LifeWay Research Survey for Returning to Church Activities When "Stay-AT-Home" Order Is Lifted

LifeWay Research has provided the following survey to assist churches engage their members about returning to Church Activities when the "Stay-At-Home" order is lifted.  We are very grateful for the assistance of LifeWay.  [NOTE: A downloadable document in "Word" format can be found at the bottom of the page.]

Notes for Survey Administrator:
Swap in your church’s specific names for the words in blue.
Remove any options that do not apply or that your church would not consider.

Thank you for participating in this confidential survey.

This survey includes several questions about your current feelings about returning to regular church activities when local government lifts its ban on public gatherings.

1.   When our local government lifts its ban or guidance against churches meeting, which best describes your attitude toward returning to a worship service at church? Select one:

1. I will return the first opportunity we have.
2. I will return at first opportunity but with some concerns and precautions.
3. I will wait several additional weeks before I attend.
4. It may be quite a while before I return.
5. Not sure

2.   In addition to our local government lifting its ban or guidance against public gatherings, are there other signals you would want to see before you return to attend a worship service at church? Select all that apply

1. Local businesses are open again
2. Local restaurant seating areas are open again
3. Schools are open again
4. The number of coronavirus cases near me is very small
5. Most social distancing recommendations have been lifted
6. None of these
7. Not sure

3.   What precautions, if any, do you plan to take when you return to a worship service? Select all that apply

1. I will wear a face mask
2. I will stand and sit in places where I will be at least 6 feet from others (beyond my own family)
3. I will avoid shaking hands
4. I will avoid any physical contact
5. I will avoid crowded hallways
6. I will bring hand sanitizer
7. None of these

4.   What precautions, if any, do you expect our church to take for worship gatherings? Select all that apply

1. Limit handouts of any kind (e.g., worship guide, notes pages, etc.)
2. Use a new method for distributing Lord’s Supper elements
3. Use a new method for collecting tithes and offerings
4. Encourage social distancing in sanctuary seating
5. Encourage social distancing in small group seating
6. Prop doors open so people do not have to touch handles
7. Set up one-way foot traffic entering and exiting the building and sanctuary
8. Provide hand sanitizer stations
9. Discourage shaking hands
10. Allow a longer period of time between worship service hours
11. Other ______________________________________________________
12. None of these

5.   Would you be willing to attend your small group where it typically meets?

1. Yes
2. Not right away
3. I do not have a small group

6.   Do you have children age 18 or younger who live with you and typically attend church with you?

1. Yes
2. No

Ask if Q6=Yes
7.   Would you allow your child(ren) to attend their small group where it typically meets?

1. Yes
2. Not right away
3. My children do not typically attend a small group

Ask if Q6=Yes
8.   What precautions, if any, do you expect the church to take in children’s and student small groups when they resume? Select all that apply

1. Reduce the number of people in each room or move to a larger room
2. Seat children where they cannot touch each other
3. Prohibit snacks that would cause children to put their hands to their mouths
4. Require teachers to wear face masks
5. Encourage kids to wear face masks
6. Require teachers to wear gloves
7. Ask kids to use hand sanitizer before entering
8. Plan activities in which kids do not need to touch each other
9. Other ____________________________________________________
10. None of these

9.   Which of the following describes the attendance level at which you would be comfortable attending a worship service?

I would be comfortable attending if the sanctuary is…

1. Filled to capacity (every seat taken)
2. Three-quarters filled (some empty seats throughout but no empty rows)
3. Half filled (most people have empty seats either beside them or in front of them)
4. One quarter filled (most people have empty seats beside them and in front of them)
5. None of these (at least right away)         

10. When our local government lifts its ban or guidance against public gatherings, which of the following would you prefer for our church?

1. Resume in person worship services at our church immediately
2. Meet in small groups in homes for a few more weeks before resuming in person worship services
3. Not sure

11. Would you be willing to attend a worship service at a different time than you typically attend to allow people to be more spread out in the sanctuary?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

12. Would you be willing to attend a worship service in an overflow room to ensure people (in the sanctuary and overflow rooms) are spread out?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

13. How long have you been attending?

1. I am new in 2020
2. Less than 2 years
3. 2-4 years
4. 5-9 years
5. 10+ years
6. I don’t remember

14. What is your age?

1. Less than 18
2. 18-29
3. 30-49
4. 50-69
5. 70+
6. I prefer not to answer