Minister Survey wants to hear from retired ministers

Friday is the deadline for all submissions

By Melody K. Smith | Presbyterian News Services

LOUISVILLE — Early in September, an ambitious denomination-wide effort was launched. A comprehensive survey, labeled appropriately the Minister Survey, allows Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services to ask questions about issues of deep importance to the denomination.

Since the survey launched, several thousand Presbyterian ministers have completed the survey. Throughout this survey period, retired ministers have called or emailed to say, “I am retired. Do you want to hear from me?” The answer is absolutely yes! The retired minister has much to share about their current ministry or time of rest.

“Understanding the ministries and experiences of retired ministers is an important part of the Minister Survey,” said Dr. Susan Barnett, coordinator of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services.

Early themes have revealed themselves in the survey responses already submitted, about both retired ministers and those who are not retired. “Some we weren’t surprised about, but some were unexpected,” said Dr. Perry Chang, research analyst with Research Services.

Ministers (retired and not retired) too have found the experience of responding to the survey to be revealing. “I found taking the survey to be a good way to remember and celebrate my years in ministry,” said a retired minister who has already completed the survey.

The online Minister Survey is open through Nov. 15 and can be accessed by clicking here.  Data from the confidential survey will inform various church ministries, programs and General Assembly commissions and be made publicly available without revealing the identity of participants.

Those ministers who are not retired and who participate in the Board of Pensions’ Call to Health program can also earn 50 points by:

• Joining the Minister Survey Call to Health challenge by Friday, Nov. 15
• Tracking the challenge by Monday, Nov. 18.