 being most meaningful and 1 the least)

· Most meaningful was “Education on topics (guest speakers, presentations, etc.)”

· “Advocacy (signing petitions, writing letter to elected officials, etc.)” and “Direct actions (vigils, protests, encouraging voter participation, etc.).”were tied for a close second place.

· Least meaningful were the ‘Monthly POWER meetings (prayer, old business, whip-around, education, and response)”

Category

Meaningfulness Score

# of Respondents

Number of Not Applicable

Education

4.1

34

2

Advocacy

3.9

36

0

Direct action

3.9

32

4

Monthly meetings

3.4

31

5

(Weighted scores of Meaningfulness are shown – closer to 5, the more meaningful)

Question 4a – Comments/suggestions regarding emphasis on POWER’s broad categories.

· The respondents prefer action to meetings, especially if the meetings are not high quality.

· While education is a key component of the meetings, feedback suggests more time needs to be allotted after the speak to consider their messages and possibilities for deeper relationships with their organizations.

· Meetings could be improved by: making them more valuable, having them run more smoothly and concisely, and having less of them.

· One person is very much against POWER for political reasons and urges POWER to strive for Biblical justice, not social justice. Also, meetings should not use ‘prepackaged political messaging like DEI, CRT, SEL, climate control, and other Marxist based teaching.

·

Question 5 – Specific POWER activities that should get the same, more, or less attention in the future. The

· Of the specific POWER activities asked about, six of nine get higher quantities of respondents who want the same or more.

· Partnering with other local churches, educating OSLC members, POWER members, and the public, as well as hosting candidate forums in election years all had higher “more” scores than the “same.”

· Members are wanting less of or have no opinion on three of the nine activities asked about: Partnering with Met Chicago Synod and ELCA, POWER meetings, and Witness for Justice.

Activity

Same + More

Same

More

Less+ NO

Less

No Opinion

Directly contacting government officials

35

25

10

2

0

2

Partnering with other local churches

36

13

23

1

0

1

Partnering with Metropolitan Chicago Synod and ELCA

28

21

7

10

5

5

Organizing and conducting monthly POWER meetings

26

19

7

10

5

5

Educating OSLC members, POWER members, and the public

35

16

19

1

0

1

Hosting candidate forums in election years

30

13

17

7

3

4

Getting out the vote and/or registering voters

32

16

16

5

3

2

Witnessing for Justice on Arl Hts Road

28

21

7

9

5

4

Supporting Bethel New Life

33

18

15

4

0

4

(Number of respondents shown)

Question 5a – Comments/suggestions regarding future emphasis on POWER’s specific activities.

· Less meetings/better structure of those meetings

· Witnessing is important to some but we need a specific issue and clear messaging to encourage participation and to make an impact.

· More non-partisan views on issues; full disclosure of speakers’ credentials and political affiliation, Biblical underpinnings as it relates to issues, get a more diverse set of opinions and sides to an issue.

Question 6 -- Specific POWER concerns that should get the same, more, or less attention in the future.

· All seven concerns that POWER focuses on warrant the same or more attention in the future.

· Common sense gun laws is the category demanding more attention from POWER into the future.

Concern

Same + More

Same

More

Less + NO

Less

No Opinion (NO)

Affordable Housing

35

21

14

2

1

1

Guns

35

8

27

2

1

1

Immigration

35

22

13

2

1

1

LGBTQ+

33

24

9

4

2

2

Racism

36

21

15

1

0

1

Sexism

35

26

9

2

0

2

Voting

35

18

17

2

1

1

(Number of respondents shown)

Question 6a – Comments/suggestions regarding future emphasis on POWER’s specific concerns.

· A smattering of other issues were suggested for the list: women’s reproductive rights, racism, climate change, and saving democracy.

· The church and POWER need to separate from political party association, especially Democrats. They and some Republicans are using well-meaning churches to simply advance the Godless agenda.

Question 7 – Welcoming of urgent local advocacy action requests from POWER.

· 97% said Yes

Question 7a Why or why not welcome advocacy requests from POWER.

· For the overwhelming majority who welcome these requests feel that they are important, meaningful, action oriented, impactful, etc. They love ‘em!

· For the minority who does not welcome them the reason is that they are all Democratic party oriented.

Question 8 – General comments about POWER, its mission and activities.

Question 9 Member of Our Saviours?

· 83% are members of OSLC

Question 10 – Live locally in NW Suburban area of Chicago?

· 95% are local residents