Christian Reformed Church 2012 Survey Report to Synod Files available from Neil Carlson, Director,...

Christian Reformed Church2012 SurveyReport to Synod

Files available fromwww.calvin.edu/go/crcsurvey

Neil Carlson, Director, CSRRodger Rice, Barnabas Foundation and CRHM

June 10, 2013

1

Gratitude

Participating churches and respondents (unnamed to protect the innocent).

Translators (named in report) Survey advisory team (named in

report). Rev. Gary Bekker for his

engagement with the project.

2

Overview Key purpose for this report:

inform Synod and the wider church about the state and direction of the denomination’s churches and congregants

I. Survey history and methods II. CRC Trends, 1987-2012 III. Stewardship IV. Church Life Cycle Stages V. Perceptions of Congregational Health VI. Respondents’ Comments VII. Recommendations Future Plans Discussion 3

Survey History and Methods

4

2012 Survey Methods Online survey took 20-45 minutes Fielded September 2012 to January 2013 Congregation-based sampling strategy

Sampled 233 congregations(113 repeats from 2007, 120 new).

Churches recruited respondents, including non-members

Second survey wave in which we can analyze individual congregations

Spanish, Korean and Chinese language versions

Massive email and phone recruitment efforts by CSR student team 5

Survey History

Survey Year MethodSampleUnits

Total Respondents

1987 Mail Members 555




2007-8 Internet 67 Churches* 1,434

2012 Internet 102 Churches** 2,609

* 67 of 120 churches participated in 2007.** 102 of 233 churches participated in 2012.

6

Congregational reports 21 congregations returning at least

30 responses received a detailed report.

First time CSR has included such rapid full reports, an offshoot of the Healthy Church reporting.

Effort led by Tom Sherwood ’11 and students Dan Molling ’13 and Melissa Lubbers ’14.

7

CRC Trends, 1987-2012

Six surveys over 25 years

8

Demographic Trends

Aging constituency Declining households with children Stable proportion of households

with children and with children in Christian schools 2007-2012

Stable proportion with college education 2007-2012

Household income trends mixed but increasing overall

9

Aging Population

20122007200219971992198740

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

53

51.3

53

51

49

46

54

52

5050

47

44

Mean Median

Age

in y

ears

10

Average age continues to increase

Figure 1on

Age Categories by YearProportion over 60 now about 2 in 5

11

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 20120%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

42%33% 27% 22% 25% 23%

31%39%

42% 45% 45%39%

27% 27% 32% 34% 31%39%

Percent in age group for each survey year

60 yrs or older40-59 yearsUnder 40 years

Figure 2on

47% 47%44%

40%35% 35%41%

33%

19% 20%

1.01.1

1.00.9

0.8 0.8

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Kid

s per house

hold

Perc

ent

% Households with children under 18

% Households with kids in Christian School

Average children per household

1978

1996

Households with children stabilize

From 47% with children in 1987 to stable 35% in 2007-2012

41/47=87% of households

with kids had kids in Christian school 20/35=

57% of HH with kids had kids in Christian

school 12

Figure 3on

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 20120%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

27%

34%37%

45%

62% 61%

US 1987: ~18%Canada 1986: 18%

US 2009: 30%Canada 2011: 32%

College-educated proportion stabilizes

Highest education level = college or post-graduate

13

Figure 4on

$45,000

$50,000

$55,000

$60,000

$65,000

$70,000

$75,000

$80,000

64135.9115982583

67661.6693483985

67405.0242464036

70174.7868134826

70051$65,223

$63,818

$68,953

$67,309

$74,983

US median household income (US Census)Canada median family employment income (Statistics Canada CANSIM)CRC US median household incomeCRC Canada median household income

Household income mixed2011 dollars (US and Canadian)

14

Figure 5on

Church-Related Trends

Recovering loyalty to denomination to local church

Declining evening worship attendance

Declining frequency of devotional activities

15

Loyalty recovers in 2012How would you describe your loyalty to…

Figure 6on

Page 15

16

1992 1997 2002 2007 201240%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

70% 69%

65%68%

55%

63%

57%

53%55%

local congregation the CRC

Perc

ent v

ery

loya

l

Loyalty varies by generationHow would you describe your loyalty to …[this congregation/ the CRCNA]? (2012)

17

Figure 7on

Page 16

Attendance falls AM and PM

19

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 20120%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%87% 90% 92% 89% 91%

86%

51%57%

49% 46%

24%17%

How often do you attend Sunday [morn-ing/evening] worship services?

