TOPLINE Purpse f the Survey Give members f the cngregatin an pprtunity t cntribute their thughts as Rev. Kathleen and the Music and Wrship Arts Task Grup shape the jb descriptin and evaluate ptential candidates. Help the new Minister f Music and Wrship Arts (MMWA) better understand wh we are as a cngregatin and where we want t g. 228 respndents: similar prfile t thse wh respnded t 2013 Ministerial Search Survey. Gd representatin frm bth Hillcrest services and Suth Bay. : Cngregants like the music prgram we have created at First UU and want t see it grw and thrive. Peple see great prgrams, great talent, great resurces that we can build n. Open t changes because they will strengthen us and help us grw, nt because peple see sme big prblem needing t be fixed. Tp pririty fr a new MMWA is that s/he be able t draw n these existing resurces: wrk well with clergy, music staff and cngregants & crdinate ur many ensembles. Strng cmmn grund abut the rle music plays fr us individually and as a cngregatin. Majr themes (drawn frm survey questins and pen-endeds): 1) Building/reflecting cmmunity 2) Creating space fr the sacred 3) Wrship and spiritual/emtinal develpment 4) Histry/shared culture and identity Visin fr the future Cngregatin is pen t change. When asked which f tw statements abut traditin and change came clser t their pint f view,! 75% said The wrld is changing arund us: we need t try new ways f ding things, even if it s uncmfrtable and we make mistakes ;! 25% said Our traditins make us wh we are: any changes shuld be made slwly and carefully even if we fall ut f step with the times.! Respnses n this questin were NOT strngly crrelated with age, length f church membership, r music preference. Mst respndents welcme greater variety/experimentatin in music and wrship arts. Key pririties:! Maintain rich traditin f classical music while making it mre varied;
TOPLINE! Increase use f less traditinal surces (including music, spken wrd, theater, drumming);! Widespread penness t a mre interactive/participatry wrship style;! Desire fr high quality music and wrship arts: meaning, technically prficient, emtinally authentic, with artistic merit. (NB: Mst have a fairly inclusive definitin f merit. ) Cngregants hpe fr music that is welcming, diverse, accessible! Reflects full diversity f cngregatin! Reflects diversity f San Dieg/is welcming t newcmers! Many expressed preferences fr specific types r styles f music, but many f the same peple als expressed a desire fr variety reflecting ur diversity. One respndent put it this way: Each f us may be able t think smething like, I can listen t this if thers like it. My kind f music will have its turn t.! Strng interest in pprtunities fr cngregatin t get invlved in music, especially in less frmal ways (jam sessins, pen-mike night, sing-alngs) Widespread supprt fr a larger rle fr music in RE & better integratin f children/yuth int wrship planning and prgramming Pririties fr a MMWA TOP pririty: gd administratr, able t wrk with current leaders. Has a deep understanding f liturgical arts Has experience with a wide range f musical styles and traditins Cnnects well with peple (82%); inspiring (77%) Engages children and yuth (75%) Cmmunicatins Nt a lt f experience r expectatin when it cmes t a pastral r teaching rle fr music & music leaders.! There is little ppsitin t the idea f creating the psitin f Minister f Music and Wrship Arts, but peple want t understand the ratinale. Strng call fr keeping lines f cmmunicatin pen, making decisin-making transparent and accuntable, ensuring that infrmatin abut music, events, and pprtunities is available. Reprt prepared by Isabella Furth September 10, 2014
228 respndents: Demgraphically, respndents were largely cmparable t thse wh respnded t 2013 ministerial search survey: There was the same breakdwn in with respect t age and length f membership Respndents t the music survey were smewhat mre likely t be frequent church gers The findings described belw represent cmmn grund acrss all demgraphic categries: there were very few differences in respnses related t age, musicianship, r service attended ABOUT RESPONDENTS: Regular church-gers: 92% attend church at least nce a mnth 64% attend 3+ times a mnth Which service:! 54% Hillcrest 9:30! 38% Hillcrest 11:30! 8% Suth Bay Lng-time members 62% have attended First UU fr mre than 10 years 48% have attended fr mre than 15 years 3
