T witter ChurchGrowthRD Email kevinnorrischurchofenglandorg Journeying from Anecdote to Evidence to Action Update on the Church growth research programme ID: 627684
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Web:
www.churchgrowthRD.org.uk Twitter: @ChurchGrowthRD Email: kevin.norris@churchofengland.org
Journeying from Anecdote to Evidence to Action: - Update on the Church growth research programme
Resource Strategy & Development Unit – National Church Institutions
Faith in Research Conference
4
th
June 2014Slide2
www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk @
ChurchGrowthRD
Moving From
Anecdote to Evidence
Overview
How far has the research taken us on the journey from anecdote to evidence?
A quick re-cap of some of the headline findings
Next steps – From Evidence to Action
And to more evidence…
Some early examples of actionSlide3
www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk @
ChurchGrowthRD
Moving From
Anecdote to Evidence
The
Programme
18 month multi-method study of the factors relating to church growth
First major in-depth study in the context of the Church of England
Inevitably it does not provide all of the ‘answers’ or a formula for growth though it does increase the evidence base.
Our aspiration: ‘anecdote’ to evidence’Slide4
www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk
@ChurchGrowthRD #FiRChurchGrowth
Moving From
Anecdote to Evidence
What has (and has not) been achieved?
Improved data sets
Increased understanding of factors associated with growth and decline.
The challenge of establishing ‘causation’
A basis for further research and reflectionSlide5
A quick re-cap of the key findingsSlide6
Factors
Associated
with growth
Slide7
Slide8
N
ext steps
Further reflection on th
e findings
Communication
of the
findings
More
research to build on areas where associations have been found
Production and publication of
‘From Evidence to Action’
Engagement with diocesan senior leadership
teams Slide9
From Evidence to Action
Guide / tool kit to help parishes reflect on the research findings and to use them to inform their mission planning
Not prescriptive – questions to open up discussion
Links to resources
Web based material including videos, sermon and bible study resources.
To be carefully piloted in a range of contextsSlide10
Further research - amalgamations
Further statistical work on the impact of amalgamations (
Revd
Dr
Fiona
Tweedie
)
Making use of improved data sets and further statistical techniques
Exploring in more details the effect of geography, clergy and diocesan resource.
Initial report by the end of the
summer
Features of growing amalgamated benefices?
Alternative approaches?Slide11
Further research – Fresh expressions of Church
Undertaken by the Church Army’s research unit
Extend the analysis of the sum and dynamics of Fresh Expressions to a further 10 dioceses.
Revisit some of the dioceses surveyed in the first wave
Congregational profiling of
FxC’s
, church plants & parish churches
2 year studySlide12
Some examples of how the research has been used
Diocese of Liverpool: growth factors inform MDR’s and Archdeacons visitations
Guildford – Diocesan Synod reflecting on the findings
From a Diocesan
Missioner
::
‘The
research hasn’t changed too much in what we are saying, but it has made a huge difference to the willingness people have to hear.
I have seen more commitment to radical change in the last 4 weeks than in the previous 12 months…’ Slide13
www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk
Resource Strategy & Development Unit – National Church Institutions
13
.