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Another year on!. The Past Year. Nationally the church still struggles for a voice in our society. Not helped by recent disagreements and continued bad media coverage, it is still seen as an archaic institution which is out of touch with ordinary people. But, despite the bad press... . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Another year on!
The Past Year
Nationally the church still struggles for a voice in our society. Not helped by recent disagreements and continued bad media coverage, it is still seen as an archaic institution which is out of touch with ordinary people.
But, despite the bad press...
A Christian presence in every community.
...We are still here!...
...But, we can’t be complacent about church growth!...
Since 1968 the number of people attending church on a Sunday has dropped by half to 800,000 people.
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130
102030405060708090
100
Average Sunday Attendance
Oakworth Parish Figures taken from CofEParish Statistics.
Inconsistent and perhaps unreliable?
Stable52%
De-cline25%
Grow-ing
23%
The State of National Church Growth
Growingchurches
Could begrowing churchesChurches which need
extra help
What makes churches grow?
What is the evidence?
What do we know about why some churches grow and some decline?
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
The survey results show a strong correlation between those clergy who prioritise numerical growth and those clergy whose churches grow in number.
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Churches that say they have a clear mission and purpose are far more likely to report growth.
Having a clear mission and purpose
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Vitality comes with reflection and choice; the particular style is less important than the fact it has been considered and embraced rather than adopted by default.
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Researchers describe successful churches with a ‘lets give it a go’ mentality. These churches try different initiatives as experiments – if they work they invest in them, if they don’t they drop them.
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Churches where volunteers are involved in leadership, and where roles are rotated regularly, is likely to be growing – especially where younger members and new members are included in lay leadership and service.
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Churches which offer programmes for children and teenagers are more likely to grow.
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and Teenagers
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Looking outwards is central to mission and many growing churches are those which engage with their local community
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and TeenagersActively engaging with those outside the church
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and TeenagersActively engaging with those outside the churchGood welcoming and follow up for visitors
The most direct route to growth comes from members inviting and welcoming family, friends and acquaintances.
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and TeenagersActively engaging with those outside the churchGood welcoming and follow up for visitors
Two thirds of churches which said they offered encouragement and support through specific discipleship courses or courses “preparing members to be a Christian witness in their daily lives” showed growth.
Committed to nurturing new and existing Christians
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and TeenagersActively engaging with those outside the churchGood welcoming and follow up for visitors
Growth is not mechanical but results from a deep reflection and commitment, a desire to experiment and a desire for renewal. Committed to
nurturing new and existing ChristiansVision
Factors that are associated with Growth
Leadership
Having a clear mission and purpose Being ready to self-
reflect and learn continually
Being willing to change and adapt
Good lay leadership
Actively engaging Children and TeenagersActively engaging with those outside the churchGood welcoming and follow up for visitors
Committed to nurturing new and existing ChristiansVision
Which of these are we good at and which do we need to do better?
Factors that are associated with Growth
Factors that are associated with Growth
I sowed the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who sows and the one waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
God
Our church mission statement reflects growth and who we are in Christ, both as individuals and as a church.
Known to us through Christ by the reading
of the scriptures
WorshipOur personal and
corporate relationshipwith God
FellowshipOur relationship
with others
DiscipleshipEngaging in God’sloving purposes
in the world
God
Our mission statement reflects growth and who we are in Christ as individuals and as a church.
Knowing, Showingand Sharing God’s Love.
Our Mission is...
How do we do it?
What we already do!In 2013 people still came to us for...
7 Weddings (up from 2012 by 75%)9 Baptisms1 Thanksgiving24 Funerals (up from 2012 by 60%)
...and in 2013 we saw an increase in numbers at ...
Small Steps Friday Film Night
Christmas Services
What we already do!
Explorers
Holden Art Club
Holiday Club
Some other significant activities in the past year which reach out in our community...
EXPLORERS
New Website
Thanksgiving and Memorial Service
School Assemblies and Governor
Representatives in both Schools
Easter & Christmas Crafts
Wine Tasting Evening
Some of these things need you to support them by coming along and inviting other people to come too!
Explorers
Holden Art Club
Holiday Club
EXPLORERS
Friday Film Night
Thanksgiving and Memorial Service
Easter & Christmas Crafts
Wine Tasting Evening
Christmas Services
Think about how you started coming to church,did somebody invite you?
Oakworth Parish
Haworth Parish
St Marks Utley Parish
All Saints Parish
All Saints Ilkley
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70% 64%58%
38%32%
62%
27%
7%1%
Christian No ReligionReligion Not Stated Muslim
2011 CensusData
“You have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest.’ But I tell you, take a good look at the fields; the crops are now ripe and ready to be harvested!”
John 4:35
Knowing, Showingand Sharing God’s Love.
Knowing, Showingand Sharing God’s Love.
Start Course at the Lemon TreeWednesday 4th June
Knowing, Showingand Sharing God’s Love.
This year we will be moving forward with the
reordering....
...to help us do more of what we are already
doing!
Knowing, Showingand Sharing God’s Love.