% every Sunday morning % every Sunday evening

Figure 9on

Devotional practices declineHow often do you… (% daily or more than daily)

211992 1997 2002 2007 2012

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90% 85% 85% 84%80%

75%

60%

53%49%

46%

38%

60%57%

50%

43%

40%0.44

0.450.39

Pray privatelyRead the BibleHave family devotionsHave personal devotions

Figure 10on

Stewardship

Focus on percent of incomegiven to congregation

22

Percent giving to congregationGiving to church / total household income

Figure 11on

page 21

23

<3.0% 3.0%-5.9% 6.0%-9.9% 10.0%+0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

19%

30% 29%

22%19%

31% 31%

19%

Percent of responses in each range of percent of income given to church

2007 2012

Percent of income given to church; 2007 & 2012 median = 6.1%

Perc

ent o

f res

pond

ents

in c

ateg

ory

Percent giving by age

24

<30 yrs 30-44 yrs 45-59 yrs 60-74 yrs 75 yrs+0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

9.0%

10.0%

4.1%5.0%

5.8%

7.0%

8.7%

3.4%

5.1% 5.1%

7.2%

8.6%

2007 2012

Age categories

Perc

ent o

f inc

ome

give

n to

chu

rch

Figure 12on

page 22

Percent giving by income

25

<$30K $30K-$49,999

$50K-$69,999

$70K-$99,999

$100K or more

0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%

7.0%7.7%

5.9% 5.6% 5.3%

6.6%

7.8%

6.3% 6.1%

5.1%

2007 2012

Income rangesPerc

ent o

f inc

ome

give

n to

chu

rch

Figure 13on

page 23

Percent giving by loyalty

27

2007 2012 2007 20120.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

5.9%6.2%

3.6%4.1%

5.7% 5.5%

4.9% 5.1%

6.2%6.7% 6.9% 6.9%

Not very loyal Somewhat loyal Very loyal

Perc

ent o

f inc

ome

give

n to

chu

rch

Loyalty to CRC Loyalty to congregation

Figure 15on

page 25

Percent giving by spiritual nourishment

29

Malnourished Undernourished Daily Nourished0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

9.0%

4.2%

5.7%

7.0%

4.1%

5.9%

7.7%

2007 2012

Spiritual Nourishment

Perc

ent o

f inc

ome

give

n to

chu

rch

Figure 17on

page 27

Percent giving bystewardship health

31

Heart Neglect(0 to 59)

Heart Desire(60 to 79)

Heart Habit(80 to 100)

0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%

2.6%

5.8%

7.2%

2.8%

5.9%

7.8%

2007 2012

Stewardship Health FactorsMeasurement of 10 attitudes and practices

that constitute a stewardship lifestyle

Perc

ent o

f inc

ome

give

n to

chu

rch

Figure 19on

page 29

CongregationalLife Cycle Stages

Renewing mature and aging churches

33

Church Life Cycle Stages

Analogy (but not full similarity) to human life cycles

George Bullard,Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation. Infancy/childhood Adolescence Adulthood Maturity Empty nest/retirement Old age/dying

34

Distribution of respondents and churches

36

Infancy/childhood/adolesence

Young adulthood

Mature adulthood

Empty nest/

retirement

Old age/dying

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

2%

40%36%

22%

1%

6%

32% 30%26%

6%

Distribution of respondents and churches across church life cycle stages

% of respondents % of churches

Figure 22on

page 33

Membership changeby life cycle stage

Life Cycle Stage

Average number

of members

*% change last

five years*Infancy/childhood/adolescence 102 19%Young adulthood 439 1%Mature adulthood 385 0%Empty nest/retirement 259 -15%Old age/dying 186 -29%

37

Table 4on

page 33

Church health by life stage

38

Old age/dying

Empty nest/retirement

Mature adulthood

Young adulthood

Infancy/childhood/adolescence

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

0%

8%

26%

31%

33%

9%

47%

53%

52%

59%

30%

26%

16%

12%

5%

39%

13%

22%

Overall current health of your church?

