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2011 Clergy Needs Assessment

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We are aware that some clergy of trans/gender/non-conforming experience have faced some unique challenges in ministry. We are interested in exploring what kinds of peer support might be helpful to folks in various situations. Your answers both help us demonstrate the need for programming and also help to shape it.

Please share this needs assessment with others and/or contact chris@transfaithonline.org if you know others who would like to participate or have other questions.
1.Are you ordained (or similar status)? * Yes
No
In Process
Formerly
Other (please specify):
2. We are using trans/gender/non-conforming as an inclusive short-hand. What more specific terms do you identify with?

Please check all that apply.

transgender
person of transgender experience
transexual
person of transexual experience
intersex
genderqueer
gender non-conforming
Other (please specify):
3. How do you currently express your ordination?

Please check all that apply.

Traditional (paid) clergy role in a congregation
Traditional (unpaid) clergy role in a congregation
Pastoral counselor, chaplain, mental health professional (paid)
Pastoral counselor, chaplain, mental health professional (unpaid)
Other kinds of professional religious leadership
Other kinds of vocational religious leadership
Other (please specify)
4.Do you feel that you have any useful institutional support as a trans/gender/non-conforming person in ordained ministry? Please tell us about it.
5. What kind of trans/gender/non-conforming peer support would be helpful to you?

Please check all that apply.

Email group
Monthly phone calls
Quarterly phone calls
Networking in supportive places (e.g. roundtable at Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference)
Retreat events (e.g. a weekend gathering at a seminary or retreat center)
Other (please specify):
6. How would you prefer peer support conversations to be organized?

Please check all that apply.

Around general relationship building (check-ins, story-telling, hot topics)
Around prayer
Around religious/theological reflection
Other (please specify)
7. What are some of your challenges as a trans/gender/non-conforming person in ordained ministry?

Please check all that apply.

Institutional Policies
Ignorance among persons in authority
Ignorance among ministry peers
Ignorance among parishioners (or similar)
Isolation
Job (in)security
Too visible
Too invisible
Managing my gender transition in ministry
Concerns about how my identity will affect employment/ordination opportunities
Other (please specify)
8.Are you visible as a trans/gender/non-conforming person in ordained ministry? Yes
No
In some ways
Other (please specify):
9.How isolated do you feel as a trans/gender/non-conforming person? Very isolated
Somewhat isolated
A little isolated
Not isolated at all
Other (please specify):
10.Would you like to participate in a clergy support network for trans/gender/non-conforming folks? Yes
No
Other (please specify):
11.How big of a concern is confidentiality for you in considering participation? Major concern
Minor concern
Not a concern
Other (please specify):
12.Would you like to help organize a clergy support network Yes
No, but I would solicit resources from my seminary, denomination, etc, to make it happen
No, but let me know when it exists
Other (please specify):
13.Who are you?

Optional.

14.How can we contact you?

Optional.

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