Laity leaders value paper as info source

Survey finds 3 of 4
lay readers look at
every Witness issue

Three of five laypeople who read United Methodist Witness consider the newspaper an important or very important information source about United Methodist events.
That was one of several findings from a recent survey of laypeople who regularly receive the twice-monthly Southwest Texas Conference newspaper.
Three of four laity readers say they look at every Witness issue they receive. Another 16 percent read at least one of the two issues published each month.
Most laity subscribers tend to read the newspaper thoroughly. Two of three said they looked at most headlines and read all or part of many stories. Another 26 percent said they looked at half the headlines and read some stories.
Three of four subscribers read items on the Viewpoint (editorial) page at least once a month.
Responses came from a 30-item questionnaire mailed in November to a random sample of 976 leading laypeople who receive the newspaper. Six hundred people—or 61 percent of those contacted—responded.
Completed questionnaires, which included items about church giving, new church development and issues facing the denomination, were received through Jan. 17. Margin of error for final tabulations is plus or minus 4 percent.
Questionnaires went only to laypeople because conference leaders wanted to know what key lay leaders thought about various issues facing the church, said Douglas Cannon, who conducted the survey. He’s communication and public witness director.
Tabulations of other responses were shared in January and March with a special new church development task force. Bishop Joel N. Martinez appointed that group to develop a strategic plan for the Bishop’s Initiative with New Church Development.
Survey results showed that:
> 61 percent of Witness laity readers are women.
> Median age of Witness laity readers is 64. The age range of survey respondents was 15 to 94.
> 91 percent of Witness laity readers are white.
> 75 percent of Witness laity readers are married, and another 16 percent are widowed.
> 98 percent of Witness laity readers are high school graduates, and 60 percent are college graduates.
> 44 percent of Witness laity readers are retired.
> 40 percent of respondents said they made less than $50,000 a year. Another 40 percent said they made between $50,000 and $100,000 a year. The remaining 20 percent reported annual incomes of more than $100,000.
> Half of Witness laity readers give a tithe or more to their congregation. Nearly three-quarters of infrequent or nonreaders said they gave to the church but at some level less than 10 percent.
Statistical analysis showed that laypeople serving on church committees or otherwise involved in church governance were more likely to be frequent Witness readers than those who simply attended worship or fellowship groups.
The Southwest Texas budget pays for Witness subscriptions for all clergy members as well as laypeople in conference leadership posts. In addition, the conference funds 10 subscriptions for each local congregation. Those newspapers usually go to local church leaders.
The Witness printed its first issue in May 1999. Each issue now goes by mail to more than 6,200 addresses. Another 500 copies go in bulk shipments to local churches for distribution.