More than 60,000 survey forms have been landing on the door-steps of Sydney Anglican churches as parishes prepare to take part in the National Church Life Survey.

This weekend will be the first opportunity for congregations to fill out what organisers say will be the largest and most comprehensive survey on congregational life in the world.

Testifying to the scale of the undertaking, for the first time NCLS organisers are staggering the poll across the year with Anglican churches being able to select which week in September they will participate.

Overall, the 20-minute survey is being carried out in 22 denominations, 6,000 churches and around 500,000 church goers across Australia.
This project has in part been funded by the Sydney Diocese and the 2006 project is specifically seeking to measure achievements to date of the Diocesan Mission and its particular goals.

“The survey provides concrete and standard measures across the Diocese for a range of qualities that point to church vitality,” says Keith Castle, Dirctor of NCLS.

“This allows both individual churches and the regions to evaluate how ministry is going in ways that are comparable. It’s a great resource to assist church leadership in the incredibly demanding task that they face.”

Essential church snap-shot
The survey, based on 15 years of research, is designed to assess key qualities that are important for healthy church life.

It is also a chance to assess a congregations’ qualities and strengths and make plans for the future.
Individual churches will receive back their statistical ‘report card’ early in the new year, to assist them in evaluating and developing their own particular mission strategies.
 
“In 2007 we will also be producing a range of resources to more personally assist leaders build on the skills and personal strengths that they bring to their ministry,” Mr Castle adds.

“Having listened to many clergy we are conscious of the pressures and demands they face in congregational ministry and we are keen to bring our skills to assist them as best we can.”

Spotlight on attendance
This year NCLS will measure nine core qualities of church life and three church attendance measures that will build individual church profiles.

It will also put a spotlight on patterns and trends over the years, including shifts in attendance.
According to Keith, the survey comes at a strategic point for the Diocese to assess the impact of the Diocesan Mission.
“Five years into the Mission, the survey results will provide an excellent half way point to review its effectiveness and possible areas the Diocese will need to concentrate on to reach its goals,” he says.
“Not only is it a great opportunity for people in ministry to listen to the voices of its congregation, it’s also an opportunity think strategically about the Diocesan Mission.”
Keith says the NCLS team are seeking to report back to each individual parish no later than February next year.