Older: mre than half (52%) between 60-79 (NB: this is in line with what was reflected in ministerial search survey) Participatin in music Abut 1/3 f respndents (35%) describe themselves as musicians; 65% d nt Q6: During the past three years, hw have yu participated in prviding music at First Church? Abut 41% f thse wh answered the questin have participated in at least ne f the frmal musical activities listed, beynd singing with the cngregatin. Many have participated in mre than ne:! 24% have been in a chir! 11% have participated in Lking Glass Theater (LGT)! 9% have children in a chir! 7% have been guest perfrmers! NB these are nt necessarily self-described musicians a fair number f peple wh say they are nt musicians have participated in frmal music r perfrming arts (mstly chirs, als LGT) 90% f respndents sing with the cngregatin during services! 55% indicate this is the nly way they participate in church music 4
WHAT IS MUSIC FOR? Fr me persnally (Q7) What rles des music play in yur PERSONAL wrship experience? Fr me persnally music in wrship is abut. (percentage saying they strngly agree) Centering & finding a place f sacred calm 66% Appreciating ther peple s musical talents 61 Cnnecting with my church cmmunity 57 Appreciating great wrks f art 55 Getting in tuch with my emtins 52 Getting energized 49 Having fun 45 Relaxing 39 tp respnses (mre than 50% strngly agree) als imprtant less imprtant Cmments emphasize the spirituality f music in wrship. Tp themes:! Music cnnects me t the sacred r t a higher pwer.! Spiritual imprtance f cnnecting with ther peple in creating and listening t music during wrship.! Thematic cnsistency when the lyrics r theme f a piece reinfrce the message f the sermn and the pwer f the service. 5
Fr the cngregatin as a whle (Q8): What rles d yu think music and wrship arts shuld play in the life f ur CONGREGATION? Music and Wrship Arts at First Church shuld be abut (percentage saying they strngly agree) Cnnecting with each ther in cmmunity 68% Celebrating UU values 63 Deepening ur spiritual understanding 58 Helping us pen up emtinally 58 Having fun 52 Attracting new members 46 Building bridges t the wider cmmunity 45 Explring new styles f music and wrship 42 Strengthening ur cmmitment t scial justice 36 tp respnses (mre than 50% strngly agree) als imprtant less imprtant Cmments emphasize cnnectin with each ther & with wider cmmunity:! Music cnnects us t each ther and t the rest f the cmmunity. It brings me t church & brings thers t us! Heals us s we can heal the wrld. Gives vice t the viceless Feeds the sul Raises us up, antidte t persnal/scial challenges we face elsewhere 6
SUNDAY WORSHIP Imprtance f Sunday wrship (Q9) Mst say Sunday wrship is IMPORTANT t their spiritual identity (59%) but it s nt the be-all and end-all What are peple ding during music in services (Q10) Listeners (50%) utnumber feelers (38%) and readers (12%) 7
Hw participatry shuld wrship be? (Q11)! Cngregatin is split ver exactly where t draw the line 55% say the cngregatin participates actively in A FEW musical elements f the service; wrship team and musicians prvide mst f the music 40% say the cngregatin is invited t participate actively in MOST musical elements f the service (Margin f errr is +/- 6%) NB: ther questins and pen-ended respnses indicated widespread interest in incrprating mre participatry/interactive wrship The cngregatin is invited t participate actively in EVERY musical element f the service The cngregatin is invited t participate actively in MOST musical elements f the service The cngregatin participates actively in A FEW musical elements f the service; Wrship team and musicians prvide mst f the music Wrship team and musicians prvide all the music; cngregatin participates by listening 8
What are the rles f a sng leader? (Q12) Our cngregatin uses sng leaders t help lead the cngregatin in hymns and grup singing. What d yu think are the MOST imprtant rles f a sng leader? (pick nly three) (percentage saying this is ne f the MOST imprtant rles) Helps me learn the tune 69% Helps me sing mre cnfidently 55 Tp tw Creates cnnectin between me and peple leading service 38 Helps me understand r appreciate the hymn mre 30 Lets me knw when t get luder/sfter/faster/slwer Tells abut the cntext r histry f what we are singing Explains the translatin and prper prnunciatin f the lyrics 30 30 19 9