Great Good Fair Poor Awful Unsure

Figure 23on Page 34

Healthy Church scales by life stage

39

Figure 24on Page 35

Enthusiasm by life stage

46

Old age/dying


Mature adulthood

Young adulthood

Infancy/childhood/adolescence

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

11%

10%

19%

26%

42%

25%

54%

59%

55%

50%

39%

24%

17%

15%

7%

18%

10%

4%

3%

1%

How much enthusiasm feel about work & programs of your church

Very high Moderately high Moderately lowVery low Unsure

Figure 26on Page 37

A clear vision of God’s leadingby life stage

50

Old age/dying


Mature adulthood

Young adulthood


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

33%

36%

23%

20%

5%

17%

20%

10%

9%

50%

6%14%

27%

31%

40%

25%

39%

38%

55%

Our church has a clear vision of where God is leading us

Definitely true Mostly true Somewhat trueHardly true Definitely untrue

Figure 30on Page 41

Can these bones live?

Death is not inevitable; intervention can bring renewal

Leaders may be unaware of their church’s present life stage

Recasting vision is essential Financial resources are still

available even in decline Some members of aging churches

are still willing to make sacrifices51

Income and givingby life stage

52

Old age/dying

Empty nest/re-

tire-ment

Mature adult-hood

Young adult-hood

Infancy/child-hood/

adoles-ence

$60,000

$65,000

$70,000

$75,000

$80,000

$85,000

$90,000

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

9.0%

$76,413

$71,225 $69,782

$73,377

$66,281

7.0%

5.9%6.0%6.5%

8.2%

Median household income % income given to church

Figure 31on

Page 42

Commitment to missionby life stage

53

Old age/dying


Mature adulthood

Young adulthood


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

17%

28%

31%

39%

40%

17%

32%

32%

27%

40%

67%

19%

10%

6%

16%

23%

24%

20%

5%

3%

3%

So committed to church's mission and vision that willing to make sacrifices

Definitely true Mostly true Somewhat true Hardly true Definitely untrue

Figure 32on

Page 43

Measuring and Explaining Congregational Health

Indexes based on theHealthy Church Survey

54

Focus on Healthy Congregations

Survey itself part of a message to congregations about denominational priorities

We included all items from the 2012 Healthy Church Survey (HCS) 11 health areas Evaluations of church and self 22 items seen by all respondents 4 of 22 sections shown randomly 40-50 items total 55

Perceptions of overall current health improve over 2007

56

Figure 33on

Page 44

Cen-trality

of the

Bible items

57

Figure 34on

Page 45

HCS scale averages by age group

58

Figure 35on

Page 46

Church- and self-rating items

59

HCS scale

3.60 3.70 3.80 3.90 4.00 4.10 4.20 4.30 4.40 4.50Average answer weight [1 = "Definitely UNtrue", 5 = "Definitely true"]

Centrality of the Bible

Loving Relationships

Transforming Worship

Authentic Spirituality

Servant Leadership

Mission and Vision

Children and Youth

Generous Stewardship

Justice and Righteousness

Disciple Making

Kingdom Extension

Grand Total

Mean 3.934.28

4.08

4.02

3.99

3.90

3.87

3.87

3.84

3.83

3.80

3.76

3.92

Healthy Church scale averages by Referent (Church/Self)Unweighted; questions refer to All

CrosstabulationChurchSelf

Figure 36on Page 47

Four churches that can learn together

60

HCS scale

3.40 3.50 3.60 3.70 3.80 3.90 4.00 4.10 4.20 4.30 4.40Average answer weight [1 = "Definitely UNtrue", 5 = "Definitely true"]

Centrality of the Bible

Transforming Worship

Loving Relationships

Mission and Vision

Justice and Righteousness

Servant Leadership

Authentic Spirituality

Kingdom Extension

Children and Youth

Disciple Making

Generous Stewardship

Grand Total

Mean 3.914.21

4.02

4.06

3.98

3.88

3.89

3.89

3.80

3.74

3.80

3.76

3.92

Healthy Church scale averages by ChurchUnweighted; questions refer to All

CrosstabulationChurch 1Church 2Church 3Church 4

Figure 37on Page 48

Explanatory factors for congregational health Geography: US regions give higher ratings Church size is entirely unrelated to HCS scores. Apparent age effects disappear with other Education is related, both higher and lower Strong, increasing sense of belonging healthier Participation in decision-making healthier Contemporary learning modes go with much

healthier churches; more below. Devotional frequency relates to healthier

churches. Stewardship health goes with higher self-ratings

and slightly lower church ratings.

