For this project, you are asked to answer demographic questions, questions about your experience, and perceptions of needs. Your responses will be kept confidential.



Purpose of Research

The BMATenpoint is conducting a study to discern the needs of the Black Church in the Greater Boston Area. The results of this study are intended to provide insight into the needs of the Black Community. This research is being conducted to fulfill Phase II of the three-part project: brainstorming, prioritization, and implementation of the Black Church Agenda. The anonymized demographic information and datasets will be used for this and future projects, potentially including research projects.

Procedures
If you choose to participate in this project, you will be asked to complete this pre-session survey and the prioritization session. This pre-session survey should take you around five to ten minutes to complete. The subsequent prioritization session will take one hour to complete. In the pre-session survey, you will answer a demographics questionnaire about your identity, including gender, age, ethnicity, geographical location, leadership level, congregation size, generation group, and ministry focus. In the prioritization session, you will be asked about your priorities in a regimented protocol with four to six of your peers.

Confidentiality 

All data will be collected to protect anonymity and confidentiality. In this pre-session survey, we will ask for your email, which will be linked with a response ID and used for registration correspondence. However, we will not store identifying information, such as your name or computer/device information. All reports from this project will be presented as aggregate results. All data will be downloaded from the pre-session survey into a password-protected spreadsheet on a set of password-protected laptops. The laptops are password-protected and stored in my locked residence. All electronic data and surveys will be kept secure for seven years in accordance with APA guidelines for the retention of data. After this time, the electronic files will be deleted from the laptop. 

Compensation

There is no compensation for this project.

Your Rights as a Participant

There is no cost to you for participating in the project. Your responses are kept confidential. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw from the project at any time without consequence. Your participation or decision not to participate is confidential. Your decision regarding participation does not affect any mental health services you may be receiving or your standing with any organization. Thank you for your participation.

Benefits

A potential benefit of this project is that it may improve our understanding of community needs. 

Risks or foreseeable discomforts to you as a participant

This project poses minimal risk to you due to questions about your perceptions or during conversations. You may withdraw from the project anytime if you are uncomfortable with the question or session. 

Opportunity for Questions

Further questions about this project could be directed to the Rev. David Wright, Esq., Executive Director at BMATenpoint, at dwright@bmatenpoint.org, or Rev. Dr. Kara Dunn, consultant of this project can be contacted at kdunn@apogeevision.com. 

Rev. David Wright, Esq., Executive Director, BMATenpoint

Rev. Dr. Kara Dunn, PhD, Consultant, ApogeeVision LLC