ABOUT A MINISTER OF MUSIC AND WORSHIP ARTS What are the MOST imprtant rles fr a MMWA? (Q13) As yu may knw, First Church is planning n creating the psitin f Minister f Music and Wrship Arts. Hw imprtant is each f these ptential ROLES fr smene in that psitin? (percentage saying rle is VERY IMPORTANT) Wrks with existing music staff t crdinate the many chirs and ensembles in the cngregatin Wrks with ther church leaders and staff t integrate music and wrship arts int ur brader missin Helps engage children and yuth in music and wrship arts 75 90% 75 tp pririties Engages in wrship planning 74 Mentrs and develps leadership in members f the cngregatin, especially when it cmes t music and wrship Acts as a musical ambassadr t the larger cmmunity 45 59 strng pririties Prvides pastral care t musicians, wrship leaders 16 Preaches sermns n ccasin 11 Teaches in the Religius Educatin Prgram 10 lwer pririties Prvides pastral care fr all members f the cngregatin, including hspital r hme visits 10 Things mst ften seen as NOT AT ALL imprtant:! Preaching (12%)! Teaching RE (11%)! Pastral care fr cngregatin (10%) 10
Mst imprtant QUALITIES fr a MMWA (Q14) Hw imprtant is each f these QUALITIES in a Minister f Music and Wrship Arts? (percentage saying quality is VERY IMPORTANT) Wrks well with ministers and music staff 97% Is warm and cnnects well with peple emtinally Has a deep understanding f music and the liturgical arts Has experience with a wide range f musical styles and traditins 82 82 80 tp pririties Can inspire thers 77 Is a talented perfrmer 43 Has a persnal call t ministry 42 Is an rdained minister 8 strng pririties lwer pririty 15% say being an rdained minister is NOT AT ALL imprtant In pen-ended questins, several said they weren t against having a minister f wrship arts, but they didn t see the need r wuld like t understand the ratinale better. Mst peple have very limited experience with a pastral rle fr music leaders (Qs15/16) 65% say they have spken with a music leader abut music r wrship Only 10% have spken with a music leader abut a persnal prblem Sme difference between musicians and nn-musicians! Musicians are mre likely t have spken with a music leader abut music r wrship (79% have/21% have nt [vs 56%/44% fr nn musicians]).! Hwever, musicians are NOT much mre likely t have spken with a music leader abut a persnal/pastral issue (15% have/85% have nt [vs 8%/92% fr nn musicians]) 11
MUSICAL STYLES Musical styles in wrship: what styles/genres help yu grw spiritually, help yu center, give yu energy? (Q17) Spiritual grwth: Spirituals/classical music/wrld/flk/gspel Centering: Classical music Energy: Pp/rck; Latin American; drumming; jazz; gspel Main cmment themes:! It depends! On tnal quality, md, temp, language, quality f perfrmance! It is gd t have a wide variety f styles and genres! Sme elements prvke a lve/hate reactin, ntably: rck; rgan; liturgical dance Prfessinals r vlunteers? (Q18) If peple HAVE t chse: 60% agree that vlunteers frm the cngregatin shuld prvide mst f the music during services, even if this means the perfrmances are nt as plished. 40% agree that highly talented musicians shuld prvide mst f the music during services, even if these musicians are prfessinals frm utside ur cngregatin. Given the margin f errr (+/- 6.5% n this questin, because f a smaller base) this is nt a very strng tilt. Related cmments in the pen-ended questins:! Many peple emphasized that there shuld be a mix f vlunteers and prfessinals! Mst cmments tended t lean in favr f having music cme frm the cngregatin, r pinted ut prfessinal elements that current vlunteer musicians have (r shuld have), including: Depth f well-trained talent in cngregatin Well-rehearsed, plished perfrmances Authenticity and heart! Guest musicians can prvide greater variety, r ffer specialized music apprpriate t a given wrship theme Cmfrt with being expressive/emtive (Q19). A rusing and upbeat sng is being played during a service. The musicians and sme members f the cngregatin begin t clap in time and dance. What are yu MOST LIKELY t d? 37% clap enthusiastically 30% clap, maybe feel awkward 11% participate reluctantly 13% sit attentively 9% want t leave 12