61

Contemporary learning modes Causality is not certain, but seems to be a lever

churches can pull Modes in order of frequency (% rare/never):

Storytelling by pastor 19% Missionary/service team report 19% Children’s message 23% Audiovisual (movie/slide show) 27% Group discussion or deliberation 59% Drama or dramatic reading 62% Storytelling by others 63% Personal testimonies 64% Question and answer time

w/preacher or presenter 73% Plenty of room for growth

62

Respondents’ comments

64

Coding methodology

Comments were moved to a separate database

100 comments from each section were reviewed to seek for major themes

Students coded all 779 comments Each comment can include one or

more themes

65

Themes from final comments

66

Figure 39on

Page 51

Themes from ministry/agency comments

67

Figure 40on

Page 52

Iconic positive comment I appreciated this opportunity to give my opinion about the CRCNA. This is my native denomination and I continue to feel a deep sense of loyalty and concern for its future. I am profoundly thankful for the training, nurture, and faith development I received as a child from my parents, Sunday school teachers, Christian day school teachers, and college professors. I owe so much of what I am today to the CRCNA and the local church in which I grew up. I struggle with how to move into the 21st century as a Reformed denomination, with the difficult, complicated, global issues we face. I continue to pray mightily for 'us'.

68

Concern about perceived driftI would like to see more emphasis put on our commitment and relationship with our God/Father. In my humble opinion, I feel as a church we are drifting away from our strong heritage. With trying to be [relevant] in today’s society, we are losing our deep knowledge and teaching of the past. The Bible is still true for today, and we must search the Scriptures to find our answers for today. I love how we are more eager to reach out to our neighbors, but we must keep our strong Bible teaching and worship. Our love for God and our commitment to him will win others for him.

69

Concern about exclusivity

[There was] nothing in [the] survey about doctrine. I have found that CRC and Reformed in general is closed-minded and superficial about accepting other denominations and individuals of STRONG Christian faith into the leadership of the church. They have a snob-appeal, country club attitude regarding the Reformed doctrine.

70

Agency connectionsAs a transplant from another denomination, I am very impressed with the connection that the local church has with the CRC as a denomination. The Banner is a great resource for communicating all of the ministry that is going on in the church and through the church. In addition, I am so excited about the work of the CRC locally and internationally—Back to God, CRWRC [World Renew], creation care. Wow! What a witness to the world around us!

71

Agency disconnections

I’m finding the agencies disconnected from the average church-goer in our community. The Board structures are puzzling, even confusing. It currently feels like a one-way relationship. We support many of those organizations, but I don’t really see how they serve our church specifically.

72

Discussion Vocal minority concerned about “drift”

away from heritage Vocal minority concerned that exclusivity

hinders renewal Reformed holism still builds bridges; the

line between “traditionalist” vs. “progressive” are not as brightly drawn as some may think.

Intentional efforts to address tension produce specific positive results

Do we talk enough about respect for the other parts of the body and their roles?

73

Recommendations

74

Five keys from 2007 report

Spiritual development, Stewardship education, Disciple-making, Leadership training, and Keeping in touch (communication

with congregants)

75

Three keys from 2012 report Church renewal, including Healthy

Church coaching; churches might learn from each other and be revitalized through coaching.

Contemporary learning modes:More children’s messages, storytelling, drama, audiovisual, testimony, mission reports, and discussion.

One body, with unity in diversityA concerted “I Corinthians 12” effort to teach each other about the God-given gifts of others.

76

The Future

Incorporating your ideas and questions Report sections:

More demographics More HCS data Same-church trends Church life cycles Stewardship (giving)

Replication with all minority churches? Collaboration with Healthy Church

77

Discussion

78

Christian Reformed Church 2012 Survey Report to Synod Files available from Neil Carlson, Director,...

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