An Overview of Contents

Part 1. About NCLS Research

Part 2. National Church Life Survey 2006

Part 3. About Church Vitality

Part 4. Your Church Life Profile

Part 5. Three Planning Options

Part 6. Other NCLS Projects and Resources

An Overview of Contents

PART 1. About NCLS Research

Mission of NCLS Mission of NCLS ResearchResearchNCLS Research is an agency that seeks to assist churches to move forward in mission and ministry in Australia, and to encourage the wider community to reflect upon its spiritual journey and the churches’ place within it

Research Activities

Resources for ministry

WIDER COMMUNITY

MediaGovernmentNon church attenders

CHURCH

•Denominational Leadership

•Congregations

•Church Attenders

•Christian Agencies

ABOUT NCLS RESEARCH

The Mission of NCLS Research

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10

In the midst of all our communities Jesus is:• the bread of life (John 6:35)• the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)• the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)• the living water (John 4:11)• the light of life (John 8:12).

ABOUT NCLS RESEARCH

Foundations for NCLS Research

Jesus Christ and his promise of life, his presence as life, is at the core of every congregation.

PART 2. About National

Church Life Survey 2006

National Church Life Survey 2006

A survey of the attitudes, beliefs and practices of church attenders and leaders, conducted every five years. 1991

19962001 2006

The survey model has also been exported to New Zealand, England, and the USA

To identify signs of hope for the Church in Australia and to present our research and analysisso as to nurture life in both the leadership and the congregations across Australia.

the life the hopes

the concerns of the congregation

NATIONAL CHURCH LIFE SURVEY 2006

The goal for NCLS 2006

Involved over 700 000 church attenders in more than 7000 churches in some 22 denominations

Survey season: June to November 2006

Churches chose a week suitable to them

Resources returned within a few months

Costs included both survey process and resources

A key resource for ministry


How NCLS 2006 took place

The National Church Life Survey 2006


Church Life Pack

Book & DVD: Enriching Church Life

Report: Church Life Profile

Worksheets

Poster: Our Circle of Strengths

NCLS Admin Key

Innovations Magazine: Novus

NATIONAL CHURCH LIFE SURVEY 2006: CHURCH LIFE PACK

Church Life Profile

The Church Life Profile is especially compiled for your church from the voices of your people, expressed through the 2006 National Church Life Survey.

28 page report A snapshot of your people Will help you assess your strengths Includes planning options

Enriching Church Life outlines:

Three different processes to help your church move forward

Key research findings on fostering vitality and growth in churches


Enriching Church Life: a practical guide for local churches

Enriching Church Life Companion DVD includes:

Video resources

NCLS promo video

Plus other videos

Planning Guides

Facilitators Notes

Power Points

Worksheets

Samples


Enriching Church Life Companion DVD

PART 3. About Church Vitality

About Church Vitality

Jesus declared, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”.

Church vitality is essentially about the quality of church life.

Where is your church most alive?

NCLS Research has identified 9 Core Qualities and 3 Attendance Measures.

They are: based on 15 years of research in Australian and international churches all central to the life of a church all interrelated yet also separately understood

ABOUT CHURCH VITALITY

Dimensions of Vitality


Nine Core Qualities of Church Life

Internal Core Qualities The inner life of the community of faith

Inspirational Core Qualities Relate to leadership and direction

Outward Core Qualities How churches focus beyond themselves

An Alive and Growing FaithYour faith commitment? Relationship with God? Private devotional practices? Growth in faith?

Vital and Nurturing Worship Services bring to you an experience of God? Awe? Mystery? Boredom? Inspiration? Growth in relationship with God? Helpful preaching?

Strong and Growing BelongingYour sense of belonging in this church? Levels of friendliness? Levels of conflict? Your level of participation in the life of this church?


Internal Core Qualities

The Internal Core Qualities focus on the inner life of the community of faith. Foundational to church life, providing shape and energy to other Core Qualities:

Clear and Owned Vision

A vision that is shared? Goals that are real and achievable? Leadership looking to the future?

Inspiring and Empowering Leadership

Leadership inspiring and empowering? Leadership communicates clearly? Leadership focuses on the wider community?

Imaginative and Flexible Innovation

Leadership encourages innovation? Congregation open to try new things? Openness to different worship style?


Inspirational Core Qualities

These qualities relate to leadership and direction. They are the major catalysts for churches to move forward.

Practical and Diverse ServiceInvolved in the church’s welfare programs? Involved in community service organisations? Helping others informally?

Willing and Effective Faith-sharingInvolved in the church’s evangelistic programs? Share faith with others? Invite others to church? Discuss faith matters at home?

Intentional and Welcoming InclusionHow are new arrivals welcomed? How are those drifting away followed-up?


Outward Core Qualities

These qualities are about how churches focus beyond themselves by reaching out to others.

Part 4. Your Church Life Profile

Your Church Life Profile

The Church Life Profile is especially compiled for your church from the voices of your people, expressed through the 2006 National Church Life Survey.

It includes:

Summary Review

Detailed Review

Planning Options

CHURCH LIFE PROFILE

Making the Most of Your Profile

Once you have reviewed your Church Life Profile, the next step is to develop plans that will assist you to move forward with confidence.

STEP 1 Review Your Profile

Review the information in your Church Life Profile to assess your strengths and to hear what attenders have said. Then make recommendations about the next step.

STEP 2 Choose a Planning Option

CHURCH LIFE PROFILE


Study your Summary Review (pp4-11)

Complete Profile Worksheet 1

Distribute the Information

Getting ready

To review your Profile...

FOR STEP 1

The NCLS team recommends that, if possible, more than one person reviews the Profile. The main findings about your church’s vitality can then be reported to the leadership and congregation.

