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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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NCLS book wins award
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The National Church Life Survey Book Why People Don't Go to Church recently won joint second prize in the annual Christian Book of the Year Awards. Commenting on the book, the judges said that, 'The National Church Life Survey team has delivered an exceptionally valuable resource for Christian leaders who seek current valid data upon which to base evangelism and church development strategies. Its enjoyably written well-researched content is designed to focus on the challenge of Christian people drifting from regular, to occasional, to non-attendance at church services. It should be an essential tool for every pastor in Australia'. Dr John Bellamy, principal author of Why People don't go to Church, accepted the award for the NCLS team. 'We found there is no single reason that can simply explain why people do not go to church. It is a combination of issues such as individual experience, attitudes and beliefs, personal background and relationships as well as broader social and historical factors'. Most Australians had a childhood involvement with church. Most continue to identify with a Christian denomination and 71% have attended at least one religious service or rites-of-passage event in the past 12 months. Many express interest in spiritual issues, yet church attendance is at its lowest point in the post-war period, with around 20% who claim to attend worship services at least monthly. Why People Don't Go to Church explores the reasons for this situation through responses received to the Australian Community Survey. It gives a unique perspective of the churches through the eyes of those who do not go. Some 7000 congregations in 19 denominations across Australia were involved in the 2001 National Church Life Survey. NCLS Research also draws from surveys of the wider community and the census to provide resources to assist Australian churches in mission.
Contact Dr Ruth Powell, NCLS Research: |
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