Survey for Church Life

The survey results can identify our weaknesses and strengths as something to work on or to build upon. Church should be a living organism for it has a life to grow. Results from the survey will indicate whether that life is flourishing or deteriorating. The Methodist Church has always been known as a movement, and as a movement we move with the changes that are happening around the world we exist in. If we cannot change, we cannot be relevant in the context where we exercise our mission.

Our church is supportive of the Church Life Survey as it is something that has helped us in the past to reassess and rebuild our ministry and mission. Mission Resourcing is also supportive of this survey as it will help us to reprioritise our mission and ministry to meet the changes that we encounter in our society. The Law Book clearly states that the mandate of Mission Resourcing is to resource synod, parishes and leaders for contemporary mission. The Church Life Survey will assist our church to know the contexts of parishes around the Connexion and the issues that they face. This information will help us to create resources that will assist them to grow and flourish in their mission in their local contexts.

In his book entitled, Methodism at the Crossroads, Norman E Brookes discusses the importance for the Methodist Church of New Zealand of engagement in surveying our ministry as a way of improving our performance. Norman remarks, “The book is designed to assist you in that kind of quest. On the other hand, if statistics are your forte, then read on. Hopefully, you will find the statistics enlightening and, as a result, may discover a clearer picture of the Methodist Church today. Only when we have a clear picture of who we are as a Church can we move forward with confidence into the future.” Norman’s remark reminds us of the importance of supporting this Church Life Survey which will reflect our church life today and assist us to develop a strategy that cherishes growth in our future together as a church.

Church Life Survey organisers say the purpose of the survey is to resource us in creating strategies that foster our mission in our contemporary context. Our parishes operate in diverse geographical locations and face a range of social issues. We offer different ministries to address those social issues. Sharing our findings in this survey will help us to move into the future with hope. Survey organisers encourage parishes to participate as part of resourcing our mission today and in the future, especially as most churches have significantly changed since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Church Life Survey NZ provides:

Ø An opportunity to find out who is now part of your church and their demographic profile.

Ø A means for hearing all the voices in your church, including ones you may not otherwise hear.

Ø A robust, evidence-base on which to make informed decisions.

Ø A snapshot of the spiritual health of your church.

Ø Feedback on your leadership and the direction of your church.

Ø A means of benchmarking your scores against others in your group and across the nation.