About 3,000 churches across 21 denominations around Australia have registered to take part in the 2016 National Church Life Survey – the sixth of its kind – over the next two months.
NCLS Research, which oversees the survey, said the churches have ordered more than 400,000 surveys between them in what is the latest incarnation of the largest and longest-running local church survey in the world. The survey provides a “national snapshot” of the Australian church and helps to identify what changes are occurring over time as well as providing church leaders with insight into the heath and vitality of their own local churches.
Dr Ruth Powell, director of NCLS Research, said that while the survey includes questions about a range of subjects, this year the researchers were particularly interested in how cultural diversity is expressed in local churches as well as innovative practices churches are employing and the operation of child and youth ministries.
“Many churches are taking advantage of our Child Survey for eight to 14-year-olds,” Dr Powell said. “This will be the foundation for the future study of the role of the family and church in the spiritual development of children over time.”
The survey, which will be conducted in churches during October and November, has been held every five years since 1991 in the same year the Australian Census is held.
