wfn.org | Survey explores factors that make new churches successful

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2001-140

Survey explores factors that make new churches successful

by James Solheim

     (ENS) Analysis of a recent study of new Episcopal churches reveals that 
there are several key factors that contribute to their success.

     "Not surprisingly, the strongest correlate of new church success was the 
initial size of the congregation--its strength a few months after the first 
public worship service," said the report on new church developments between 1980 
and 1995. It was written by C. Kirk Hadaway, a research specialist with the 
United Church of Christ, and Penny Marler of Samford University on behalf of the 
Congregational Ministries Department of the Episcopal Church.

     Other factors contribute to success in parishes "taking root," they 
concluded, including efforts to track visitors and prospective members; 
recruitment and training of effective lay leaders; a community context that is 
well-educated and affluent; a ministry focused on the unchurched; careful site 
selection; and a vision that is clearly articulated by a pastor who has strong 
initiative and is shared by the laity.

     The teamwork between clergy and lay leadership, "doing the work of outreach 
and welcoming," is crucial for strong new church starts and "the ongoing 
articulation and clarification of a congregation's vision and direction enhance 
this joint work." 

     Knowing who you are and where you are going is key "but ultimately are 
fallow without intentional strategies about how you will get there--and the 
actual engagement in activities that move a church in the right direction," 
according to the survey.

Good timing

     The survey emerged from concerns in an ecumenical congregational development 
network of people on the national staff of mainline churches whose portfolios 
include new church starts, according to the Rev. Charles Fulton, on the staff of 
Congregational Ministries as missioner with responsibility for congregational 
development. He coordinated participation in the survey. 

     Fulton, who is also president of the Episcopal Church Building Fund, said 
that the timing of the survey is particularly good as the Episcopal Church 
launches an attempt to double its membership by 2020.

     (See http://www.episcopalchurch.org/resolutions/a033fin.html)

     "We shared a concern that starting new churches is getting very expensive--
and we wanted to do some serious research to find out what was working," he said. 
The Lilly Foundation provided the funding for a three-phase project that would 
first identify congregations and get the basic facts about their development, but 
then survey seven people in each parish, including both clergy and lay 
leadership.

     When asked if the survey revealed any surprises, Fulton said that it 
uncovered "what we thought we knew but now we have corroboration, we can see what 
is important. And common sense can't be underestimated. We were operating out of 
a set of assumptions, that people understood the vision, for example, and that's 
not always the case."

     Fulton said that the Episcopal style of new church development "takes its 
time because it is based on a village church concept. But now we are dealing with 
shifts so it is more like a tent than a village church. We need to know what 
makes a difference in the lives of people."

     He pointed out that the survey delved deeply into questions about 
leadership. "The survey shows that younger clergy, those who can start projects 
from scratch and who are good entrepreneurs, don't always ask about the rules. 
They have the vision and the passion and are able to raise up good lay leaders 
who are motivated and share the passion. Unfortunately, they are too often 
screened out and never given the chance to build on their vision and energy."

Breaking old patterns

     For too many clergy, Fulton argued, ministry is a position and the mentality 
is too passive. "We have talked a lot about lay ministry but the survey shows 
that those who actually get the laity involved--not in some subservient way--can 
pull off new church development. And we talk about team and leadership but the 
survey shows that when it really happens it can make a huge difference. Sharing 
gifts and responsibilities--that is powerful stuff," he said.

     The results of the Episcopal survey are consistent with another recent 
study, an interfaith one Faith Communities Today (FACT) (See 
http://fact.hartsem.edu) "Both show that we are more successful in upper middle-
class, well-educated suburbs. We are comfortable with a certain socio-ecnonomic 
grouping. This research shows us what we get when we operate on old assumptions 
but we can challenge those precepts and learn how to have a more diverse 
community."

     Fulton shares the deep concern about finding dynamic younger clergy, those 
who break molds and don't conform to old models. "I have never known a better 
time for congregations to get radical, to express a readiness to break old 
patterns," he said. "People are discovering the Great Commission of the Gospel, 
to go forth and baptize, and they are coming up with better answers because of a 
hunger and openness."

Pastoral leadership

     The first section of the report summarizes results from a survey of clergy 
who started new congregations, examining the factors related to success in a 
seven-year time frame. "Our analysis shows that, while a relatively young and 
confident pastor is important for new church success, a core group of laity with 
practical evangelism and outreach skills is even more crucial," the report said. 

     A survey of current pastors of those new congregation starts served as a 
"reality check." While demographic factors were important for the initial 
formation of a strong new church, once it takes root "its continued growth or 
lack thereof is more a function of what is happening within the organism itself," 
the report said.

     The survey also uncovered a "remarkable" agreement between the founding 
pastor and the current one, especially on questions of identity and ministry.

Drawing conclusions

     "Today, new church development is difficult and expensive," the survey 
concluded. "Overall the results were more consistent with an outward oriented, 
welcoming attitude than to evangelism" as it is commonly understood. 

     "Successful new church starts let people know they are there through direct 
contact. They send things to homes, they call people on the phone, and they visit 
people in the community. A successful new church start is organized because there 
was a need for it in the community. It reaches out to people who have not found a 
home where they can feel at home--and it responds in the most obvious way when 
newcomers come to visit: it keeps track of them, contacts them and sends them 
literature and invitations to special events."

     (Results of the survey will soon be posted to the Congregational Ministries 
web site at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/congr/) Additional research on ethnic 
specific communities is continuing and the results will be released when the 
studies are completed.

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.