Survey Consent Information
Purpose and Objective of the Research: This survey has three possible uses: 1. This survey is part of a multi-year research data collecting project on flourishing parishes/congregations in Canada, including Catholic, mainline, and conservative Protestant groups; 2. Particular congregations will engage the researchers to provide them with a congregation-specific report of survey findings. The results from these surveys will be added, without attribution or identification, to the general data collected (see #1); the specific congregation report will be provided according to terms of that arrangement; 3. This survey will be used as part of a case study phase of the general study (as in #1) and survey data for a congregation’s specific case study will be reported on a case-by-case basis.
Our two main questions related to this survey are: 1. What does flourishing mean in this congregational context, and what contributes to such flourishing? 2. What are the underlying mechanisms, pathways, and processes that contribute to congregational flourishing and learning? Which variables appear to interact with one another toward flourishing? In addition, this survey invites respondents to reflect and respond to several COVID-19 pandemic questions as these pertain to their congregation.
Procedures: The data will be collected via this online survey. The survey is estimated to take between 20-40 minutes to complete.
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), University of Saskatchewan, Ambrose University, Stronger Philanthropy, and local congregations.
Potential Risks: There are no known or anticipated risks to participating in this survey. This survey is hosted by Voxco, a Canadian-owned and managed company, whose data are securely stored in Canada. Consider printing this page for your records.
Benefits: The findings from all three uses of this survey will be published in peer-reviewed journals, books, presented at conferences, webinars, podcasts, public presentations and displayed in aggregate form on the Flourishing Congregation Institute’s website, with the attendant possibilities of contributing insights to the literature in this field. No individual congregation will be identified in these dissemination processes, without permission of the congregation. In the case of contracted congregational reports (#2 above) and case study reporting (#3 above), the congregation will be identified by name or pseudonym, as agreed at time of engagement.
Confidentiality: Your confidentiality will be maintained throughout the period of data collection, report writing and dissemination of findings. Pseudonyms will be used to identify congregations, unless otherwise agreed. No identifying personal information will be used in any report and we would ask that participants avoid use of place or person identifying information in open-ended questions. The findings will be reported in aggregate form and individual participants are non-identifiable.
Storage of Data: Upon completion of the study the data will be kept for a minimum of five years with the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute (Dr. Joel Thiessen) at Ambrose University in Calgary, in accordance with the Ambrose University and University of Saskatchewan research ethics guidelines. The physical data will be kept in a locked filing cabinet and the electronic data in a password protected electronic format. Should the data be destroyed after five years, it will be destroyed beyond recovery.
Right to Withdraw: Your participation is voluntary and you may answer only those questions that you are comfortable with. You may withdraw from the survey for any reason, at any time without explanation or penalty of any sort. Once you submit the survey there is no way to separate your response from others (because of immediate anonymity).
Follow up: Summaries of congregation-specific data for your parish/congregation will be available to contracting and case study congregations (assuming sufficient participants). Participants will be able to access the research findings presented or published through the public research databases and through the flourishingcongregations.org website and research publications (i.e., journal articles and books).
The benefits for denominations and for congregations/parishes who participate are:
- Access data for your congregation/parish (with a minimum of 30 participants from your congregation/parish) and to findings from the study overall
- Congregations using this survey will be able to benchmark their congregation’s description according to Flourishing Congregations Institute dimensions
- Access practical tools and resources to arise from this research
- Studies show that congregations/parishes that participate in research like this directly benefit from the process of reflecting on the subject matter
- Satisfaction that you have helped others to learn more about flourishing congregations in Canada
Questions or Concerns: Contact our Director, Dr. Joel Thiessen, at 1-403-410-2000 ext.2979 or by email at
joel.thiessen@ambrose.edu. Project website:
www.flourishingcongregations.org. This research project was reviewed and approved on ethical grounds by the University of Saskatchewan Behavioural Research Ethics Board and Ambrose University Research Ethics. Any questions regarding your rights as a participant may be addressed to that committee through the U of S Research Office at
ethics.office@usask.ca or (306) 966-2975.
Participants may call toll-free at 1-888-966-2975.
As indicated, by completing and submitting this online survey, your
free and informed consent is implied and indicates that you understand the above conditions of participation in this study.
Warm regards,
Joel Thiessen, Ph.D. (Professor of Sociology, Ambrose University)
Director, Flourishing Congregations Institute and Co-Investigator
Rev. Arch Wong, Ph.D. (Professor of Practical Theology, Ambrose University) Associate Director, Flourishing Congregations Institute and Co-Investigator
Rev. Keith Walker, Ph.D. (Professor in Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan)
Member at Large, Flourishing Congregations Institute and Principal Investigator