A proposed outline of the 2016 National Church Life Survey.

A proposed outline of the 2016 National Church Life Survey. We invite your feedback. Every five years, since 1991, we have invited local Christian churches in Australia to take part in a National Church Life Survey. Each survey contributes to the most comprehensive view of church life in Australia and in the world. This document gives an outline of the 2016 NCLS and invites your feedback. October to November 2016 ~20 denominations and movements Thousands of churches Around six thousand church leaders Hundreds of thousands of church attenders Largest and longest running collaborative project on church life in the world Every five years, alongside National Census Previous NCLS: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 Every local church gets their own results & planning resources

"Over its 25 years of productive life, the NCLS has emerged as the world leader in connecting serious and well conducted empirical research with promoting the ministry and mission of the Church. NCLS holds its head high among fellow scientists within the academy and at the same time speaks the language from which the Churches can learn." The Revd Canon Professor Leslie J Francis, Professor of Religions and Education, Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, UK Your feedback? See back page for ways to share your thoughts

Local church leaders will gain a clearer picture of their people - not just their demographics, but their faith life, their commitment to the mission of their church, their Christian living, their hopes for their church. Local church leaders will gain insights into the leadership qualities churches need to draw on, and their own leadership strengths, as well as those of their leadership team. Leaders will see precisely the areas of church life that the congregation most values and the areas they would most like to see further developed. All of this will help leaders not only discern directions but the strategies necessary to move surely into those directions. The congregations will gain a clearer understanding of their strengths as a Christian community, on mission and caring for each other. The ministry groups will gain feedback on their own area of ministry. The church as a whole will be better equipped to hold meaningful discussions and set goals based on reality rather than surmise. The church will come to understand itself more clearly and be drawn to be a stronger Christian community. "We have surveyed the church every year for some time now as it provides invaluable insights as to whether the strategies we've adopted have been effective or not. The mission of the local church is too important to leave to 'hunches' and 'guesses' about effectiveness." Craig Corkill, Baptist Pastor Regional and denominational leadership will gain a clear oversight of the strengths and focus of its churches and the region as a whole. Regional and denominational leadership will be able to work more effectively with local churches. The survey results will help regional and denominational leadership to effectively allocate resources and resource particular programs. Denominational leaders can compare their denomination s results against Australian churches as a whole to clearly see the differences and the similarities. National church leaders, conferences and so on will have a quantitative evidence base to draw on for announcements and comments to the Australian public. The voice of Australian church attenders will be clearly heard through press releases, academic analysis of the findings, and the like. Myths about churches will be tested and challenged by the results, and the vibrancy of the mission of Jesus Christ through these churches will be once more affirmed to the wider community. The results will also show churches how they are changing over time in various areas of church life and allow comparisons with other nations.

Online Access to every participating church s Church Life Profile WHO GOES TO CHURCH Online access to each church s 28 page Church Life Profile report. Nominate a number of denominational leaders who have easy online access to all Profiles in the region. (With appropriate protocols depending on the organisational structure of each denomination or movement.) Denominational Church Life Profile: vitality and trends WHO GOES TO CHURCH A 28 page Church Life Profile showing the denomination s survey results, including: change over time demographics of attenders 9 core qualities of health optional Children s Survey results plus 3 attendance measures denominational comparison table. Regional Church Life Profile: vitality and trends WHO GOES TO CHURCH A 28 page Church Life Profile showing the region s survey results (i.e. Diocese, State, Territory, Conference etc.), including: change over time demographics of attenders 9 core qualities of health optional Children s Survey results plus denominational comparison table. Local Church Leaders Report: demographics and staffing A denominational or regional report showing an overview of leaders, ministers, pastors, priests and staff, including staff roles, length of time in ministry, team vs individual placements, multi-congregation placements, hours worked vs hours paid, age, gender, ethnicity and education. Research results are included illustrating leadership structures and church vitality. LEADERSHIP OPERATIONS/ SYSTEMS Local Church Activities Report: contribution to community A denominational or regional report of churches showing their activities in wider society and how they contribute to their local communities. This report synthesises a wide range of measures, particularly focussing on civic engagement. It charts church activities in terms of types of services: social welfare, social, recreational and education activities. It also outlines services for particular groups, such as children and youth programs, migrant services, support for people with disabilities, links with overseas countries etc. It also outlines environmental action by congregations, property-sharing arrangements, and contributions to local community wellbeing. CHURCH IN SOCIETY OPERATIONS/ SYSTEMS

