Here are St. Mark’s results of the Pew Survey, dealing with congregational web sites…
Your Response | Responses of Congregations with Average Attendance of 50 – 150 | |||
How long have you had your site? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
1-2 years | less than six months | 29 | 5.4 | |
six months to one year | 99 | 18.5 | ||
1-2 years | 183 | 34.1 | ||
over 2 years | 217 | 40.5 | ||
still under construction | 8 | 1.5 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Who started the site? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
volunteers | clergy | 135 | 25.2 | |
church committee | 21 | 3.9 | ||
volunteers | 347 | 64.9 | ||
other | 32 | 6.0 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Do you track hits? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes | yes | 276 | 51.8 | |
no | 257 | 48.2 | ||
Total | 533 | 100.0 | ||
How is your site hosted? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
congregation-owned internet account | congregation-owned internet account | 150 | 32.4 | |
site space provided by denomination/branch | 136 | 29.4 | ||
site space provided by other faith-related group | 53 | 11.4 | ||
free space in exchange for advertising space | 42 | 9.1 | ||
free space provided by congregation member | 82 | 17.7 | ||
Total | 463 | 100.0 | ||
Is new content cleared? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
cleared by group or gatekeeper | cleared through clergy | 180 | 33.6 | |
cleared by group or gatekeeper | 244 | 45.5 | ||
no clearance | 112 | 20.9 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
How much communication is done | ||||
through email? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
a great deal | a great deal | 90 | 16.8 | |
some | 339 | 63.4 | ||
none | 92 | 17.2 | ||
can’t say | 14 | 2.6 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Has site helped congregational life? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
some | a great deal | 114 | 21.3 | |
some | 324 | 60.4 | ||
none | 41 | 7.6 | ||
can’t say | 57 | 10.6 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Provide on-site faith-related text | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 401 | 74.8 | |
yes, but may be removed | 7 | 1.3 | ||
no, but may be added later | 64 | 11.9 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 28 | 5.2 | ||
have not considered | 36 | 6.7 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Provide links to other faith-related sites | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 308 | 57.4 | |
yes, but may be removed | 6 | 1.1 | ||
no, but may be added later | 90 | 16.8 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 52 | 9.7 | ||
have not considered | 81 | 15.1 | ||
Total | 537 | 100.0 | ||
Provide space to post or respond | ||||
to prayer needs | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 87 | 16.3 | |
yes, but may be removed | 2 | 0.4 | ||
no, but may be added later | 108 | 20.2 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 131 | 24.5 | ||
have not considered | 207 | 38.7 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Provide youth group material and activities | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 180 | 33.6 | |
yes, but may be removed | 2 | 0.4 | ||
no, but may be added later | 164 | 30.7 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 63 | 11.8 | ||
have not considered | 126 | 23.6 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Post photos of congregational events | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 253 | 47.4 | |
yes, but may be removed | 11 | 2.1 | ||
no, but may be added later | 155 | 29.0 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 54 | 10.1 | ||
have not considered | 61 | 11.4 | ||
Total | 534 | 100.0 | ||
Allow members to sign up for classes | ||||
or programs | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 27 | 5.0 | |
yes, but may be removed | 1 | 0.2 | ||
no, but may be added later | 85 | 15.9 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 155 | 28.9 | ||
have not considered | 268 | 50.0 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Solicit volunteers for projects outside | ||||
the congregation, ie soup kitchens | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 63 | 11.8 | |
yes, but may be removed | 1 | 0.2 | ||
no, but may be added later | 70 | 13.1 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 137 | 25.7 | ||
have not considered | 263 | 49.3 | ||
Total | 534 | 100.0 | ||
Provide information on volunteer needs in | ||||
in the surrounding community | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 59 | 11.0 | |
yes, but may be removed | 4 | 0.7 | ||
no, but may be added later | 71 | 13.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 119 | 22.2 | ||
have not considered | 282 | 52.7 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Promote missionary/evangelical work | ||||
have not considered | Number | Percent | ||
yes, and will remain | 136 | 25.5 | ||
yes, but may be removed | 3 | 0.6 | ||
no, but may be added later | 87 | 16.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 116 | 21.7 | ||
have not considered | 192 | 36.0 | ||
Total | 534 | 100.0 | ||
Promote legislative or social justice action | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
no, and no plans to add | yes, and will remain | 45 | 8.5 | |
yes, but may be removed | 5 | 0.9 | ||
no, but may be added later | 62 | 11.7 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 181 | 34.1 | ||
