Report on Strand 3B

Church Growth Research Project Report on Strand 3b An analysis of fresh expressions of Church and church plants begun in the period 1992‐2012 October 2013 Conducted by Church Army’s Research Unit 1 Contents 1. Historical and staffing introduction ......................................................................................... 6 2. The rationale for the research and its methodology ................................................................. 8 2.1 The Church Commissioners’ brief .................................................................................... 8 2.2 Church Army’s research experience ................................................................................. 8 2.3 What is an Anglican fresh expression of Church? (fxC) ................................................. 10 2.4 The relational approach ................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Some present challenges concerning criteria for church ................................................. 12 3. Investigating the methodological design ................................................................................ 15 3.1 Protected weaknesses ...................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Sampling .................................................................................................................. 15 Map of the dioceses covered and agreed to cover .................................................................. 17 3.1.2 Inclusion/exclusion .................................................................................................. 18 3.1.3 Inclusion/exclusion and data collection ................................................................... 18 3.1.4 Low return rate ......................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Unprotected weaknesses .................................................................................................. 18 These are areas within which we know our research is vulnerable. .......................................... 18 3.2.1 Sampling .................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.2 Data collection ......................................................................................................... 19 3.2.3 The influence of temperament and handling complex issues .................................. 19 3.2.4 Singularity of source ................................................................................................ 19 3.2.5 Analysis of data collected ........................................................................................ 19 3.3 Strengths .......................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 Overall methodology ................................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Inclusion/exclusion and data collection process ...................................................... 21 3.3.3 Data input, analysis and findings ............................................................................. 21 Summary of 3.1 to 3.3 ............................................................................................................ 21 The shape to the findings ............................................................................................................... 21 4 Variables identified in the January 2012 tender ..................................................................... 22 4.1 Evaluation of growth experienced in fresh expressions of Church ................................. 22 4.1.1 What groups of people attend fresh expressions of Church? ................................... 22 4.1.2 Modesty about the methodology .............................................................................. 23 4.1.3 What was meant by de-churched and non-churched in the survey? ........................ 24 2 4.1.4 The contribution of transplanting to this growth...................................................... 26 4.1.5 The number of fxC per year in the research period ................................................. 29 Summary of 4.1 ...................................................................................................................... 30 4.2 The contribution of the fxC compared with an overall diocese ...................................... 31 4.2.1 A challenge to face and positive contribution made ................................................ 32 4.2.2 Conclusions drawn from table 7 .............................................................................. 32 4.2.3 Assessing the fxC contribution to a diocese ............................................................ 33 4.2.4 A return on the investment in people sent ................................................................ 35 Summary of 4.2 ...................................................................................................................... 36 4.3 What proportion of newcomers came from the surrounding area and how wide is their reach in terms of culture, class and ethnicity? ........................................................................... 37 4.3.1 Geographical/social setting ...................................................................................... 37 4.3.2 Neighbourhood or network? .................................................................................... 40 4.3.3 How typical the attenders are and what ethnic diversity is exhibited ...................... 42 4.3.4 The ages that are served by fxC ............................................................................... 43 4.3.5 Under 16s at fresh expressions of Church ................................................................ 44 Summary of 4.3 ...................................................................................................................... 45 4.4 What progress the fxC are making towards sustainability and viability ......................... 46 4.4.1 Steps towards ‘three self’ maturity .......................................................................... 46 4.4.2 Steps towards discipleship ....................................................................................... 48 4.4.3 Fresh expressions of Church and the sacraments ..................................................... 51 Communion variables ............................................................................................................ 52 Confirmation variables ........................................................................................................... 53 Baptism variables ................................................................................................................... 54 Summary of 4.4 ...................................................................................................................... 55 4.5 How training affects outcomes and the part of pioneers ................................................. 56 4.5.1 The presence or absence of training for fxC ............................................................ 56 4.5.2 Training and growth ................................................................................................. 57 4.5.3 What role ordained pioneers are playing ................................................................. 58 4.5.4 The mix within the ordained leadership of fxC ....................................................... 59 The contribution of designated pioneers – ordained or lay .................................................... 59 4.5.5 The significant lay contribution to leading fxC ....................................................... 60 4.5.6 The rise of the ‘lay-lay’ leader ................................................................................. 60 Summary of 4.5 ...................................................................................................................... 61 3 5 Further dynamics disclosed from the fxC database ............................................................... 62 5.1 Leaders by gender and ecclesial status ............................................................................ 62 5.2 Leaders by gender, time available and remuneration ...................................................... 63 Summary of 5.1 and 5.2 ......................................................................................................... 64 5.3 Why people started a fxC ................................................................................................ 65 Summary of 5.3 ...................................................................................................................... 67 5.4 fxC and parish boundaries ............................................................................................... 68 Summary of 5.4 ...................................................................................................................... 70 5.5 What kinds of fxC exist and when they meet .................................................................. 71 Differing frequencies of meeting across kinds of fxC ........................................................... 74 Choice of day and fxC............................................................................................................ 74 Summary of 5.5 .....................................................................................................................

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