WHO GOES TO CHURCH Youth, Newcomers or Multicultural Ministry Comparison reports for a particular group of people with time change. How do younger attenders experience and evaluate church compared to older? What do newcomers value and hope for at church compared with longer-term attenders? What attracts them? How do different cultural ministry models compare e.g. monoethnic or multiethnic? Qualities of Healthy Churches Research reports that outline the characteristics of healthy churches, including: Faith-filled churches Empowering use of gifts and skills Inspiring worship Innovation in church A place of belonging Serving wider society A clear vision for the future Sharing faith Including other people Thematic Reports Research reports on particular key themes of church life e.g.: Stewardship of people, skills, property and resources Discipleship/ spiritual formation Cultural relevance in a changing society Leadership Reports Research reports about effective and sustainable leadership practices of leaders, ministers, pastors, priests and staff, including: Spiritual foundations Integration Clarity of purpose Supportive relationships Sense of self Balance and boundaries WHO GOES TO CHURCH OPERATIONS/ SYSTEMS DRAFT IDEAS CHURCH IN SOCIETY LEADERSHIP OPERATIONS/ SYSTEMS COMMUNITY Social Demographics of Communities CHURCH IN SOCIETY Maps of your city or suburb showing where different groups of people live: e.g. New residents (Population growth corridors), Young families, Youth, Seniors, Unemployed, Multicultural Communities etc. Use these maps in combination with your Local Church Activities Report for specific target groups of people, to meet needs in different communities. Your Commissioned Questions A research report of results on your commissioned questions, covering your choice of topics. LEADERSHIP WHO GOES TO CHURCH OPERATIONS/ SYSTEMS CHURCH IN SOCIETY

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Attender Survey The main survey to be distributed to all church attenders 15 years and over. NB: Attender surveys are available in languages other than English. All church attenders aged 15 and over. Base rate per church/ parish + cost per survey form (costs tbc). Leader Survey A survey for leaders of the church e.g. minister, pastor, priest, ministry team leaders, elders, pastoral associates etc. Leaders in the local church. Included free with standard survey. Operations Survey A survey about the operations, activities and context of your church. Senior leader or church administrator. Included free with standard survey. Church Life Surveys Fit Surveys to Your Denomination s Needs ADD Other Languages ADD Children s Surveys Attender Survey + ADD your own Attender questions Attender Surveys are available in several languages. Other translations can be available depending on demand. Optional Children s Surveys for children aged 8 to 14 years. Ask your church attenders in your own denomination your own custom questions. English Chinese Arabic Dinka Italian Tongan Korean Vietnamese Leader Survey + ADD your own Leader Questions Ask your church leaders your own custom questions. Operations Survey + ADD your own Operations Questions Ask your church administrators your own custom questions. Your feedback? See back page for ways to share your thoughts

About Church Vitality Growth in faith Vital worship Sense of belonging Commitment to vision Culture of empowering leadership Faith-sharing Inclusion of those on margins New arrivals Young adult retention Church growth and decline Denominational and Wider Church Issues Multicultural issues in the church Interfaith relations Church governance Aboriginal and TSI ministries Church finances and property Conflict in churches Denominational issues Ecumenism Individual Spirituality/Religiosity Christian and other religious beliefs Christian and alternative spiritual practices Knowledge of Bible and Christian history Religious experiences Traits and States of Individuals Personal wellbeing Personality types Values and world views Church and Wider Community Views and actions of individuals, and church activities in relation to: Local community wellbeing Family issues, marriage, sexuality Global poverty and justice Environmental issues Other issues (e.g. migration, law and order, government spending) Politics (e.g. voting) Science and faith Use of media (including social media) Faith and work life Support of charities and missions Schools (e.g. church schools, religious education) Your feedback? See back page for ways to share your thoughts

