Special Community Connections Packs have been prepared for every church in the Diocese by NCLS Research. They aim to help churches to connect with people in their communities.
This mission goal is also shared by Connect09. The community data that NCLS has been able to present parish-by-parish will be a great help in planning for Connect09.
In a quantum leap forward compared to what has been provided in previous years, every church will receive a unique Community Social Profile with coloured maps, pictures and tables. The profiles show the social make-up of a community, how it is distinctive and how it has changed, in an easy-to-understand format.
Practical help is offered to churches to help them make the most of the profile. A guide and a workbook include a range of tools, such as explanatory notes, worksheets and workshop.
A new addition is sample community surveys and guidelines for conducting surveys.
Anglicare and the Diocese of Sydney have generously sponsored the provision of these resources to all parishes in the Diocese.
Below are responses to possible queries that may arise for churches:
â–º What is the Community Connections Pack?
The Community Connections Pack is a resource to help your church connect with your local community. NCLS Research has collated particular Census data that will be of most help to local churches and church leadership, and presented it in a clear and easy-to-use format.
Connecting starts with understanding. To connect with another person, we must be prepared to learn: what is important to them?; where they have come from?; what is their life like?. The same is true at a community level. If, as a church, we want to connect with our community we need to understand it. We must invest some time listening to who they are and where they are coming from. Understanding will certainly help us as we pray for people.
â–º What is in the Community Connections Pack?
It includes three items. First, there is the Community Social Profile (CSP) of the local community within your parish boundaries. The information in this profile is unique to your area and your church. Second, the pack includes a guide to ensure that you get the most out of your CSP. Third there is a workbook to assist your church as it uses the CSP to plan its ministry and mission to the local area. It includes workshops, a workshop process and some community survey tools.
â–º Why has my church received this Community Connections Pack?
NCLS Research is producing these packs for thousands of churches around the nation. Anglicare, together with the Diocese of Sydney, co-sponsors NCLS Research to support churches with research-based resources.
â–º How does the Community Connections Pack link with Connect09?
The Community Connections Packs are a great place to start with understanding your community. Your Community Social Profile can help you reflect on how things have been changing and how your community is distinctive. There may be some surprises! By considering the information available, some new ideas for meeting the community where they are at may jump out. Maps will show Census Collection Districts and the concentration of different groupings. This may just spark some new strategies for reaching parts of the community where your church has little impact at present. Areas of new growth may alert you to the kinds of ministries that may be needed going forward.
â–º What next?
In the coming weeks, the Connect09 team will contact you about placing your parish order for Connect09 resources. How many households are in your parish? What languages will you need? What mix of print, audio and DVD formats are you likely to need? The information in your Community Social Profile will not answer every question. You will also need to consider what kind of campaign you are going to run, the numbers of people you have, etc. However, beginning with the people you want to contact is the right place to start.
Dr Ruth Powell is Director of NCLS Research.
The Rev Andrew Nixon is Executive Director of Connect09.
