31 Church Survey Questions: The Ultimate Guide for Churches

Outreach & Community Needs Survey

A church feedback survey focused on outreach shines a spotlight on your local neighborhood. Sometimes churches get so comfy in their routines that they miss new needs popping up beyond their doors. This survey cuts through the guesswork to find out who needs help, what’s broken, and which outreach programs could matter most.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Before launching the next big food drive or partnering with local agencies, run this survey. It gives leadership real answers about actual community needs. Useful moments to survey include:

• Before expanding (or even starting) a new outreach program.
• After your town is rocked by economic downturn, a natural disaster, or sudden population shifts.
• When current outreach programs seem to be running out of steam (or volunteers).

A proactive survey reveals barriers that keep folks from volunteering and lets you tap into otherwise hidden resources and bighearted members. Suddenly, you’ll know who can drive a van or who secretly has a commercial kitchen license.

Sample Outreach Questions

1. Which social issues (e.g. homelessness, food insecurity) should our church prioritize?

2. How aware are you of our current outreach programs?

3. What barriers prevent you from volunteering in community service?

4. Which days/times would best fit your schedule for outreach participation?

5. Do you have skills or resources the church could leverage for community impact?

Effective church surveys should be concise, avoid leading questions, and include a mix of question types to accurately assess congregational needs and perceptions. (resourceumc.org)

Spiritual Growth & Discipleship Survey

The goal of a church survey about spiritual growth is to measure where your members are in their walk with God—and where they want to be. You gain a peek into personal Bible study habits, preferred learning formats, and urgent discipleship needs.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Timing matters! Use a spiritual growth and discipleship survey:

• Before revamping small group curriculum or introducing new discipleship pathways.
• For a big-picture “spiritual inventory” at key seasons: Lent, Advent, or before launching an all-church Bible study.
• Whenever you sense a gap between church programming and real, soul-deep transformation.

Surveys in this area give a roadmap to connect preaching, teaching, and mentorship for maximum impact. You’ll discover invisible obstacles that keep people from flourishing and tailor support accordingly.

Sample Spiritual Growth Questions

1. How regularly do you engage in personal Bible study or devotionals?

2. Which discipleship format do you prefer (small groups, online courses, mentoring)?

3. What topics would help you grow deeper in your faith this year?

4. How confident do you feel in sharing your faith with others?

5. What obstacles hinder your spiritual growth?

Volunteer Engagement Survey

A church volunteer survey is like an espresso shot for your ministry leaders—it delivers fast, honest feedback about what’s working, what’s not, and who is on the brink of burnout. Volunteer engagement is the heartbeat of any active church, and making sure volunteers feel valued and understood is non-negotiable.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Plan to survey volunteers semi-annually or after any major church event. Critical moments when this survey is essential:

• After a busy outreach season or a demanding Easter/Christmas schedule, as fatigue can creep in quickly.
• Before reorganizing or expanding ministry teams, to make sure everyone has what they need.
• When planning new training, so resources aren’t wasted on what volunteers already know.

A great volunteer survey catches retention risks early and lets you celebrate motivations and wins across ministries.

Sample Volunteer Questions

1. How clear are your current volunteer responsibilities?

2. Do you have the resources/training needed to serve effectively?

3. How valued do you feel for the time you invest?

4. Would you recommend volunteering at our church to a friend?

5. Which additional areas of ministry interest you?

Higher volunteer-organization identification enhances the impact of satisfaction on affective commitment, emphasizing the importance of aligning volunteers' identities with the organization. (emerald.com)

Worship Experience Survey

A refreshing take on the classic church worship survey is all about creating engaging, meaningful services. Churchgoers want to feel moved by music, inspired by sermons, and comfortable enough to stick around for coffee—and maybe even stick around to stack a chair or two.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Introduce new worship formats, technology, or guest musicians? Survey your congregation! Use it:

• After you’ve tried something new—hybrid services, a jazz quartet, or even a bold new seating arrangement.
• Quarterly or bi-annually, for ongoing tweaks and quality improvements.
• Any time you pick up chatter that “things feel different” in worship and want to know why.

Worship feedback surveys reveal hidden preferences that are easy to miss otherwise, like whether people hear the sermon clearly in the back pew or if everyone secretly wishes the service was 12 minutes shorter.

Sample Worship Questions

1. How meaningful do you find the current worship music selection?

2. Does the sermon length align with your preference?

3. How comfortable is the seating and facility environment?

4. How helpful are projection slides/lyrics for participation?

5. What could make the worship experience more engaging for you?

Event & Program Evaluation Survey

A church event evaluation survey is your all-access pass to valuable insights after every retreat, conference, or youth camp. Rather than guessing what worked (or didn’t), you’ll know exactly what people loved, what left them scratching their heads, and how to ace the next event.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Send the survey within 48 hours of the event, while memories are fresh! Use this feedback to:

• Tweak program content and logistics for future events.
• Inform budget decisions—so you splurge on what matters, and cut what doesn’t.
• Gather glowing testimonials (or constructive criticism) before the buzz fades away.

Event-specific surveys transform “nice event!” into clear, actionable feedback—and give credit to unsung heroes behind the scenes.

Sample Event Evaluation Questions

1. What was your overall satisfaction with the event?

2. Which session or activity impacted you most?

3. How would you rate the event’s organization and communication?

4. Was the cost reasonable for the value received?

5. What improvements would you suggest for next time?

Church Demographics & Attendance Survey

A well-crafted church demographics survey reveals not just who makes up your congregation but also how and when they connect. It’s the backbone of long-range planning, uncovering trends in attendance, preferred service times, and the beautiful diversity within your community.

Why & When to Use This Survey

Use demographics surveys before tweaking service schedules, merging, or launching a new campus. The crucial moments for these surveys:

• Prior to service time changes or adding new services (no more “oops, this was everyone’s naptime!”).
• When writing grant applications or denominational reports.
• As part of a strategic plan to reach new groups in your community.

Collecting the right data hugely impacts resource allocation, ministry focus, and even future building projects.

Sample Demographic Questions

1. Which age bracket best describes you?

2. How many people in your household attend with you regularly?

3. Which service time do you typically attend?

4. How often do you participate in mid-week activities?

5. What primary language is spoken in your home?

Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts for Church Surveys

The difference between a good and a truly excellent church survey often boils down to a handful of simple best practices. Here’s a cheat sheet for making every survey count:

• Do keep surveys concise. Short surveys respect busy lives and boost completion rates.
  
• Don’t overload questions with theological jargon. Everyday language invites honest answers from all ages and backgrounds.
  
• Do promise anonymity. Sensitive feedback is more likely when it can’t be traced back to the giver.
  
• Don’t ignore survey results. Follow-up is critical; people want to know their input leads to action.
  
• Do use multiple distribution channels. Email, QR codes, and good ol’ paper forms meet people where they are.
  
• Don’t survey at inconvenient times. Avoid survey fatigue by choosing strategic windows (like after major events, not during them!).
  
• Do consider small incentives. Think coffee shop gift cards, booklets, or a thank-you shout-out from the pulpit—or just the gift of being heard.
  
• Don’t skimp on data privacy. Respect confidentiality and clearly state how information will be used.
  

Close the feedback loop, always. Share key learnings and—most importantly—what your church will do next. This earns lasting trust and keeps everyone excited for the next survey (yes, really).

Conclusion

Collecting congregational insights through church survey questions is pure gold for every faith community. When you ask thoughtfully and respond openly, your people know they matter—because they do! Don’t let the journey end with the last question. Take action, share what you’ve learned, and keep your church vibrant, responsive, and ready for the next season.