Beyond the Ordinary

Worshipers’ Experiences in Fast Growing PC(USA) Congregations

By Joelle Kopacz

Most mainline Protestant denominations have been losing members (including the ELCA, the Episcopal Church, and the PC(USA)).  Yet some mainline Protestant congregations are still growing in the face of this widespread membership decline.  In 2011, worshipers in more than 100 fast growing PC(USA) churches participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey.  They reported on their spiritual growth, congregational involvement, experiences in worship, and perceptions of church leadership.  (Fast growing congregations were selected based on significant growth in worship attendance between 2004 and 2009 relative to other PC(USA) congregations.)  By comparing survey data from worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) congregations with 2008/2009 data collected from worshipers in a random sample of PC(USA) congregations, what can we learn about the characteristics of growing mainline Protestant churches?

 Worshipers feel spiritually fed in fast growing congregations.  Nearly four in ten PC(USA) worshipers in fast growing congregations (38%) experienced much growth in their faith in the past year, growth that came primarily through their congregation.  Only three in ten worshipers in the random sample of PC(USA) congregations (31%) experienced this same growth in faith.  While 31% of worshipers in the random sample of PC(USA) congregations “strongly agree” that their spiritual needs are being met in their congregation, 39% of worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) churches report this level of spiritual fulfillment from their congregation.  (Most of the rest in both groups “agree” that their spiritual needs are being met.)

More worshipers in fast growing congregations express satisfaction with the children/youth programs.  While a majority of worshipers in the random sample of PC(USA) churches are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with children’s programming (59%), two-thirds in fast growing PC(USA) churches are (67%).

More worshipers in fast growing congregations experience enriching worship.  More worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) churches than in the random sample of PC(USA) churches “always” or “usually” experience the following in worship: a sense of God’s presence (80% of worshipers in fast growing congregations, compared to 76% in the random sample); inspiration (78%; 74%); awe or mystery (25%; 20%).  In fast growing PC(USA) congregations, fewer worshipers experience boredom (29% experience it “always,” “usually,” or “sometimes,” compared to 35% in the PC(USA) random sample of worshipers) and frustration (26%; 30%).

The sense of belonging excels in fast growing churches.  Over half of worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) congregations (51%) feel a strong and growing sense of belonging to the congregation, while only 45% of worshipers in the random sample of PC(USA) congregations do.  Over one-third of worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) congregations (35%) participate in the activities of the congregation more now than they did two years ago, compared to 30% of worshipers in the random sample of PC(USA) churches.  The importance of worshipers’ sense of belonging should not be underestimated.  After giving up on church for a decade in early adulthood, author and speaker Christian Piatt names the sense of belonging he found in a church community as one of the main reasons he began attending church again.  

Worshipers in fast growing PC(USA) churches experience congregational life differently when compared to worshipers in typical PC(USA) congregations.  In an upcoming blog post we will talk about two more characteristics of fast growing PC(USA) churches that really set them apart from the crowd: empowering leadership and a future-oriented focus.

 

Pastors and Technology

By Joelle Kopacz

Technology use is influencing almost every aspect of life.  Just look at this idea for an in-car computer! Even congregations are jumping on the technology bandwagon.  The percent of congregations with a website increased from 43% in 2001 to 77% in 2008 (see Ida Smith-William’s blog post).   

Pastoral leaders can encourage their congregations to incorporate technology into church ministry.  How do key leaders (such as senior pastors or solo pastors) and associate leaders use technology in their own life and ministry?  (Here we look at key leaders and associate leaders who are in full-time paid positions.)

A majority of associate and key leaders use email and the internet daily.  Nine in ten associate leaders (94%) and key leaders (87%) send or receive emails every day.  Also, a majority of associate leaders (92%) and key leaders (84%) use the internet on a daily basis.    

More associate leaders regularly use technology for ministry purposes.  More than half of associate leaders send email to individual worshipers (59%), use the Internet for religious purposes (57%), and receive email from a worshiper (54%) on a daily basis.  Fewer than half of key leaders use technology in these ways each day (38%, 40%, and 40%, respectively). Over two in five associate leaders (44%) use email every day to conduct congregational business, while only 26% of key leaders do.  One in three associate leaders (31%) use email daily to plan congregational events, compared to one in five key leaders (18%).

More associate leaders of all ages use email each day in their ministry.  Typically, younger people are thought to be more technologically adept than older people.  The median[i] age for associate leaders is 45 years old, while the median age is 55 for key leaders.  Do more associate leaders use technology each day in their ministry simply because they are typically younger than key leaders?  No.  We controlled for age by comparing associate leaders’ and key leaders’ responses within two age groups: those who were born in 1965 or later (including the age groups known as “Baby Busters” and “Mosaics”) and those who were born before 1965 (including the age groups known as “Older Seniors,” “Builders,” and “Baby Boomers”).  In both the younger and older age groups, more associate pastors than key leaders daily send email to an individual worshiper, and use email each day to conduct congregational business and plan congregational events.

Pastors can use technology to make their ministry more effective and efficient.  Congregations can also use technology to reach potential members and enhance current ministries.  For tips on how to use technology successfully in your faith community, check out the website Church Marketing Sucks, the Center for Congregations’ Tech News blog entries, and the Congregational Resource Guide’s Widgets and Gadgets.  

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[i] The median is the midpoint of an ordered set of numbers.

 

How much do you know about worshipers in America?

By Deborah Bruce

Think you’re an expert on congregational life?  Here’s your chance to find out how much you know.  Take our short quiz and see how you do.  Start here.  (Or find the quiz button our home page.)

You want prizes?  Sorry.  You’ll have to be satisfied with the sense of pride you get for doing well!  Or invite your friends to take the quiz.  Maybe one of them will congratulate you on your excellent score.

