LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA INC STATISTICAL RETURN WORKBOOK

Transcription

1 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA INC STATISTICAL RETURN WORKBOOK Your Statistical Form and Safe Place Policy Compliance Checklist for the year ending 31 st December should be completed and submitted by 28 th February of the following year. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Congregations can enter their statistics and safe place policy compliance checklists online via the Internet using the LAMP system. Data entered goes directly into the LCA secure national database. Wherever possible, all congregations are required to enter their information using the online form. This eliminates the need for re-keying of data by LCA & district offices and statisticians and ensures that information is as accurate as possible. To access the online statistics form, go to the Edit page in LAMP for your congregation. Hover your mouse over Congregation Details and click on Stats & Publications Under Statistics, click on add to start a new form or edit alongside the year of the form you would like to update. When you begin a new form select the year for which the statistics are being provided (the year finishing December 31 st ). Click on on the form for notes about the information required. Many fields will only accept numbers. No other characters ($ +, space words etc) can be entered. The field will show RED if information has not been entered correctly Note that the following fields ARE REQUIRED to be completed before the completed form can be submitted Total Attendance at Worship Services Number of Baptised Members Number of confirmed members Number of communing members who are aged 18 years or over Number of gains from baptism of children of existing members Local and Parish Offerings 8.1 to Name and contact details for the person responsible for completing this return If you have any questions about the form, please contact either your district s statistician or the LCA National Office. As has always been the case, the statistics form has a congregational basis and so a separate form must be completed for each congregation. Wherever possible, a separate form should also StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 1 of 7

2 be completed for each worship centre (preaching place, worshipping group in a multi-point congregation or a group which worships in a language other than English as part of a congregation). You should ensure that numbers of people, groups, offerings, expenditure etc is only included once. If a congregation/preaching place has closed during the year, please supply details for the part of the year for which the centre was operational. If you, the Pastor, are preparing to move to another parish, please ensure that a responsible person in the congregation/parish is asked to complete the forms. Last but not least! Please note the resolution from a General Convention which asked congregations which were closing to send their minute books, church records, and historical and archival material to the LCA Archives. SUGGESTED STEPS IN USING THE ON-LINE FORM 1. Print out this workbook. 2. Using a pen or pencil, enter your statistical information into the workbook. 3. Open the on-line statistics form. 4. Enter data into the online form. Different people can do this over a number of sessions if you wish. You may like to delegate different people to complete different sections. After each session make sure that you click the Save button to save your changes before closing the session. 5. When all of the information has been entered, click on the Submit Completed Form button. 6. You will always be able to view your statistical return online and might like to print or save a copy for your records. 7. Contact the LCA National Office if you would like a form to be deleted. CONTACT DETAILS NSW District Mr Leon Schoff Frogmore RMB 158A Walla Walla NSW 2659 Phone leon.schoff@harboursat.com.au Qld District Statistics Committee LCA QLD District Church Office PO Box 1535 Milton Qld 4064 Phone district@qld.lca.org.au Vic/Tas District Council for Ministry Support 755 Station St Box Hill Vic 3128 PO Box 642 Box Hill Vic 3128 Phone admin@vic.lca.org.au LCNZ Lutheran Church of New Zealand P O Box 7606, Wellington 6242 Phone lcnz@lutheran.org.nz SA/NT District Mr Paul Eckermann C/- SA District Church Office 137 Archer St North Adelaide SA 5006 Phone paul.eckermann@adelaide.edu.au WA District Mr Fred Kroeger 363 Coode St Dianella WA 6059 Phone fkroeger@iinet.net.au LCA National Office Mrs Val Schild LCA National Office 197 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006 Phone admin@lca.org.au StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 2 of 7

3 NAME OF CONGREGATION/WORSHIP CENTRE... STATISTICAL RETURN FOR YEAR ENDED 31 st DECEMBER... DATE SUBMITTED PASTORAL ACTS Number of children baptised Number of adults baptised 1.2 Number of children receiving first communion prior to confirmation Number of children confirmed Number of adults confirmed Number of funerals of children Number of funerals of adults 1.5 Number of marriage ceremonies 2. WORSHIP 2.1 Number of worship services held 2.2 Total attendance at these worship services 2.3 Number of holy communion services 2.4 Total attendance at holy communion at all these services 2.5 Total attendance at private communions 2.6 Number of worship services conducted as extension of congregation s ministry 3 MEMBERSHIP 3.1 Number of children and adults who are baptised members 3.2 Number of confirmed members 3.3 Number of members who communed at least twice in the past year 3.4 Number of communing members who are aged 18 years or over 3.5 Number of people who hold guest membership 3.6 Number of people not on membership list with whom the congregation has direct contact 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, Include all acts performed under the auspices of the congregation. Do not include members of the congregation who were baptised, confirmed, buried/cremated or married under the auspices of another congregation or church institution [eg confirmation at college]. Treat all people under 18 years as children. 1.5 Give number of marriage ceremonies performed. 2.1 The total number of public worship services held in and for the congregation. This includes preaching [with and without holy communion] and lay-reading services. 2.2 Includes weekday services, eg Lenten services. 2.3 The number of celebrations of holy communion at public services. Do not include private communions. 2.5 Communion to invalids, aged, house-bound. 2.6 Include services conducted in such localities as hospitals, schools, rest homes & camps. 3.1 All baptised children and adults who are on the membership list of the congregation. 3.2 All confirmed persons who are on the membership list of the congregation. 3.3 All members who have communed at least twice per year. 3.4 This is the figure used to determine LCA levy payments. 3.5 Persons from other congregations who hold guest membership in this congregation. Guest members are not to be included in the figures for baptised and confirmed membership. 3.6 Include all adults and children, whether baptised or not, for whom the congregation assumes reponsibility for spiritual ministrations, but who are not included on the membership list. StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 3 of 7

