Conntion Why churches are growing
GROWTH IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH A REPORT BASED ON NEW FACTS ON EPISCOPAL CHURCH GROWTH AND DECLINE
WHO’S GROWING? Churches in the south (23%) and west (27%) ! New suburbs (48%) ! Congregations started in 1996- 2009 (54%) ! Asian, Hispanic, Native American or MultiNational (43%) ! Congregations in which 50% or more of the membership is 50 or younger !
CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWING CHURCHES !
Churches that are clear about why they exist and what they should be doing are most likely to be growing
!
Conversely, without a clear purpose, congregations often resemble inward-looking clubs or clans where fellowship among friends is the primary reason for being.
VISION AND ITS IMPACT ON GROWTH
Of Growing Churches “Our Congregation Has A Clear Mission And Purpose” Describes Them Well
35%
18%
12% 8%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Unsure
Disagree
Of Growing Congregations, How well does ‘has a clear vision for the congregation’ describe your priest? 30%
22%
8%
Slightly or not at all
9%
Describes somewhat
Describes quite well
Describes very well
WORSHIP AND IMPACT ON GROWTH
Vibrant and Engaging Worship 30%
24%
7%
Not at All/ Slightly
8%
Somewhat
Quite Well
Very Well
How well does ‘it is reverent’ describe your worship service
36%
25% 19% 17%
Slightly to Not at All
Somewhat
Quite Well
Very Well
Number of Weekly Services
38%
26% 23%
15%
1 or Fewer
2
3
4 or more
Involvement of Children in the Weekly Service 28%
27%
18% 14% 11%
Never
Seldom Sometimes Often
Always
N
o
ng
N
or
Bi
gu
y R 2
2
rv i
ce
es
ce
ic
rv
se
se
vi
ite
er
ls
al
al
ca
ic
lin
ty p
n-
pi
-ty
O nl
ite
O ne
R
ite
d
R
an
or
1
er
ite
on
R
ay
Pr
no
h
lis
e
or
m
-E
or
on
Tw
ng
O ne
ni
or
M
Style of Weekly service and impact on growth 70%
30% 32%
19%
15%
6%
Coffee Hour and Growth 30% 27%
9% 7%
No Coffee Hour
Typical Coffee Hour
Vibrant Coffee Hour
Chaotic Coffee Hour
LEADERSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON GROWTH
Rotation of Lay Leadership and Growth
36%
20%
10%
Same People Serve
Some Rotation
A lot of rotation
pp
or
ip
Le
ad
er
e
rtTi m
e
l-T im
e
st s
st s
Ti m
rt-
Pr ie
Pr ie
Fu l
Pa
W or sh
lo
lo
le
Pa
tip
le
So
tip
So
ul
ul
e
l-T im
M
Fu l
M
le
ly
tip
28%
Su
ul
M
Number of Clergy and Decline 79%
61%
37%
32%
14%
CONFLICT AND CHURCH GROWTH
CONFLICT AND CHANGE IN THE PAST 4 YEARS
No conflict– 65% flat or growing ! Minor conflict– 61% flat or growing ! One area of serious conflict– 48% flat or growing ! 2-3 areas of serious conflict– 41% flat or growing ! 4+ areas of serious conflict– 38% flat or growing
!
OTHER FACTORS IMPACTING CHURCH GROWTH
Congregations in which the laity are involved in Inviting New Members and Growth 39%
40%
21%
8%
Not at All
10%
A Little
Some
Quite a Bit
A Lot
o
W ar
to
to
to
tip
le
ts
Ef fo r
t
t
ta c
t
ta c
t
ta c
Ef fo r
on
on
on
e
C
C
C
So m
ul
d
/M
an
g
g
ts
Ef fo r
Ef fo rts
ts
Ef fo r
et in
et in
e
m
G re
G re
m
m
o
al
im
So
in
/N
rs
M
ito
Vi s
W ar
N
Reaching Out to Visitors and Growth
33%
29%
19%
16%
4%
Use of Technology and Social Media and Growth
36%
23% 19% 15% 12% 7%
1 or None
2
3
4
5
6+
on
M th l y+
/L
At
s
es
Le
n
1/
kl
y
k
y
W ee
tW ee
as
Th a
th l
r
w
Ye a
Fe
er
ev
on
A
M
510
A
N
Church Held Events and Growth 47%
30%
25%
19%
10%
4%
TAKEAWAYS !
! ! ! ! !
Have a vision that applies to each member of the church Be willing to change and try new things Focus on opportunities that create community Provide opportunities for others to serve Connect with the world outside your walls Invite
24
RESOURCES TO EXPLORE http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/studying-your-congregation-and-community New FACTS on Episcopal Church Growth and Decline, C. Kirk Hadaway Studying Congregations , edited by Nancy Ammerman and others Facts on Worship: 2010, Marjorie H. Royle www.faithcommunitiestoday.org
25
WHO’S GROWING? Churches in the south (23%) and west (27%) ! New suburbs (48%) ! Congregations started in 1996- 2009 (54%) ! Asian, Hispanic, Native American or MultiNational (43%) ! Congregations in which 50% or more of the membership is 50 or younger !
CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWING CHURCHES !
Churches that are clear about why they exist and what they should be doing are most likely to be growing
!
Conversely, without a clear purpose, congregations often resemble inward-looking clubs or clans where fellowship among friends is the primary reason for being.
VISION AND ITS IMPACT ON GROWTH
Of Growing Churches “Our Congregation Has A Clear Mission And Purpose” Describes Them Well
35%
18%
12% 8%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Unsure
Disagree
Of Growing Congregations, How well does ‘has a clear vision for the congregation’ describe your priest? 30%
22%
8%
Slightly or not at all
9%
Describes somewhat
Describes quite well
Describes very well
WORSHIP AND IMPACT ON GROWTH
Vibrant and Engaging Worship 30%
24%
7%
Not at All/ Slightly
8%
Somewhat
Quite Well
Very Well
How well does ‘it is reverent’ describe your worship service
36%
25% 19% 17%
Slightly to Not at All
Somewhat
Quite Well
Very Well
Number of Weekly Services
38%
26% 23%
15%
1 or Fewer
2
3
4 or more
Involvement of Children in the Weekly Service 28%
27%
18% 14% 11%
Never
Seldom Sometimes Often
Always
N
o
ng
N
or
Bi
gu
y R 2
2
rv i
ce
es
ce
ic
rv
se
se
vi
ite
er
ls
al
al
ca
ic
lin
ty p
n-
pi
-ty
O nl
ite
O ne
R
ite
d
R
an
or
1
er
ite
on
R
ay
Pr
no
h
lis
e
or
m
-E
or
on
Tw
ng
O ne
ni
or
M
Style of Weekly service and impact on growth 70%
30% 32%
19%
15%
6%
Coffee Hour and Growth 30% 27%
9% 7%
No Coffee Hour
Typical Coffee Hour
Vibrant Coffee Hour
Chaotic Coffee Hour
LEADERSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON GROWTH
Rotation of Lay Leadership and Growth
36%
20%
10%
Same People Serve
Some Rotation
A lot of rotation
pp
or
ip
Le
ad
er
e
rtTi m
e
l-T im
e
st s
st s
Ti m
rt-
Pr ie
Pr ie
Fu l
Pa
W or sh
lo
lo
le
Pa
tip
le
So
tip
So
ul
ul
e
l-T im
M
Fu l
M
le
ly
tip
28%
Su
ul
M
Number of Clergy and Decline 79%
61%
37%
32%
14%
CONFLICT AND CHURCH GROWTH
CONFLICT AND CHANGE IN THE PAST 4 YEARS
No conflict– 65% flat or growing ! Minor conflict– 61% flat or growing ! One area of serious conflict– 48% flat or growing ! 2-3 areas of serious conflict– 41% flat or growing ! 4+ areas of serious conflict– 38% flat or growing
!
OTHER FACTORS IMPACTING CHURCH GROWTH
Congregations in which the laity are involved in Inviting New Members and Growth 39%
40%
21%
8%
Not at All
10%
A Little
Some
Quite a Bit
A Lot
o
W ar
to
to
to
tip
le
ts
Ef fo r
t
t
ta c
t
ta c
t
ta c
Ef fo r
on
on
on
e
C
C
C
So m
ul
d
/M
an
g
g
ts
Ef fo r
Ef fo rts
ts
Ef fo r
et in
et in
e
m
G re
G re
m
m
o
al
im
So
in
/N
rs
M
ito
Vi s
W ar
N
Reaching Out to Visitors and Growth
33%
29%
19%
16%
4%
Use of Technology and Social Media and Growth
36%
23% 19% 15% 12% 7%
1 or None
2
3
4
5
6+
on
M th l y+
/L
At
s
es
Le
n
1/
kl
y
k
y
W ee
tW ee
as
Th a
th l
r
w
Ye a
Fe
er
ev
on
A
M
510
A
N
Church Held Events and Growth 47%
30%
25%
19%
10%
4%
TAKEAWAYS !
! ! ! ! !
Have a vision that applies to each member of the church Be willing to change and try new things Focus on opportunities that create community Provide opportunities for others to serve Connect with the world outside your walls Invite
24
RESOURCES TO EXPLORE http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/studying-your-congregation-and-community New FACTS on Episcopal Church Growth and Decline, C. Kirk Hadaway Studying Congregations , edited by Nancy Ammerman and others Facts on Worship: 2010, Marjorie H. Royle www.faithcommunitiestoday.org
25
