April 9, 2002

Old church is new - church statistics show

The Uniting Church in Australia is getting older. About 56 per cent of its members are now over the age of 60, and those aged 70-plus make up more than a third of the church's numbers.

But statistics emerging from last year's National Church Life Survey (NCLS)

of 435,000 church attenders in 19 denominations also shows that older people are the key to a Uniting Church strength, that the church does attract new people, and that about two-thirds of its members believe their congregation is ready to try something new.

The Uniting Church relies quite heavily on its older members for an important part of its image - as a church which serves the wider community. "That's part of the Uniting Church's ethos and reputation, but it's also because of this church's older age profile - they [older people] are the ones doing the community service," says NCLS research team member Dr Ruth Powell.

"Church attenders make a highly significant contribution to the wider community," says a team report. "The size of this volunteer workforce is huge, with thousands of people making a regular commitment of time and energy"

The survey reveals that 42 per cent of Uniting church attenders are involved in community-based social service groups or activities.

The survey also reveals that more than one in every seven (15 per cent)

Uniting Church people are new to this church in the last five years. About seven per cent are newcomers who were not attending any church before joining their Uniting Church congregation during that period, while eight per cent switched from a congregation of another denomination.

When it comes to talking about faith and inviting new people, many Uniting Church attenders apparently feel at ease. About 59 per cent said they would talk about faith if the chance came about, or they would seek opportunities to do so. And 37 per cent said they would be willing to invite a new person to church, and had done so in the preceding year.

"One thing that excites me [about the Uniting Church] is that members are above average in their openness to new possibilities," says Dr Powell.

With a biblical analogy, that new wine should not be poured into old wineskins, Dr Powell said, "Seeking to relate to the wider Australian community will involve taking some risks in trying something new."

While most of those young people who did attend the Uniting Church were satisfied with what it offered its young people, the church doesn't attract many young people to find out whether or not it's of interest to them. Less than one in every ten Uniting Church attenders is aged between 15 and 29, whereas people in this age bracket make up more than a quarter of the general Australian population.

The NCLS team has defined four key areas (and 12 core qualities) in a church's "Connections for life": faith and worship, life together, community connections, and vision and purpose.

Congregations that took part in the 2001 National Church Life Survey will receive their results in the Connections for Life kit in late April/early May.

NCLS identifies vital qualities

Congregations that took part in the 2001 National Church Life Survey will receive their results in the Connections for Life kit in late April/early May.

>From initial impressions NCLS has identified core qualities to foster in

vital and healthy churches.

Preliminary denominational statistics give an opportunity for Uniting churches to evaluate their life and mission, identify key priorities for the future and to develop a clearer sense of purpose and call.

Previous NCLS research shows that thousands of Australian churches display inter-related qualities that are essential to effectiveness and health. These and other core qualities are discussed here, and can be organised within four dimensions: Faith and Worship, Our Life Together, Community Connections and Vision and Purpose.

Faith and Worship

Core Quality 1: An alive and growing faith Faith in God is foundational to our church experience. Churches seek to nurture faith through various church-based activities and through opportunities for service. How are church attenders responding to this?

The majority of Uniting attenders (86%) have experienced at least some growth in faith over the past year. Some 39% of Uniting attenders have experienced much growth in faith, including 23% attributing their growth to their congregation or parish. The age of attenders makes very little difference to whether attenders feel they are growing in their faith.

Core Quality 2: Vital and nurturing worship

Worship services are central to our life together and important to our Christian growth. They are also a major factor in drawing people into church life or turning them away. Churches need to offer their rich heritage of worship practice in ways that can engage people of diverse ages, cultures and lifestyles. What is the usual experience that attenders have of church services?

The NCLS asked Uniting attenders about a range of possible outcomes from worship services. The majority (68%) usually experience a sense of God's presence as part of attending church. Growth in understanding of God and a feeling of joy or inspiration are also usually experienced by most attenders. Those in the youngest age bracket are the most likely to feel bored at church services.

There is a generational gulf that exists between the music and worship style preferences of older and younger church attenders. Younger attenders are much more likely to prefer contemporary styles of worship than older attenders.

Our Life Together

Core Quality 3: Growth in belonging and involvement Growth in faith among attenders and a sense of belonging to a Christian community are intimately connected. Churches can function as spiritual families where members experience friendship, share life, struggles and hopes and contribute their gifts. Most Uniting attenders (90%) say they have a strong sense of belonging to their congregation or parish. On the other hand, 9% of attenders do not feel they belong.

Core Quality 4: An active concern for those on the fringe of church life

It is generally agreed that newcomers to church need to be warmly welcomed. Many churches now have formal procedures for the follow-up and integration of new arrivals. Some 43% of Uniting attenders indicated that they always or mostly are involved in making new arrivals feel welcome. Not all new arrivals have the same needs, but the importance of forming relationships cannot be overstated.

Core Quality 5: Care for young people

Children, youth and young adults need space and a safe environment in which to explore and discover their own faith and identity. Churches can provide this, helping them feel that they belong and that, as their needs and interests change, there are opportunities for them to contribute to and shape what is happening. Satisfaction with what is provided for young people is important for parents as well.

Among 15-18 year olds in Uniting churches, however, only 26% are very satisfied and 40% are satisfied with what is offered for youth by their church, while 18% indicated that they are dissatisfied. Young adults (19 to 25 years) are even less satisfied than youth, with only 15% of young adults being very satisfied with what is offered for them by their church and 35% being satisfied. A further 25% indicate that they are dissatisfied.

