Beyond the Ordinary

Listen up!

In the latest episode of WJK Radio with Dan and Jana, researchers Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce discuss the U.S. Congregational Life Survey—and what it means for the future of congregations. Listen for free at http://wjkradio.wjkbooks.com for a better understanding of survey findings. Or read more in A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, Second Edition. Complete with tables, statistics, and hilarious cartoons, A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, Second Edition, compiles the results of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, the largest and most representative profile of worshipers and their congregations ever developed in the United States.

 

WJK Radio with Dan and Jana is Westminster John Knox Press's monthly podcast featuring author interviews and current news and views from the religious book world. The show is designed to promote honest and stimulating conversation about issues of faith. They can be heard for free by visiting http://wjkradio.wjkbooks.com.

Can you hear me now?

By Deborah Bruce

Nine in ten congregations today use amplification equipment in worship.  These systems make it possible for worshipers young and old to hear clearly the music, scripture readings, preaching, and other parts of the service.

Does your congregation use a wireless amplification system?  If so, do you know what band your system runs on?  Now is the time to check!

Earlier this month (June 12, 1010) the FCC enacted a ban of wireless microphones that operate in the 700 Mhz band.  These frequencies are now limited to use by emergency responders such as police and firefighters.  Fines for breaking the ban can be upwards of $100,000. Learn more from the FCC.  

About a quarter of wireless systems in use fall into this category, including many used by congregations. To learn more CR Radio (produced by the Alban Institute and the Congregational Resource Guide) recently interviewed telecom expert Mike Snyder about the implications for congregations.  Listen to the podcast to hear what he said.  

How important is 1 percent?

By Cynthia Woolever

"Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." Thomas Edison

Scientists say we share 98.5% of our DNA with chimpanzees. In this instance, the 1.5% difference is of great consequence. We also sharee 50% of our DNA with bananas. Fortunately, we are not half bananas (on most days)!

Congregations, as organizations, share many similarities, regardless of location, size, or denominational affiliation. But the small percentage-point-like differences across churches and parishes make ministry outcomes difficult to predict. Those who wish to help congregations be more effective in ministry often advocate "best practices" for congregations. These advisers are operating on the 99-percent-alike model. What would a model be like if it focused instead on the 1-percent-difference that occurs across congregations?

The Indianapolis Center for Congregations (ICC) uses an approach based on the one-percent-difference that they describe as "resourcing congregations." What makes their approach different from the more commonly used tactics of church consultants? First, the model assumes that any congregation can address whatever challenges they face. The essential trick is to direct them to a useful resource. The resource could be an on line article, book, seminar or other learning event, or perhaps a specialist (e.g., church architect). However, in each instance the resource is the "best fit" for the congregation's context and current capacity. Timothy Shapiro, ICC Director, explains that their staff "expertise" rests on correctly identifying the resource that could be most helpful to a congregation at a specific time and in their specific circumstances. In short, the model requires the staff to ask many questions and narrow in on the one-percent difference—what makes this congregation unique?

The resourcing congregations model assumes that strong congregations are essential to the faith formation of individuals and to the well-being of the communities that they serve. The ICC believes that the systems of support for congregations are not as strong as they need to be. While there is a wealth of helpful resources for congregations, they argue most church leaders need some assistance in finding the "needle in the haystack."

Six issues that congregations wrestle with surface frequently in the ICC's work—technology, strategic planning, buildings, leadership development, volunteers, and spirituality. To learn more about the Center for Congregations in Indianapolis, Indiana and what they are learning from their work with congregations, read an interview with Rev. Timothy Shapiro or visit their website.

You can have your pie and eat it, too!

By Ida Smith-Williams

My congregation has not participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey but if we did, I think one of the strengths of this congregation would be "welcoming new people."

Having joined only 18 years ago, it is not difficult to remember first visiting the congregation. My husband and I were warmly welcomed. At one point during worship, members greet each other with a hug or handshake. I remember being overwhelmed as people came from all over to shake our hands—not just our pew neighbors, but people from all rows around us and even some not so near us. My first thought was that my husband, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, must have been mistaken for a basketball celebrity! Our first few visits to the congregation were followed by personal visits to our home during the week by the pastor or by a member of the congregation, each bearing a delicious pie. In fact, after we joined, the pies stopped and we really missed those pies. We thought perhaps we had joined a little too soon!