have not considered | 238 | 44.8 | ||
Total | 531 | 100.0 | ||
Provide live, online discussion for prayer | ||||
or study groups | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 16 | 3.0 | |
yes, but may be removed | 3 | 0.6 | ||
no, but may be added later | 55 | 10.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 202 | 37.9 | ||
have not considered | 257 | 48.2 | ||
Total | 533 | 100.0 | ||
Provide webcasts of services or rites | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
no, and no plans to add | yes, and will remain | 15 | 2.8 | |
yes, but may be removed | 1 | 0.2 | ||
no, but may be added later | 46 | 8.6 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 222 | 41.4 | ||
have not considered | 252 | 47.0 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Publish internal communications | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 283 | 52.7 | |
yes, but may be removed | 13 | 2.4 | ||
no, but may be added later | 75 | 14.0 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 79 | 14.7 | ||
have not considered | 87 | 16.2 | ||
Total | 537 | 100.0 | ||
Solicit volunteers for congregational work | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 82 | 15.3 | |
yes, but may be removed | 5 | 0.9 | ||
no, but may be added later | 75 | 14.0 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 167 | 31.2 | ||
have not considered | 207 | 38.6 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Provide links to sites that assist with admin | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 229 | 42.7 | |
yes, but may be removed | 4 | 0.7 | ||
no, but may be added later | 39 | 7.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 112 | 20.9 | ||
have not considered | 152 | 28.4 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Conduct online fundraising | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
no, and no plans to add | yes, and will remain | 30 | 5.6 | |
yes, but may be removed | 1 | 0.2 | ||
no, but may be added later | 39 | 7.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 236 | 44.0 | ||
have not considered | 230 | 42.9 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Provide links to denomination and | ||||
faith-related sites | Number | Percent | ||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 416 | 77.6 | |
yes, but may be removed | 8 | 1.5 | ||
no, but may be added later | 59 | 11.0 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 10 | 1.9 | ||
have not considered | 43 | 8.0 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Provide links to local or community sites | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 184 | 34.4 | |
yes, but may be removed | 4 | 0.7 | ||
no, but may be added later | 98 | 18.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 68 | 12.7 | ||
have not considered | 181 | 33.8 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Encourage visitors to attend | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, and will remain | yes, and will remain | 439 | 81.9 | |
yes, but may be removed | 4 | 0.7 | ||
no, but may be added later | 55 | 10.3 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 8 | 1.5 | ||
have not considered | 30 | 5.6 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Publish non-faith services available | ||||
to community | Number | Percent | ||
have not considered | yes, and will remain | 74 | 13.8 | |
yes, but may be removed | 1 | 0.2 | ||
no, but may be added later | 71 | 13.2 | ||
no, and no plans to add | 157 | 29.3 | ||
have not considered | 233 | 43.5 | ||
Total | 536 | 100.0 | ||
Clergy email to congregation? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 227 | 42.4 | |
yes, but not very much | 241 | 45.0 | ||
no | 67 | 12.5 | ||
Total | 535 | 100.0 | ||
Committee members e-mail each other? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 198 | 37.1 | |
yes, but not very much | 229 | 43.0 | ||
no | 106 | 19.9 | ||
Total | 533 | 100.0 | ||
Congregation members e-mail each other – fellowship | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 144 | 36.4 | |
yes, but not very much | 216 | 54.5 | ||
no | 36 | 9.1 | ||
Total | 396 | 100.0 | ||
Congregation e-mail each other – spiritual concerns | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 104 | 29.7 | |
yes, but not very much | 197 | 56.3 | ||
no | 49 | 14.0 | ||
Total | 350 | 100.0 | ||
E-mail members of other congregations | ||||
on spiritual concerns? | Number | Percent | ||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 90 | 24.0 | |
yes, but not very much | 214 | 57.1 | ||
no | 71 | 18.9 | ||
Total | 375 | 100.0 | ||
Staff e-mail to congregation? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 181 | 35.9 | |
yes, but not very much | 234 | 46.4 | ||
no | 89 | 17.7 | ||
Total | 504 | 100.0 | ||
E-mail helped spiritual life of congregation? | ||||
Number | Percent | |||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 128 | 32.0 | |
yes, but not very much | 186 | 46.5 | ||
no | 86 | 21.5 | ||
Total | 400 | 100.0 | ||
E-mail helped congregation and staff stay | ||||
better in touch? | Number | Percent | ||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 221 | 45.4 | |
yes, but not very much | 218 | 44.8 | ||
no | 48 | 9.9 | ||
Total | 487 | 100.0 | ||
E-mail connected congregation with | ||||
community? | Number | Percent | ||
yes, but not very much | yes, a great deal | 59 | 15.2 | |
yes, but not very much | 182 | 46.9 | ||
no | 147 | 37.9 | ||
Total | 388 | 100.0 |