Sifting through the data, the National Church Life Survey (NCLS), a cross-denominational research organisation, has reported that Generation Y, born 1977 to 1991, showed an improvement in all the core qualities relating to the church’s health and vitality from the period of 2001 to 2006.
In its survey, NCLS indicated Generation Y made a positive assessment in every area of church life and showed the highest score for seven out of the nine qualities (growth in faith, worship, belonging, empowering leadership, innovation, faith-sharing, and inclusion). However, Generation Y didn’t record the highest score for the practical and diverse services.
From the figure seen by Christian Today Australia, it showed a decline of these nine qualities when Christians aged. In particular, the steepest decline is found in the ‘builder’ age group, which consist of people aged 65 and above.
As they get older, they prefer to attend worship service weekly and listen to traditional styles of music in worship services. They spend regular time in private devotional activity and have a strong sense of belonging to their denomination. Older Christians tend to be involved in church-based community service, justice or welfare activities.
Younger Christians are more likely to join small groups and prefer contemporary styles of music in worship services. They have helped others in a range of informal ways and value outreach program. They are usually newcomers to church life and have switched denominations or transferred congregations in the previous five years.
Surprisingly, young Christians attached a significant lower value of sharing Holy Communion/the Eucharist compared to other Christians as they get older.
One major finding from the survey was the dramatic increase in proportion of church attendants who are aware of their church’s vision, goals, and direction – from 57 percent in 2001 to 70 percent in 2006. However, Christians aged 65 and over have the lowest commitment to their church’s vision for the future. When Generation Y was asked to rate their confidence in the vision of the church, they recorded the highest proportion of those who are fully confident.
In relation to innovation in the church, 63 percent of Generation Y of attendants strongly agreed/ agreed that their church was willing to try something new, where the percentage increases as they get older.
To further test the respondents’ openness to new ideas, an additional open-ended question was asked by NCLS researchers. The question was “If others who worship here wanted a different style of worship, attendants think the church should…”
There were 32 percent of Christians aged 65 and over who believe the church should maintain the current style of worship but it decline as Christians get younger.
The preliminary review given by the NCLS, though still warrant more research and analysis, allowed them to draw two brief conclusions.
Church
Younger Christians experience greater growth
Sifting through the data, the National Church Life Survey (NCLS), a cross-denominational research organisation, has reported that Generation Y, born 1977 to 1991, showed an improvement in all the core qualities relating to the church’s health and vitality from the period of 2001 to 2006.
By: Christian Today Australia
Posted: Wednesday, 16 January 2008, 16:35 (EST)
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