INNOVATION & CHANGE Innvatin r Traditin? (Q20) If peple HAVE t make a chice: 75% wuld say that The wrld is changing arund us: we need t try new ways f ding things, even if it s uncmfrtable and we make mistakes. 25% wuld say that Our traditins make us wh we are: any changes shuld be made slwly and carefully even if we fall ut f step with the times. Wrship resurces shuld they be used less, mre, r abut as they are nw? (Q21) Mst respndents generally like hw much current grey & blue hymnals are being used.! Grey hymnal: 15% wuld like mre; 19% wuld like less; 67% abut right.! Teal hymnal: 25% wuld like mre, 10% wuld like less; 66% abut right! Purple hymnal 29% want mre, 24% want less; 47% abut right. Nte: a lt f Hillcrest respndents left this ne blank (presumably because they are less familiar with the purple hymnal, which is used by the chir but nt by the cngregatin) Strng interest in mre:! Visual arts 56%! Participatry arts 50%! Theater 48% Cmments:! Peple pen t experimentatin; but want new frms t be high quality as much as pssible (pen-ended Q 24 ffers sme insight int what this means);! A fair bit f interest in incrprating mre visual elements int service;! Many urged mre mvement, lsening up (with recgnitin that mvement is prblematic fr sme).! Ntes f cautin: Cultural apprpriatin, Sme cncern that current/previus effrts at participatry elements (runds, respnsive readings, call/respnse) haven t always wrked well r made the respndent uncmfrtable.! Change is challenging but we are pen t it ; ne r tw peple talked abut ways their wn perspectives and preferences have changed as they have gtten mre expsure t new frms and mre cmfrtable with them. 13
COMMUNICATION What frms f cmmunicatin are peple likely t use? (Q22) There are varius ways f keeping lines f cmmunicatin pen amng cngregants, clergy and staff. Hw likely wuld yu be t make use f any f these? (% saying very likely ) Talk t peple n pati after service 51% Email 50 Speak up at a tpic-specific pen frum r fcus grup Talk t wrship leaders in the receiving line after services Suggestin bx 26 Speak up at a quarterly pen frum (nt tpic specific) Make persnal appintment 17 Write in a jurnal r cmment bk that is read by the Executive Cmmittee r Bard Phne call 16 32 30 19 16 Many/mst say they will use Sme say they will use Few say they will use Write a letter 10 Peple said they were NOT likely t use sme cmmunicatins methds:! Letter (64% say they are NOT very likely t d this)! Persnal appintment (48%)! Cmment bk (48%)! Phne call (45%) 14
Open Ended #23: Please share a stry r a mment when yu were mved r inspired by music during wrship (either at First Church r in any ther wrship). Why was this mment meaningful fr yu? Tp respnses: Music enhancing a sense f cmmunity/bringing us tgether (examples cited by many peple include Arvid s retirement party; Matt Meyer s visit; cngregatinal singing; singing, dancing tgether) Especially pwerful reflectins n chir/vcal music! Many peple called ut ccasins when the chir gt ut f the lft and surrunded the cngregatin. Peple described it as very pwerful t be surrunded by music, and t be part f making that music! Lts f references t specific vcal pieces that brught jy, uplift, pwerful emtin these were a mix f cntemprary, classical, ppular, upbeat, meditative. Chirs, JUUL Tnes, guest slists! Almst as many respndents said they resnated with instrumental pieces Music and its messages reinfrcing the theme f the service. Ntable examples: GA Church f the Larger Fellwship service n water Use f Amazing Grace in Arvid s sermn n addictin and recvery Memrial services Bridging ceremny Being cnnected t a great traditin and t persnal memries Hearing/singing sngs I grew up with; cnnecting t my traditin Music tapping int deep emtins Children/yuth UUMN/pwer f a massed chir Beauty and/r resnance f particular pieces Silence: when peple DON T clap; when there is silence at meditatin 15