4 4 GAINS & LOSSES Baptised Membership Gain 4.1 Number of gains from baptism of children of existing members 4.2 Number of gains from transfers From other congregations within the LCA 4.3 Number of gains from transfers from Lutheran congregations outside the LCA 4.4 Number of gains from reinstatement of former Lutherans 4.5 Number of gains by reception of other Christians 4.6 Number of gains by reception of formerly unchurched people 4.7 Total gain in membership in the past year Baptised Membership Loss 4.8 Number of losses through death 4.9 Number of losses by transfer to other Lutheran congregations 4.10 Number of losses by transfer to other Lutheran congregations outside the LCA 4.11 Number of losses by people joining other Christian denominations 4.12 Number of losses by people who have lapsed in membership 4.13 Total loss in membership in the past year 5 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE 5.1 Children s ministry connected with worship services Does your congregation have a children s ministry connected with your worship services? Yes No If yes, show the number of teachers Number of assistants Number of Lutheran children Number of non-lutheran children 4.1 Include all children gained by baptism -whether they were baptised by the local pastor or by a visiting pastor. 4.2 All persons received by transfer from another congregation of the LCA. 4.3 All Lutherans received by transfer from a Lutheran congregation which is not a member of the LCA. 4.4 All former Lutherans who are returning to membership or those who had lapsed and have renewed membership. 4.5 and 4.6 All who have joined the congregation from the indicated sources. A course of instruction, followed by baptism/confirmation, will probably have preceded reception. 4.7 Total the above categories 4.8 Members of the congregation who have died during the year. 4.9 and 4.10 Similar situations to 4.3 and 4.4 above Those who have joined other Christian denominations Those who have left the church but have not joined other Christian denominations or who have not been able to be traced Total the above categories 5.1 Give the total number of teachers [even if a roster system is involved]. Ditto for assistants. Give the number of pupils on the roll. If unknown, give an estimate. Identify Lutheran and non-lutheran. StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 4 of 7

5 5.2 Children s ministry held at other times during the week Does your congregation have a children s ministry held at other times during the week Yes No If yes, show the number of teachers Number of assistants Number of Lutheran children Number of non-lutheran children 5.3 Holiday Bible School Does your congregation have a Holiday Bible School? Yes No If yes, show the number of teachers Number of assistants Number of Lutheran children Number of non-lutheran children Enrolled 5.4 Confirmation Instruction Give the number of children instructed in confirmation 5.5 Youth Groups Does your congregation have a youth If yes, is this part of a parish or multi-parish Number of Lutheran members of Number of non-lutheran members of Does your congregation have a junior youth If yes, is this part of a parish or multi-parish Number of Lutheran members of Number of non-lutheran members Of 5.3 Include all short-term Holiday Bible Schools. 5.4 Give total number of children instructed. 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9. Give total membership numbers rather than attendance StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 5 of 7

6 5.7 Women s Group Does your congregation have a women s If yes, is this part of a parish or multi-parish Number of Lutheran members of Number of non-lutheran members of 5.8 Men s Group Does your congregation have a men s If yes, is this part of a parish or multi-parish Number of Lutheran members of Number of non-lutheran members of 5.9 Small Groups (excluding administration groups) Names of your Small Groups (eg Friendship Groups, Cell Groups, Bible Study Groups)... Groups which meet regularly for Bible study, mutual care, fellowship Number of Small Groups Number of Lutheran members in Small Groups Number of non-lutheran members In Small Groups 5.10 Other Groups Name of Group Number of Lutheran members of this group Number of non-lutheran members of this group Name of Group Number of Lutheran members of this group Number of non-lutheran members of this group Name of Group Number of Lutheran members of this group Number of non-lutheran members of this group StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 6 of 7

7 6. FINANCE Income 6.1 Local and parish offerings $ Specific donations $ Other (not included above) $ Total Income $ Expenditure 6.5 Work in congregation/parish $ Synodical budget $ Synodically approved appeals $ Other (not included above) $ Total expenditure $ OTHER INFORMATION 8. CONTACT PERSON 8.1 Title First Name. 8.3 Surname. 8.4 Daytime Phone Use figures for past year (either calendar or financial year) 6.1 Include all money received from members of the congregation for the work of the congregation or parish. Do not include income for capital purposes, borrowings, rentals, and church periodical subscriptions. 6.2 Include donations towards capital projects in the congregation/parish. 6.6 Money forwarded to the District Treasurer for District Budget. 6.7 Money contributed to both District and General Church appeals. 7. Provide information about special events, including ordinations, installations, foundation stone layings, dedications, closures, anniversaries, conventions, broadcasts, telecasts. 8 Provide the name and contact details for the person responsible for completing this statistical return StatisticsWorkbook.pdf - Page 7 of 7