Sunday Morning Schedule Study Team

Interim Report to the WUMC Congregation—February 21, 2010

1. A traditional worship service
2. A contemporary worship service
3. Time for hospitality and fellowship
4. Time for Christian education (Sunday School) for all ages

Since we began our work, we have:

• Conducted a survey of church members to determine their level of satisfaction and compiled the data from that survey
• Reviewed Sunday morning schedules from churches in our area who have a similar number of members
• Interviewed a number of groups in the church, including youth, choir members, education councils, and our clergy
• Conducted three Sunday morning focus groups and interviewed approximately 95 people at those focus groups
• Reviewed survey and interview data
• Reviewed attendance data on our worship services

What have we learned so far?

• It is important to have a consistent and predictable worship schedule throughout the year.
• Worship attendance has been steady and participation in Sunday School has been increasing. Weather, special events, holidays and the provision of child care options have more impact on Sunday attendance than the type of service being offered.
• Placing Sunday School between our services has had the intended effect of increasing adult participation, and allows those attending either worship service to also attend Sunday School.
• Since offering the Emerge service, attendance at the Emerge service has averaged between 30 and 40% of total attendance.
• Attendance at both worship services has increased since WUMC started offering Children’s Church just before Christmas 2009.
• According to the survey data, the most frequently cited area of dissatisfaction with our current schedule is in the order of the services. This appears to be related to the start time for the traditional service. Overall, we are more satisfied than dissatisfied with the current order of worship.
• According to the survey data, the start time for the early service is an area of relative dissatisfaction.
• According to the survey data, people would like a little more time for Sunday School.
• It is important to our pastors to have fellowship with us between services.
• Our sanctuary is our most convenient and accessible worship space.
• Potter Chapel is too small to adequately hold either of our current services and does not have adequate accessibility for those with mobility impairments. Our north elevator doesn’t have enough capacity to move enough people quickly and conveniently enough for those who may need to use it.
• Parking availability limits our ability to have two concurrent services.