Thank you. Thirty-eight of you took the time to respond — a turnout much like the 37 who completed our 2025 survey — and your answers are already shaping our planning. Here is a summary of what you told us.
What we treasure most
Across every question, one thing came through clearly: worship is at the heart of life at St. Stephen’s. Close behind, you named St. Stephen’s Table and our outreach, the music program, and — woven through nearly every written answer — the community and relationships that make this a spiritual home. In both this survey and our 2025 one, what you point to again and again is the life inside these walls: the worship, the ministry, and one another.
A few of the results, in brief:
- 38 responses, gathered on paper and online
- Nearly 9 in 10 placed worship among the most meaningful parts of parish life
- More than half ranked St. Stephen’s Table and our outreach in their top three
- Community and relationships appeared in nearly every written answer
Why we asked the way we did
A few of you wondered about two of the questions, so a word on each. The question about what Pittsfield would lose if St. Stephen’s were gone wasn’t meant to be grim — it was a way for us to name together the real gifts this parish gives our city. And the question asking you to rank aspects of parish life wasn’t about choosing winners; it was a way to surface our shared values and see what we hold most dear.
What you asked us
Many of you asked about the parish’s finances — how we’re doing, and how decisions are made. We hear that clearly, and providing fuller, clearer, and more regular financial information is a priority in the months ahead. Several of you also raised specific questions — about formation, our ministries, and parish life — and a member of the leadership team will follow up with you directly.
What’s next
This survey is one part of a longer conversation, not the end of one. We’ll keep listening, keep you informed, and share more as our planning continues. It may be helpful to look at John Garithner’s Parish Update, delivered last month. And if you’d like to see the fuller results, just ask a member of the leadership team, or see this more detailed summary.
With gratitude · the leadership team · St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church