Appoint a Review Team

Become familiar with ‘Enriching Church Life’ book and DVD.

Dig Deeper in Your Detailed Review (pp12-25):


The Summary Review (pp4-11) includes the Circle of Strengths:

The circle of strengths represents the comparative strengths of your church for each of the nine core qualities

YOUR CHURCH LIFE PROFILE

Summary Review: Circle of Strengths

Change over Time

When churches take part in the

NCLS more than once, we can offer a picture of change

over time


Summary Review: Change over Time

Attendance Inflow and Outflow

Churches grow when inflow exceeds outflow.

The NCLS Inflow/Outflow chart helps churches understand their main sources of inflow and destinations of outflow.


Summary Review: Attendance Inflow & Outflow

Aspects of church that attenders most value

Aspects of church that attenders think should get more attention


Summary Review: What attenders value & hope for

In the Detailed Review section (12 pages):

detailed results for each Core Quality

– You in 2006– You in 2001– A wider comparison

questions to help you engage with the data


Detailed Review

Attendance:Detailed data on each of the key attendance measures.


Detailed Review: attendance measures

Demographic and other data about the people of your church


Detailed Review: the people of your church

The Profile outlines: Three Planning Options Short Planning Session


Planning Options

After first reviewing the Profile, we recommend churches move from reflection to action.

PART 5. Three Planning Options

1. A Short Planning Session (1 session)

2. Reflection/Action Planning Process (2 sessions)

3. Comprehensive Planning Process (4-5 sessions)

Planning that sees, reverences and fosters the sacredness of life! (people's gifts, energy, initiative, creativity)

- that builds hope!

“I came that they might have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

PLANNING OPTIONS

Look for Life

Jesus Christ and his promise of life, his presence as life, is at the core of every congregation.

In the midst of all our communities Jesus is:

• the Bread of life (John 6:35)• the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)• the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)• the Living Water (John 4:11)• the Light of Life (John 8:12)

PLANNING OPTIONS

Look for Life

PLANNING OPTIONS

An overview of three planning options

PLANNING OPTIONS

Option 1: Short Planning Session

An introduction to the Church Life Profile suitable for any church.

A single two hour session.

It is designed to encourage all attenders to reflect on the strengths they bring to

ministry.

We invite all churches to do this session.

PLANNING OPTIONS

Option 2: Reflection/Action Planning Process

For churches to move directly from their NCLS Profiles to steps for action.

Two sessions of 2-3 hours each.

For churches that have recently completed a planning process, are already pursuing a vision or are not able to begin a long planning process right now.

PLANNING OPTIONS

Option 3: Comprehensive Planning Process

For churches keen to develop a vision for the future and to develop action steps needed to bring this vision to reality.

Four to six sessions.

This process can help churches to rediscover their sense of purpose, to dream dreams, to cast a vision and to passionately pursue the vision to its fulfillment.

CHURCH LIFE PROFILE


Study your Summary Review (pp4-11)


Distribute the Information

Getting ready

To review your Profile...

FOR STEP 1

The NCLS team recommends that, if possible, more than one person reviews the Profile. The main findings about your church’s vitality can then be reported to the leadership and congregation.

Appoint a Review Team

Become familiar with ‘Enriching Church Life’ book and DVD.

Dig Deeper in Your Detailed Review (pp12-25):


The Summary Review (pp4-11) includes the Circle of Strengths:

The circle of strengths represents the comparative strengths of your church for each of the nine core qualities


Summary Review: Circle of Strengths

Change over Time

When churches take part in the

NCLS more than once, we can offer a picture of change

over time


Summary Review: Change over Time

Attendance Inflow and Outflow

Churches grow when inflow exceeds outflow.

The NCLS Inflow/Outflow chart helps churches understand their main sources of inflow and destinations of outflow.


Summary Review: Attendance Inflow & Outflow

Aspects of church that attenders most value

Aspects of church that attenders think should get more attention


Summary Review: What attenders value & hope for

In the Detailed Review section (12 pages):

detailed results for each Core Quality

– You in 2006– You in 2001– A wider comparison

questions to help you engage with the data


Detailed Review

Attendance:Detailed data on each of the key attendance measures.


Detailed Review: attendance measures

Demographic and other data about the people of your church


Detailed Review: the people of your church

The Profile outlines: Three Planning Options Short Planning Session


Planning Options

After first reviewing the Profile, we recommend churches move from reflection to action.

PART 6. Other NCLS Resources and Projects

Local Church Life Surveys Leadership Resources Innovations Project NCLS Communications Church Search

A practical tool to regularly assess your core qualities and build on your strengths.

Your church can order a Local Church Life Survey at a time that suits your church.

Contact NCLS Research for more information.

www.ncls.org.au

OTHER NCLS RESOURCES AND PROJECTS

Local Church Life Surveys


NCLS Leadership Resources

Subscribe at

new.ncls.org.au

New research project looking for new initiatives

new.ncls.org.au

Two goals:

Keep the Church informed on innovations

To establish what makes projects effective & sustainable

NOVUS magazine

Stories of innovations in Australian church life


NCLS Innovations Project

NCLS Newsletters: Research findings and stories in short & accessible formats available to reprint & distribute

Presentations and workshops available

NCLS Website - www.ncls.org.au


NCLS Communications

Church Search

A FREE internet directory to help Australians find a church.

12 000 churches12 000 churches40 denominations40 denominations

www.churchsearch.org.au


Church Search

http://www.churchsearch.org.au/

NCLS Research

02 8267 4394

PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235

[email protected]

www.ncls.org.au

http://www.ncls.org.au/

Documents

An Overview of Contents