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Update 50 pages 15.

Attitudes to Thanksgivings

Roger Godin, Chairman of BI.
 

As we have mentioned before, the only increasing statistic in the Church of England’s Christian Initiation figures is in the growth of the “Thanksgiving Service for the Birth of a Child”. Not much – but a little!

Subjective evidence suggested that although some appreciated Thanksgiving services as a valuable pastoral approach where sensitively presented, relatively few parishes had tried them seriously as a supplement or alternative to infant baptism – and some congregations were unaware of the existence of an alternative. But how could we discover the numbers of parishes in each of these camps?

As part of our ongoing research, we recently decided to carry out a survey of attitudes to the Thanksgiving Service. To find a balanced sample is always difficult, but with two of our Committee members on General Synod, it occurred to us that the method of election to Synod by Single Transferable Vote means its membership should be as representative as any sample. So we issued a 60 second survey to all parish clergy and lay members of General Synod (but not Archdeacons and others not in parishes – yet!). Replies came back from all sections of the Synod with equal numbers of responses from lay and clerical and a good spread amongst church traditions and type of parish. So we feel we can have confidence that the results represent the spread of opinion and experience over the whole church.

We are still analysing the statistics – helpfully many responders agreed to talk the issues through so we hope we will ultimately have information in depth. However the key findings are below. As with all statistical exercises caution needs to be exercised in interpretation!

1. Only 18% of parishes use the service “regularly”, but a further 22% use it “sometimes”.

2. However 65% consider the service should be “actively promoted” – and interestingly this figure includes 10% of those who “never” use it.

3. Use of the service seems to be highest in suburban areas (37%), and, as might be expected, least in rural areas (20%).

4. Among those parishes where Thanksgiving is used “never” or “rarely” there is little correlation with church tradition, though liberal and “other” traditions represent 44%; but interestingly over half consider the services should be actively promoted.

The answer to question 2 seems to indicate we have an opportunity for continuing education! We will keep you up-to-date as we complete this and other ongoing research.

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This web page was last updated on 22nd January 2006.