Testing an Idea 1: Linking price to church size What if different bands pay varying base fees as well as fee per survey form? Very small Less than 25 Small 26 to 50 Medium 51 to 100 Large 101 to 500 Very large 500+ Testing an Idea 2:Churches take part in groups at reduced cost (tbc) In 2016, churches may be able to participate in the NCLS as clusters or groups. The group can be an existing group (e.g. a deanery or ministry district) or one set up only for the Survey. This may help very small churches take part. Cost: single base fee for whole group, plus fee per survey form. Results: One Church Life Pack with findings for the whole group. More detail also possible: We would offer the option to get individual Church Life Profiles for single churches or locations, at an extra cost Your feedback? See back page for ways to share your thoughts

NCLS Research activity Denominational/regional activity March - April 2015 May - July 2015 August 2015 Draft proposals and consultation Ballpark quotes Provide estimates of costs to denominations Provide draft church listings Inform Provide ongoing promotional material for use with local churches Consultation and Feedback Hear first ideas and provide input re needs and hopes of own churches No commitment needed at this stage Review ballpark quote and proposals Internal discussions Expression of interest to NCLS 1. Give indication of likely levels of involvement, without final commitment 2. Adjust ball park numbers 3. Give initial expression of interest in customising: a) Denominational Survey b) Denominational Results Profile Aug - Sep 2015 Finalise online ordering system Update church lists Sep - Dec 2015 Quote and formal proposal re participation in 2016 NCLS The formal proposal will confirm what churches can expect to receive following the 2016 NCLS Jan - Mar 2016 Complete design of all surveys Start to correct church lists Start to contact local churches seeking interest Indicate response to proposal Place survey orders Correct church lists Contact local churches seeking interest Denominations/local churches to place orders Place survey orders Denominations to contact local churches re participation Denominations/local churches to place orders April - June 2016 Layout surveys Deliver to printers Place survey orders Denominations to contact local churches re participation Denominations/local churches to place orders July - Sep 2016 Make up and dispatch Survey Packs Oct - Nov 2016 2016 NATIONAL CHURCH LIFE SURVEY PERIOD Oct 16 - Mar 2017 Mar 2017 Process surveys Complete dispatch of all local Church Life Packs including Church Life Profiles Orders close 2016 NATIONAL CHURCH LIFE SURVEY PERIOD Local churches return completed surveys to NCLS Start to work with local churches on processing results April - June 2017 Provide all Denominational and Regional Church Life Profiles Work with local churches and denominations on processing results

"Thanks to the team at NCLS Research, Australia wins the church research equivalent of the Ashes and Rugby World Cup year in and year out. Congregations benefit from participating, and the rest of us benefit from the time and effort that they commit. The people at NCLS are practical visionaries. Your mission is their mission; please help them to help the church." David Voas, Professor of Population Studies, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, England. Please use the 2016 NCLS Consultation Feedback form to indicate interest in pursuing any of these ideas and give your additional comments, or go to www.ncls.org.au/2016nclsfeedback. If you provide your email address, we will send you an online form to complete. Please send your feedback to NCLS Research info@ncls.org.au or PO Box 968 North Sydney NSW 2059 NCLS Research is sponsored by the Uniting Church Mission & Education (NSW & the ACT), ANGLICARE (Diocese of Sydney), the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Australian Catholic University. NCLS RESEARCH PO Box 968 North Sydney NSW 2059 P: 02 9701 4479 E: info@ncls.org.au W: www.ncls.org.au