Baptist Union of Australia

13 March 2006

Increasing numbers of newcomers and less people drifting out of congregations are positive signs for future growth in Baptist churches across Australia, says the movement's national leader Rev Dr Ross Clifford.

Figures released today [13/3/06] by the National Church Life Survey [NCLS]

reported a growth of 8% across Australian Baptist churches in the last five-year survey period [1996-2001], a marked increase on a 1% growth figure in the previous five-year period.

Newcomer growth - that is people who have joined the church in the past five years with no previous church background - rose to 9%, while people drifting out of congregations fell from 6% to 4%.

The NCLS report seeks to provide Australian churches with a comprehensive picture of church growth and decline, measuring inflows and outflows in congregational numbers.

The overall 8% Baptist growth - the second highest of all surveyed denominations - is well above the national average growth for all Protestant churches of 1%. The survey also highlighted that compared to many other traditions Baptist churches were doing well in holding on to youth and young adults in their congregations.

Commenting on the findings, Rev Dr Clifford, the President of the Baptist Union of Australia said the report was a source of both encouragement and challenge for Baptist leaders at a denominational and local church level.

"We are seeing some encouraging growth signs, as we begin to attract more newcomers to faith in Christ and into the life of the church and as we see a decline in the number of people walking away from our churches," Rev Dr Clifford said.

"The challenge is we can do a lot better. There is a generation of people in our nation who are searching after spiritual meaning in their lives and the Church needs to be engaging with them."

"These latest findings ought to spark a renewed commitment to mission in our churches. They again remind us of the urgent need to find creative entry points for the gospel in the marketplace."

The NCLS reported the Assemblies of God had the largest denominational growth in the 1996-2001 period of 20%, followed by the Baptist Churches and the Churches of Christ [7%]. Most other denominations reported declining figures. While the Assemblies of God newcomer growth rose to 14%, there was on the other side of the ledger a 16% drift-out rate.

Rev Dr Clifford said the report confirmed that churches that were doing better were those who were committed to the basics.

"It reminds us of the vital need to be biblically-based and outward-focused in all we do," he said.

The report also highlighted the continuing decline in denomination allegiance, with many church attenders changing denominations in the last survey period.

Another challenge the report highlighted included the ageing of congregations, particularly in mainstream denominations such as Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian and Baptist. This would lead to continuing decline, unless more newcomers were attracted to churches as the switching pool continues to shrink.