This is a critical area for reflection by the churches as the teens and 20s are key times at which people choose to leave church life.

Community Connections

Core Quality 6: A focus beyond ourselves

NCLS research suggests that churches that are missional, focussed beyond themselves and their own needs, tend to be more effective.

The research has found that those aspects of church life that are most valued by attenders are among the most important indicators of how outwardly focussed churches are. Aspects of church life associated with church services, such as the Eucharist, the preaching or the style of worship, are among the most valued aspects. By comparison, more externally focussed aspects such as wider community care (16%) and reaching the unchurched (10%)

are valued by smaller proportions of Uniting attenders. However, it should be noted that across the denominations, the Salvation Army (20%) and Uniting Church.(16%) are most likely to value the wider community care aspects of their church involvement. These denominations are both well known for the contribution they make in this area.

Core Quality 7: Serving the wider community

An outward focus is often worked out in community service activities that reflect Jesus' exhortation that we "love our neighbour as ourselves". The many forms of outreach and care provided by individuals and church groups in turn may transform the church community and its life of faith.

Some two thirds (66%) of Uniting attenders are involved in social service groups or activities: attenders over 60 years of age are more likely to be involved than younger attenders. Such activities here include community service, social justice or welfare activities. The Uniting Church has the largest number of people involved in community-based social service groups and activities (42%) followed by the Anglican Church (36%) and the Presbyterian Church (32%).

Core Quality 8: Discussing faith and inviting others to church

NCLS research has highlighted the importance of attenders feeling comfortable talking about issues of faith with others and willing to invite others to church to hear the 'good news' and experience the reality of Christian community. So how do Uniting attenders feel about these activities?

Around 59% of Uniting attenders say they are willing to share their faith with others; this is a lower proportion than other denominations. Some 37% say that they would be prepared to invite someone and had done so in the past year. The most common reason given by all attenders in the NCLS for not inviting someone was that 'Those I could invite may not be interested' (23%).

Core Quality 9: Integrating newcomers

In NCLS research, a 'newcomer' to church life is someone who prior to joining their congregation was not regularly involved in a congregation elsewhere. In terms of the New Testament mandate to make disciples, it is important that the churches successfully bring to faith and encourage such newcomers into church life.

How effective have Uniting churches been in attracting newcomers to church life? Of all Uniting church attenders, 7% are newcomers joining their congregation or parish in the last five years and not previously attending anywhere. While this is a significant proportion, such newcomers comprise only some of numerical attendance growth experienced by churches; people moving between congregations continues to be the main source of such growth for many congregations. Vision and Purpose

Core Quality 10: A clear, owned vision for the future

Vital churches spend time discerning a clear vision for the future to which all can contribute and own. This vision inspires and guides the growth of the community of faith.

However, only 28% of Uniting attenders say that they are strongly committed to the vision of their church. Many Uniting attenders (43%) say they are not aware of a vision. This situation provides a significant challenge for church leaders as they seek to work with their churches in moving ahead in ministry and mission.

Core Quality 11: Openness to new possibilities

Discerning their vision for the future may lead churches into uncharted waters. Churches need to be willing to take new initiatives and risks for the sake of making connections between the gospel and the contemporary world. Previous NCLS research among Anglicans and Protestants suggests that new congregations and new services designed to reach outsiders are showing some of the strongest signs of vitality.

A higher than average proportion of Uniting attenders (64%) agreed that their parish or congregation is always ready to try something new. Some 25% are neutral or unsure and 11% disagreed.

Core Quality 12: Empowering and inspiring leadership

A church that is moving forward is likely to have leaders who inspire people to action while, at the same time, empowering attenders to develop and use their gifts and skills. A priest, minister, pastor or senior leader will be working in harmony with a range of others both employed and volunteer; they will be growing in their own faith and modelling an outward focus in their priorities.

There are many congregations where leaders are successfully holding all these priorities. Around half (54%) of all Uniting attenders saw their leader as best described as "inspiring people to action". Some 79% of Uniting attenders say that their senior leader takes attenders' ideas into account at least to some extent. Also 66% say that their leaders put a priority on attenders discovering their gifts and skills, at least to some extent.

* * *

NCLS 2001 creates an opportunity for churches to reflect on and strengthen their connections with God, with each other and with the community. These initial impressions suggest that many Uniting churches need to continue to work at caring for the young, focussing on the fringes of church life and beyond, and developing clear directions for the future.

This profile of the Uniting Church also shows that there are solid foundations to build on. Most Uniting attenders have experienced at least some growth in faith in the past year and usually experience a sense of God's presence as part of attending church. Most also say they have a strong sense of belonging to their congregation or parish. Thousands of Uniting attenders also make a highly significant contribution to the wider community. Finally, it is encouraging that so many are willing to consider new possibilities and have already begun to move purposefully toward the future.

Background information

About the 2001 National Church Life Survey: Around 435,000 attenders from over 7000 parishes and congregations took part in the 2001 National Church Life Survey. Altogether 19 denominations took part. These denominations represent more than 80% of regular church attenders in Australia.

Results for congregations and parishes - the Connections For Life package: In April and May 2002, participating congregations and parishes will receive their own unique data about each of these 12 core qualities, in the 'Connections for Life' statistical profile. They will also receive other statistical data and information designed to assist them to identify key priorities for the future.

NCLS RESEARCH is a research agency that seeks to assist churches to move forward in mission and ministry in Australia, and to encourage the wider community to reflect upon its spiritual journey and the churches' place within it. It is a partnership between the Uniting Church Board of Mission, ANGLICARE (NSW), and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

For more information: http://www.ncls.org.au