Q24: What des high quality music mean t yu? Tp respnses: Well-perfrmed: This was the mst cmmn element cited. High quality music is in tune, well prepared, with technical prficiency. At the same time many emphasized that technical prficiency alne was nt enugh t make smething high-quality and in fact mst peple added ne r mre f the criteria belw. Many als nted that prficiency des nt fr them equal prfessinal standards -- prfessinalism, nt perfectin Emtinally authentic: The secnd mst cmmn element held that high quality music has heart r is emtinally true. Artistic merit: Fr a few peple this merit was tied up with a specific genre (i.e. they saw ONLY classical r cntemprary r jazz as having merit). Many thers said they saw merit in a wide variety f styles r genres, thugh they had a persnal preference fr ne r anther. Several als emphasized that well crafted des nt equal cmplex. Builds cmmunity: High quality music in wrship is nt a perfrmance but a sharing. Ideally it cnnects musicians t cngregatin, cngregatin t each ther, musicians t musicians. Enjyable t sing. Supprts the theme f the service: many saw music in cntext f wrship service and emphasized that the music and the message must reinfrce each ther. Speaks t cmmn beliefs. Other key themes Variety f genres, welcming t peple f many different backgrunds and preferences. (Nt lwest cmmn denminatr n ne style will appeal t everyne but making sure that everybdy gets fed) What we have nw. A few peple questined what they saw as elitism in calling music high quality in the first place seeing this as cde fr classical, r as smething that excludes peple frm making and appreciating music. Mst f these respndents emphasized the imprtance f inclusivity and heart. 16
Q25: As yu knw, ur music prgram is ging thrugh a perid f transitin and transfrmatin. What kind f changes wuld yu MOST like t see? Tp respnses: We are changing because we are grwing we dn t have big prblems that need t be fixed. Many peple nted that they like what First UU has built in its music prgram, especially ver the last cuple f years.! A few saw n reasn t change anything (it ain t brke); a very few wanted whlesale changes (e.g. de-emphasize music in service, as it distracts frm the sermn and the imprtant wrk we d).! Mst described adjustments ways they wuld like t see us grw frm where we are nw. We shuld cntinue t make use f the great resurces we already have in terms f talent and instruments.! Many peple called fr finding a high-caliber rganist/maintaining the rle f the rgan in wrship [NB: this was nt universally supprted as nted elsewhere the rgan is quite plarizing!] What d peple want t see ging frward? A wide variety f music.! Openness t experimentatin Theater, mvement, spken wrd, perfrmance art Guest musicians as apprpriate (allws us t hear smething new, smething that is especially relevant t a wrship theme)! A lt f interest in music that is interactive, energetic, accessible, spiritual (several shututs t Matt Mayer)! Maintaining rich classical traditin (and making it mre varied) Music that is welcming! Reflects diversity f cngregatin! Reflects the diversity f San Dieg. Music that brings us tgether whlehearted cngregatinal singing Music that is integrated int wrship. Additinal cmments n this theme:! Sme cncern abut amplificatin (can be t lud/nt wrshipful )! Allwing space fr meditatin! Music in wrship is NOT perfrmance (applause) 17
Integrate yuth! Make music a bigger part f kids RE Dancing/drumming Mre interactin between music prgramming and RE (church musicians/grups visit RE classes?) Kids as guest perfrmers Kids/yuth vices heard mre in music and wrship planning Music accessible t the whle cngregatin! Opprtunities fr cngregatin t get invlved in music (perhaps in a less frmal setting). Sme suggestins: Guest perfrmances by small ccasinal cngregatinal grups [nt standing/nging; instead preparing ne r tw numbers] Talent shws/pen-mike nights Sing-alngs Jam nights After-wrship music get-tgethers! Readers theater etc ffers avenue fr peple wh aren t musical t make fferings during wrship Several suggestins that we bring back the Cred/This I Believe! Easy t sing/easy fr peple wh dn t read music! Many peple nted they like seeing the wrds n the screen, bth in hymn singing AND in perfrmances by vcalists Sme wanted a cnversatin abut the rle f hymns in wrship (especially traditinal hymns frm grey bk):! Need music mre relevant t mdern wrld! Hymns nt welcming fr unchurched Keep lines f cmmunicatin pen Clergy/music staff need t be pen with cngregatin (sme nted that this seems t be happening nw & that there are pprtunities fr cngregatin t stay in the lp and be heard) Cngregatin hw can we let ur pinins be knwn withut hurting feelings Hw cngregants can get invlved in musical pprtunities 18