21 Insightful Church Survey Questions + 5 Go-To Church Survey Questionnaire Templates

21 church survey questions to help you understand your congregation's needs and experiences.

Susanna Fleming

Digital giving apps and tools

If you're in search of church survey questionnaire templates or effective ways that churches survey their congregations, you've landed in the right spot! Within this compilation, you'll find twenty-one thoughtfully crafted questions covering a variety of topics. These questions are designed to help you gauge the heartbeat of your congregation and gain valuable insights into their experiences and needs.

Why Conduct a Church Survey?

Let’s be honest – surveys don’t exactly have the most positive reputation. Perhaps it’s because we associate them with those long, impersonal forms we fill out for banks or gyms or online purchases, or perhaps it’s because they feel tedious and disconnected from our real lives. 

In the context of your faith community, however, church surveys can be a powerful tool to engage and understand your congregation. Church survey questions can help you get a pulse on the health of your church, gauging everything from discipleship to belonging. 

Moreover, a church survey questionnaire can help your members feel valued and heard. After all, you want your congregation to feel invested in the church—to know that their options matter and can drive meaningful change. Why? Because as the Body of Christ, we need each other!

1st Corinthians 12:17-20 reminds us of this: “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

A church survey will help your congregation work together to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world!

Case Study: How a Church Survey Can Make a Huge Impact 

Several years ago, roughly ten months into my journey of planting a church, the pastoral team and I decided to conduct a survey to determine the most suitable meeting time for everyone. We presented our members with options: 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm service times, and we carefully considered their responses.

Rather than making assumptions, we turned to our congregation for input. Their feedback was invaluable, leading us to select the time most preferred by the majority. This not only boosted our attendance but also underscored the significance of community input. That's the true power of a well-executed survey, and it’s an example of why churches survey their congregations in the first place!

With that in mind, here are twenty-one powerful church survey questions you can ask on a church satisfaction survey, a church questionnaire for members, or any other type of survey you plan to conduct.

21 Must-Ask Questions for Your Next Church Survey

General Engagement and Satisfaction:

  1. How do you feel about your sense of belonging and involvement in our church community?
  2. How likely are you to actively engage in church activities and ministries?

Worship Experience:

  1. What aspects of our worship services deepen your connection with God and the church community?
  2.  Are there areas in our worship services where you feel there's room for improvement to better foster spiritual growth?

Discipleship and Educational Opportunities: 

  1.  How effectively do you feel our church helps you grow in your faith and understanding of the Bible?
  2. What specific topics or themes would you like to explore further in our educational programs and Bible studies? 

Children and Youth Programs: 

  1. How do you perceive the impact of our children's ministry on the spiritual development of your child(ren)?
  2. In what ways can we enhance our youth programs to better support the spiritual growth and engagement of young members?

Community Engagement and Outreach: 

  1. How do you see our church actively contributing to the local community and beyond?
  2. What initiatives or projects would you like our church to prioritize to make a positive impact in our community?

Communication: 

  1. How well do you feel informed about church events, activities, and updates?
  2. Which communication methods do you prefer for receiving church information and updates?

Volunteerism and Service:

  1. What motivates you to volunteer and serve within our church community?
  2. Are there any obstacles preventing you from getting involved in church activities or volunteering?

Church Leadership and Governance: 

  1. How transparent do you perceive the decision-making processes within our church leadership?
  2. Do you feel comfortable providing feedback and suggestions to church leadership?

Pastoral Care and Support: 

  1. How supported do you feel by our church during times of personal difficulty or crisis?
  2. What additional support or resources would you find beneficial during challenging times?

Financial Stewardship: 

  1. How confident are you in the transparency and accountability of our church's financial practices?
  2. Do you feel adequately informed about the financial needs and priorities of our church?
  3. Would you appreciate more opportunities for transparency and discussion regarding church finances and stewardship?

Church Survey Questionnaire Templates

Template 1: Church Satisfaction Survey

  1. How long have you been attending our church?
  2. What initially attracted you to our church?
  3. How would you rate your overall satisfaction with our church?
  4. What aspects of our church do you find most meaningful?
  5. How can we improve your experience at our church?
  6. Are there any specific ministries or programs you would like to see implemented?

Template 2: Worship Experience Survey

  1. How connected do you feel to our church community?
  2. What activities or events make you feel most engaged and connected within our church?
  3. Are there any barriers or challenges you face in feeling fully engaged in our church community?
  4. What steps can our church take to enhance your sense of belonging and involvement?
  5. Do you have any suggestions for improving our church's efforts to foster community and connection among members?

Template 3: Volunteer Survey

  1. Have you volunteered for any church activities or ministries in the past year?
  2. What motivated you to volunteer?
  3. Did you find your volunteer experience fulfilling?
  4. Are there any barriers preventing you from volunteering more frequently?
  5. How can we better support and engage our volunteers?

Template 4: Church Times and Events Survey

  1. How satisfied are you with the timing of our church services and events?
  2. Are there any specific times or days of the week that you would prefer for church services or events?
  3. What factors influence your attendance at church services and events? (e.g., time of day, day of the week, duration)
  4. Would you be interested in additional special events or services during holidays or significant occasions throughout the year?
  5. Are there any suggestions you have for improving the scheduling and coordination of church times and events to better meet the needs of our congregation?

Template 5: Church Questionnaire for Members

  1. How long have you been a member of our church?
  2. What initially attracted you to join our church community?
  3. On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your overall experience as a member of our church?
  4. What aspects of our church do you find most meaningful or impactful in your life?
  5. Do you have any suggestions or feedback on how we can improve the experience for our members and strengthen our church community?

Make Your Church’s Survey a Breeze!

If you are getting ready to conduct church surveys at your church, I pray these church survey questions and templates prove invaluable in gaining deeper insights into the needs and experiences of your congregation. And, if you need a platform on which to conduct your church surveys, Breeze has got you covered. Check out our “forms” feature and get started with your survey today!

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