Spirituality in Australia

Happy Palm Sunday! Jesus was concerned about the nature of Spirituality in Israel, what about The Nature of Spirituality in Australia?The National Church Life Survey Team under the direction of the Rev Dr Philip Hughes recently released some findings about spirituality in Australia.I thought you might be interested in my summary of Philip’s Summary:

• While good things are happening in many churches, very few are fulfilling their potential
• Effective churches have strong, people focused leadership which both listens and formulates vision and pays sufficient attention to detail to make sure things actually happen
• The most successful churches create vision that extends beyond the people of the church, engages those beyond and invites them into participation before membership
• Different people like different styles of church that are seen as relevant to their lives – what is relevant to one group is irrelevant to another – variety of worship is good but no church can cater for all types of people.
• There is a need to be more daring in exploring new ways to reach into society whether through intentional groups or worship expressions.
• It is a time to try things; all manner of things, some things may not work well but that needs to be okay.
• Historically Christian identity has been rooted in denomination affiliations – today denominational identity is weak and weakening and may soon be irrelevant.
• Young people are showing a small but increasing interest in spirituality – this means they seem interested but aren’t about to change much to do anything about it.
• Very few young people see churches as places to explore or express their spirituality.
• Young people are forming their own ‘mix n match” spiritualities – they are cautious of ‘whole spiritual packages’ and regular commitment to a congregation is anathema. They will put their spirituality together their own way.
• Churches need to consider a response to consumer attitudes to spirituality – this begins by being in the market place where people are – film, art, Christian holiday experiences, holiday programmes, pilgrimages, sport, books, business, economics, politics, parenting networks, computer clubs, cafes, gyms, environmental groups, media watch groups are all obvious points to network and connect.
• Few ministry models are working among 20s and 30s and mainstream denominations are failing to engage almost anyone under 45.
• Most local churches still think in terms of parish boundaries in a world where “local community” as an entity no longer exists – community is based on networks not geography.

St Philips is 100 years old in 2011; what do these findings have to say to us as we commit to being here in 2111?In the AdventureMalcolm