 

 

Are All Your Friends in Church, Leaving No One to Invite?

By Deborah Bruce

In a fascinating talk at a new church development conference, I recently heard church planter, Dan Kimball, comment that the number of non-Christian people that worshipers hang out with decreases the longer they have been Christians. He suggests the trend might look like this:

Kimball said that this phenomena influences how likely people are to invite others to church. If you don’t know many non-Christians, who would you invite?

Friends at church. The U.S. Congregational Life Survey asked about friends and acquaintances who also attend the congregation. Compared to long-time members, more worshipers who are new to their congregation say they have little contact outside of worship with others who attend there. But as the years pass, this changes. Worshipers get to know one another and build strong bonds with other worshipers. Very few of the people attending a church for more than 20 years say they have no contact with other worshipers.

All my friends are here. Dan Kimball’s argument would suggest that worshipers attending a church for many years would have few friends outside the church. We found that long-term worshipers have more friends in the church. But even among worshipers attending their church for more than 20 years, most have at least some friends outside their church.

Inviting. Finally, let’s test Kimball’s theory that having most of your friends at your church decreases inviting. In fact—no! People with more friends at church are more likely to have invited someone to worship there than others. Worshipers invite others to share in the connections they enjoy and the caring relationships worshipers provide for one another.

Implications. We can’t directly answer the question about the types of people Christians come in contact with, so Dan Kimball might be right on that account. But these findings point to the positive impact of having friendships within the congregation. Not only do those friends provide the love and care that we all need, they also appear to strengthen bonds to the church. And people who are connected to their church are more likely to invite others to come experience the same.

Learn more about church planter, Dan Kimball.

 

The Lighter Side of Church Life

By Joelle Kopacz

In a recent blog post, the Rev. James Martin, S.J., describes God as playful, lighthearted, and delighting in us.  How refreshing to think of God as happy and joyful!  Two in three congregations (66%) report that their largest worship service typically includes laughter. These congregations tap into the joy and playfulness of God on a regular basis.

Congregations can reveal God’s lightheartedness to the larger community by using church signs and billboards.  These signs encourage passersby to consider deep matters of faith, while oftentimes evoking a chuckle.  Community members may be drawn to a congregation that they believe has a good sense of humor.

If your church has a sign, consider injecting it with humor.  This can help draw attention to your congregation and attract visitors.  If your congregation doesn’t have a billboard, consider hosting an outreach event that is focused on showing people a good time!  Host a wild-game dinner, a festival, or another activity that will allow the community to see your congregation as a vibrant, happy, and welcoming group of people.

For more funny, creative, or off-beat church signs, visit:

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/01/church-signs-bulletin-bloopers.html

http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/418341/shared/all

For creative church outreach ideas, visit:

http://www.outreachmagazine.com/ideas/index.1.html

Why Don’t People Invite Others to Visit Their Church?

By Deborah Bruce

We’ve previously focused on the importance of a personal invitation in getting a new visitor in your doors for the first time and on the people who are evangelists for their congregation.

What about the six in ten worshipers who say they haven’t invited someone to their church in the past year? What reasons do they give?

Few opportunities. The most common reason worshipers give for not inviting others is lack of opportunity. Four in ten say that they have had few—if any—opportunities to invite others. 

Those invited are not interested. Two in ten say they have invited others, but that those they’ve approached have not been interested in visiting. At least they tried.

Lack of preparation. Another three in ten gave one of several reasons that suggest they are not ready to be effective evangelists for their church. Some think it’s not appropriate to discuss their faith outside the church, others lack the confidence to do so, and a few fear that doing so will damage their personal relationships.

 

What matters. Congregational leaders face the challenge of doing what they can to equip worshipers to recognize opportunities to invite others, to be comfortable talking about their faith, and to issue effective invitations. 

Here’s help:

• How to attract first-time visitors
• Making your church more inviting
• Service and mission as the entry point for new people
• Evangelism Sunday

 

Connecting New People to the Congregation

  By Deborah Bruce

In the typical congregation about one-third of worshipers are new people who began attending there in the past five years.  What do we know about new people?  Do they participate in congregational activities as much as worshipers who have been attending for six years or sixteen years or even longer?

New people are less connected to the congregation.  Worshipers who are new to the church are typically less involved in congregational programs and activities than worshipers who are long-term attendees:

• Fewer new people attend worship on a weekly basis. 
• Fewer new people are members of the church. 
• Fewer new people participate in small group activities (Sunday school, Bible study, prayer groups, or fellowship groups). 
• Fewer new people hold leadership positions in the church (assist in worship, sing in the choir, lead a small group, serve on the board or a committee of the church).
• Fewer new people financially support the church by contributing 5% or more of their income.
   
   

The personal spiritual lives of new people are similar to those of long-term attendees.  Despite the limited involvement of new people in congregational life, they have spiritual experiences that are similar to those of long-term attendees:

• Almost half in each group spend time in private devotions (Bible reading, personal prayer) every day.
• Nine in ten in each group say the worship services and other activities in their congregation help them with everyday living.
• Similar numbers in each group report their spiritual needs are being met in the congregation.
• Eight in ten in each group regularly experience God’s presence in the congregation’s worship services.

The challenge for congregations.  New people connect spiritually with God and with the congregation.  Yet their participation in congregational life lags.  The challenge for congregational leaders is to help those who are new to your congregation find ways to contribute to the life of the church and to become more involved. 

Research shows that in growing churches lots of people are involved in lots of ways in church life.  So helping new people increase their participation is important for those worshipers and for the congregation as a whole.

What does your congregation do to help integrate new worshipers into the life of your congregation?

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Related Resources:

50 Ways to Build Participation

How to Build Assimilation Bridges for New Members/Attendees

How to Transform Worship Visitors into Regular Attendees