Are Congregations Increasing or Decreasing Their Recruitment of New People?
FACTs on Congregational Programs
In This Edition
Faith Communities Today Research Report on Trends in Congregational Programming
George’s Commitments Six Months Into Retirement
Christian Persecution Higher Than Ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List Marks 30 Years
ICYMI:
People Leaving Church is the Wrong Focus
Climate Change Needed For Funding Baptist Associations
New Report Explores Trends in Congregational Programming
Check out this report HERE.
(George Bullard is grateful for the excellent work of the Faith Communities Today ongoing project of the Hartford Institute for Religious Research housed at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. They approach their research from a multi-faith perspective. This framework is important to know as you read this and other research they release. I have great appreciation for them and know personally many of the people involved in their research. HERE is a list of their research partners.)
“A new report co-authored by Dr. Jessica Williams and Dr. C. Jeff Woods of the American Baptist Churches USA explores trends in congregational programs and ministries across twenty years of Faith Communities Today (FACT) findings.
This report summarizes findings from six national FACT surveys dating back to 2000, including the FACT 2020 survey, which was the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the US (covering 15,278 congregations from 80 different denominations and faith traditions).
A few of the key findings highlighted by this portrait of programming trends include:
The types of programs congregations offer has remained relatively steady from 2000 to 2020
The top 5 emphasized congregational programs from each of the FACT surveys over the 20-year span were:
Religious education
Community service
Prayer or meditation groups
Music programs
Fellowship
The percentage of congregants involved in recruiting new people has remained similar over the past 15 years, with the majority engaging in some level of recruitment
Congregations’ level of engagement with other congregations has decreased over two decades
Congregations are consistent in the programs they have offered but are collaborating with other congregations less and less to offer such programming
What programmatic changes might be called for as the social context continues to change over the coming 20 years? Explore the expanded report for further considerations and insight.”
George’s Commitments Six Month Into Retirement
I retired from full-time ministry on June 30, 2022. I did not retire from ministry on that day. I do not want to just replace one full-time commitment with another. I still have things I want to do to expand and extend the Kingdom of God. I still have a calling to fulfill.
It is hard — as many who have gone before me acknowledge. Learning to say “No” or even “I do not do that anymore,” is easier said than done.
I have determined if I put things in writing and share them, that I am making a commitment to them. So here goes.
Family and all aspects of family will be a high percentage of my time and my first priority. My wife and I are in our 51st year of marriage, healthy, want to travel, have two adult children, their spouses, and four grandchildren.
Writing in various formats. I am writing at least one article each week. I am working on my first of seven books. The books do not really have a deadline so I write on them as I can. I keep thinking of things I want to write so this list grows longer.
Reading books. I love books. I buy books. Many of these books I also read. I buy them, however, faster than I can read them.
Consulting and mentoring. I still want to do some of this to keep active, circulating, networking, and learning. After six months I am about to find my sweet spot and a deeper focus for this part of my life.
Walking: I am intentionally walking at least twice as much as I did before I retired. I want to do more walking. I currently average 8000 steps per day — three miles.
Sleeping: I am sleeping more than during my full-time working life. Like walking, I probably need to do more of this. It would help if I liked to take naps — which I do not.
There! I have said it. I have put it in digital text. I have sent it out to my network. I have made a commitment.
Do you have any advice for me? If so, leave me a comment.
Christian Persecution Higher Than Ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List Marks 30 Years
Religion News Service: North Korea has returned to the top of the World Watch List with its highest-ever persecution score after an increase of arrests of Christians under its ‘anti-reactionary thought’ law.
Read this article and see the map of Christian persecution HERE.
I celebrate your commitments and look forward to minute adjustments when necessary. I applaud the stewardship of your experience.