After last year’s National Church Life Survey, the NCLS is conducting a church census in a bid to find out more about church life in Australia.

“In short, this can be seen as an extension of the 2011 NCLS,” said Ruth Powell, director of NCLS Research. “The goal is to fill the gaps that the NCLS does not cover in order to provide the most accurate and up-to-date picture of church life in Australia at the moment.” 

During the 2011 NCLS information was collected from 4500 churches around Australia.

“We estimate that there are perhaps another 8000 or 9000 churches out there who did not take part in the NCLS,” Mrs Powell said. 

The 2012 Church Census also aims to collect information that is, so far, unknown.

“We want to fill the gap for the churches that we know are under-represented in the NCLS as well – such as migrant ethnic churches, indigenous churches and so on,” Mrs Powell said. 

For churches that completed the 2011 NCLS Operations Survey, no further action is required. 

Other churches are being encouraged to complete the 2012 Church Census. The simple census can be completed by one person and does not cost churches anything.

Said Mrs Powell: “This will enable us to serve the diocesan mission research needs more effectively.”

If you have not already received the 2012 Church Census, please contact NCLS Research by email (info@ncls.org.au) or phone (02) 9701 4479.