St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Church Survey UK Results

In March 2004 we invited our readers to take part in "Let the people speak", a survey of attitudes to churchgoing conducted by Church Survey UK (a private enterprise). Between September 2003 and September 2004 14,000 people responded, and the results were published in February (too late to be included in our March magazine).

Although the sample is only those who took the trouble to reply, the results are worth reading. The original questions were clearly aimed at investigating the declining level of clergy visiting, and you might expect nothing but a series of moans on that subject. Far from it.

Apologetics. The first key finding was that people want churches to explain the many reasons why believing in God and Christianity makes sense. Today's generation wants to know reasons for belief, to hear the evidence, and to examine the facts. "We are living in a secular age, but rarely do you hear churches point out with vehemence that there are sound reasons as to why we believe what we believe."

Holiness. People want churches to give clear teaching on the nature of God's holiness and the implications of this for individuals and for nations. To combat the "Yeah, God exists, but so what?" attitude, churches need to explain God has standards for us as well as love for us. In fact, only in this way can the cross of Christ make sense.

Worship. Respondents are concerned that church services should satisfy. They want services taken with conviction and passion. Traditional and modern services are both OK, but should have message and content. People want sermons with meat in them, on biblical topics which "help us live as faithful Christians in the 21st century". And the quality of welcome and fellowship was an issue to many who replied.

Visionary and Prophetic. A real desire was that churches should explain how the scriptures foretell what the end times will be like, and how much of modern life is to be expected before Christ's coming again. Society is in a mess, but "I know that as bad as things may get, Christ is returning and he will personally put things right again."

Visiting. Yes, this subject did come in at number 5: the church must make contact with its consumer base. Free up the vicar so s/he can visit!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. April 2005, Page 8.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (April 2005) Jesus a Ghost? Abortion, Annual Meeting, Church Survey. On this topic: Survey questions.	Church Survey UK Results In March 2004 we invited our readers to take part in "Let the people speak", a survey of attitudes to churchgoing conducted by Church Survey UK (a private enterprise). Between September 2003 and September 2004 14,000 people responded, and the results were published in February (too late to be included in our March magazine). Although the sample is only those who took the trouble to reply, the results are worth reading. The original questions were clearly aimed at investigating the declining level of clergy visiting, and you might expect nothing but a series of moans on that subject. Far from it. Apologetics. The first key finding was that people want churches to explain the many reasons why believing in God and Christianity makes sense. Today's generation wants to know reasons for belief, to hear the evidence, and to examine the facts. "We are living in a secular age, but rarely do you hear churches point out with vehemence that there are sound reasons as to why we believe what we believe." Holiness. People want churches to give clear teaching on the nature of God's holiness and the implications of this for individuals and for nations. To combat the "Yeah, God exists, but so what?" attitude, churches need to explain God has standards for us as well as love for us. In fact, only in this way can the cross of Christ make sense. Worship. Respondents are concerned that church services should satisfy. They want services taken with conviction and passion. Traditional and modern services are both OK, but should have message and content. People want sermons with meat in them, on biblical topics which "help us live as faithful Christians in the 21st century". And the quality of welcome and fellowship was an issue to many who replied. Visionary and Prophetic. A real desire was that churches should explain how the scriptures foretell what the end times will be like, and how much of modern life is to be expected before Christ's coming again. Society is in a mess, but "I know that as bad as things may get, Christ is returning and he will personally put things right again." Visiting. Yes, this subject did come in at number 5: the church must make contact with its consumer base. Free up the vicar so s/he can visit! John Hartley
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