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 Conference4th June 2014

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 action

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’

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

reflection

A quick re-cap of the key findings

Factors Associatedwith growth

Next steps 

• Further reflection on the 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

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 contexts

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?

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 study

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…’

www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk

 

Resource Strategy & Development Unit – National Church Institutions13.