Another strength of my congregation is "meaningful worship." Most of our worshipers are experiencing God's presence, joy, inspiration, and awe in the worship services. Typically, worship is a contemporary service with guitars, keyboard, and drums. There is great singing, and worshipers seem moved by the experience. One time, my 12 year old son, who was sitting with us instead of in his usual Sunday school class, gave me a puzzled look and asked, "Are they trying to ask a question?" as he noticed worshipers enthusiastically raising their hands to God. The music is one thing that really excites people about the congregation. The music is followed by a practical sermon.

"Focusing on the community" is yet another strength I think this congregation has. The congregation does many things in the community: hosting blood drives, providing a food pantry, and collecting school supplies, clothing, and household items for people in need. There are many support groups for people facing tough issues: abortion, rape, and cancer, just to name a few. Members recently tilled some land on the property and it has become a big farm share/community garden. Last weekend, a group of "Twenty-somethings" (as they are called) hosted a "$1 carwash." More than eighty people stopped by the carwash and were pleasantly surprised when a member washed their car and then offered the driver $1 to thank them for being allowed to wash their vehicle. The drivers all declined the money, so the church member prayed with each driver instead. It was a well-received event, and the "Twenty-Somethings" group enjoyed the experience as well.

These strengths are important to me, and I'm proud to be part of a congregation that excels in these areas. Others must agree because the congregation is growing. Our congregation has increased from 945 attendees in 2000 to 1,605 in attendance currently.

What strengths does your congregation have?

Travel to church

By Deborah Bruce

How long does it take you to get to church? Half of worshipers (56%) can reach their congregation within 10 minutes. Yet, one in ten travel for more than 20 minutes to attend worship.

Catholic parishes are geographically based, so it's not surprising that six in ten who worship in Catholic churches (61%) travel 10 minutes or less to church. Conservative Protestants spend the most amount of time traveling to church—only four in ten (45%) can get there in 10 minutes, and another third (36%) take between 11 and 20 minutes to get to church. Mainline Protestants are in the middle with half (54%) spending no more than 10 minutes traveling to worship, another third (35%) traveling for 11 to 20 minutes.

Does travel time make a difference?  Yes! Those few worshipers (3%) overall who travel more than 30 minutes to church have lower rates of participation in congregational life than worshipers who can get to church in less time. But there is little difference in participation rates among those who travel 30 minutes or less to church.

Participation Rates by Travel Time to Worship

	1-10 min.	11-30 min.	More than 30 min.
Attend worship weekly    or more often	78%	76%	59%
Hold a leadership role	43%	44%	33%
Participate in congregation’s     church school or     religious education classes	18%	20%	12%
Participate in congregation’s     prayer or Bible study groups	18%	20%	15%
Participate in congregation’s     fellowship or social groups	28%	29%	20%
Participate in congregation’s     community service work	17%	18%	14%

What does this mean? Worshipers in your congregation who travel more than 30 minutes to worship may be less engaged in the life and mission of the congregation. What steps can congregational leaders take to help such worshipers stay connected to the congregation?

And congregations where lots of worshipers travel long distances to worship face particular challenges. Think of the historic downtown church in a large city, where most of the worshipers drive in from the suburbs on Sunday morning. These destination commuter churches may have difficulty finding volunteers to fill leadership positions that require returning to church a second time during the week. Attendance at mid-week or Saturday Bible study and fellowship groups or mission activities might be sparse. In addition, serving and getting to know those in the local community may be difficult. Yet having lots of long-distance commuters can give a church other strengths—because their worshipers come from a broad variety of locations and backgrounds, they have connections to other networks or friends, colleagues, and resources that can be accessed to support the ministry of the congregation.

What is the drive-time distribution of your worshipers? How is that influencing the congregation's mission and ministry?