Survey says Aussies believe

11:23pm Tuesday, 26th January 2010

Greg Clarke:

According to a survey by the Centre for Public Christianity (where I work), 42% of Australians were adamant that they would not attend a Christian church this Christmas just passed.
Although church numbers swell each year, especially in the more traditional denominations, I’m pretty sure those 42% stayed away on Christmas morning.
But what happened to the 44.5% who said they were undecided about whether to spend December 25th in the pew, the surf or the kitchen preparing the seafood lunch? I don’t know how many of them turned up at church, but I do know that Christians ought to be paying attention to this statistic.
It is sometimes said that Aussies have turned their backs on the Church, but it’s probably more accurate to say that they are still facing in the Church’s direction, but watching from a greater distance than they used to.
Surveys such as our CPX one, and the Nielsen Poll published in the Sydney Morning Herald just before Christmas, consistently suggest that around two-thirds of Australians still believe in God’s existence (68%) and in miracles (63%), and that roughly half of us are open to things such as heaven (56%) and life after death (53%).
In other words, religious believers are still a majority, but only a small proportion of believers go to church. Their beliefs don’t necessarily lead them into the pews.
There’s some work to be done in convincing Aussies that getting together with others who share your beliefs—in order to celebrate them, sharpen our understanding of them, or invite others to consider them—is worth the effort.
What would have brought in the 44.5% of ‘potential attenders’ on Christmas morning? Better singing? The promise of a gripping sermon? The chance to pray and be prayed for? A thriving community of caring Christians? The perfect service time?
I don’t know the answer, but one possible explanation comes from a child who after Sunday School said to me: “They just told me the same thing as last week, using the same words. I think I’ve come enough now.”
Do we need to convince people that the Christian Church, the gathering of those who have faith in the old, old story, has something fresh and vital and, ironically, new to offer?
And does your church in fact have such a thing to offer?

Greg Clarke is Director of publicchristianity.org

Alan Nichols:

Are Australian young people spiritually minded?
Yes, some research suggests there are signs of spiritual revitalisation—increased use of clothes indicating religious identification, increased numbers at civic rites like ANZAC Day, and the rise of mega-churches like Planet Shakers in Melbourne.
Belief in God stands at 51%, and 39% believe He is personal. But only 9% of young people have gone beyond looking for general information about other religions to reading Scriptures or attending ceremonies.
Parents have less influence over their young people. And churches’ models of socialisation into the community of faith are not working. As well, many are hurting, and some are homeless because of domestic violence and disputes. This generation looks for immersion experiences, and sharing experiences with people they trust.
These are all opportunities for churches, and for faith-based NGOs.
What are Australia’s young people responding to?
The two NGOs demonstrating dramatic success in Australia are the Oaktree Foundation and the GetUP campaign (each with 350,000 online registrations in just a few years). Oaktree is for overseas aid, and members must resign when they turn 26. It started with two bases: a private school base and a strong evangelical church base. It has offered overseas exposure trips, and has an inclusive culture, welcoming any who want to go on their journey. GetUp has targeted campaigns on local and global issues such as climate change, Sorry Day and asylum seekers. Research in Melbourne in 2005 into St Kilda Police and Citizens Youth Club, Whitelion, REACH, Parkville Youth Services, Prahran Mission, Housing for the Aged Action Group and St Mary’s House of Welcome Brunswick, revealed an extraordinary involvement of thousands of teenagers and early 20s in mentoring, after-school tuition, serving meals, homeless programs, taking people on outings, and sport for the homeless.
REACH is the foundation started by Melbourne Football Club President Jim Stynes; Carlton footballer Glenn Manton started Whitelion. They demonstrate that young people are idealistic and want experiential participation.
There are also 23,037 volunteers who contribute their time to the work of ACFID member agencies and Code of Conduct signatory organisations. Australian Volunteers International has at any time over 1,000 serving abroad, many of them young.
The question then is: What does this research suggest about our churches’ strategy for reaching young people?
Alan Nichols is a Melbourne-based Anglican minister and writer.

Image by COGAL/istockphoto.com

Café

Survey says Aussies believe