3. Statistical Information Team
Certain important demographics (statistical) information cannot be collected in home meetings. The best way to retrieve this information is to appoint a statistical information team that collects, compiles, and shares findings from church and community data. (If the church has a planning committee, that group could do this work.) In smaller congregations this type of data collection could be eliminated.
There are several sources for this information. American Demographics and other market-oriented publications provide demographic data on most population centers, The largest single source of community data is the U.S. Census Bureau. Many in your community can help you with this. Most of the data which public agencies work with is drawn from past U.S. censuses, State and county groups, state and community colleges, etc. also work with this information. Typically, the data is filed electronically and is also available in graph formats. Generally, these agencies will sell this to you at a low cost.
Also, check with your national and state denominational agencies. Many of these have contracts with data sources and will share this information with churches on a cost recovery basis.
Typically, the Census Bureau defines census tracks as Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). Areas that lie outside SMSAs are called Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) which include townships, towns, and villages. Some census data is available by zip codes. Secure those census tracts that represent your agreed-upon church community. Determine a format for the information that is simple and easy to understand. The kind of information you need is identified below.
(1) Population and Community Profile
What is the population of the area within a two-mile radius of the church? Within a five-mile radius? If applicable, within a ten-mile radius? If rural, how many residents are farm? Non-farm?
What has been the population growth/decline for the past ten years?
What is the estimate of growth/decline for the next ten years?
What is the age-spread of the population?
Preschoolers (ages 0-5)
Children (grades 1-6)
Youth (grades 7-12)
Adults (Young adults, 18-29)
(Median adults, 30-54)
(Senior adults, 55-up)
What percentage of the population is single?
What is the ethnic and racial mix? White; Native Indian; Black; Hispanic; Asian; Other
What is the housing mix?
Single family
Low Rise Apts.
Town House
High Rise Apts.
What are the occupation groups in your community?
Professional, semi-professional and managerial
White collar, skilled workers, proprietors
Semi-skilled and unskilled workers
What is the average family income?
Less than 10,000
10,000-19,999
20,000-39,999
40,000-59,999
60,000-99,999
100,000 or more
Other information is available in the form of reports that can be used by your planning group. You can get answers to such questions as (1) what people do with discretionary income, (2) how they vote, (3) what they read, (4) preferred recreation, (5) what style of music they like, (6) family values, etc. Answers to these questions are useful in developing evangelism and outreach strategies.
Additionally, you should examine the social fabric of the community. Look at such problems as crime, juvenile delinquency, racial unrest, drugs and alcohol problems, broken homes, pornography, gambling, etc. Familiarize yourself with public issues and needs which your church should address. Most importantly you need to know about community institutions and agencies the church can be linked with such as schools, hospitals, home for the aging, welfare services, children’s homes, public defenders office, jails and prisons.
(2) Non-Church Member Profile
If you can do it, take time to poll unbelievers. This is a values driven approach and will tell you a great deal about the impact and effectiveness of your church’s ministry. Since these people represent a major part of the church’s “customer base,” they will tell you a lot about what the church could or ought to do in order to serve them. Ask them to respond to interview questions like:
What do you think is the greatest need in your area?
Are you actively attending any church?
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
If you were to look for a church, what kind of things would you look for?
What advice can you give to a minister (church leader) who wants to be helpful to people?
Sometimes churches involved in planning do not connect the ministries of the church with the needs of people. They may develop strategies they think are needed without identifying real needs. There is a vast difference in strategy planning and “thinking strategically,” If the process of planning is merely an academic exercise, it will stifle creativity and the free flow of God’s Spirit. The end result will be plans that look good on paper, but are never implemented because they lacked a connection with the real needs of persons in the community. Stay focused on the real needs of real persons!
Planning Reminder – Don’t make the mistake of letting information be the end rather than the means of planning. Avoid spending unnecessary time with boring statistics and labor intensive reports. Ultimately demographic data should point to purposeful caring ministries to people in need. Planning involves both ‘heart” and “head.” But, please avoid at all costs dealing with the “head” only. By the way, the most important research instruments are your own spiritual “eyes” and “ears.” When you do research, look and listen first!
(3) Church Membership Profile – Just as you need to have data on the church community, you need to evaluate specific information about the church, its history, as well as past and present ministries. This information is best handled by a small group like the planning committee. Assign to that team, or an appointed group, the task of retrieving the following church membership information:
What was the total church membership in each of the years listed?
20 years ago ___ 5 years ago ___
15 years ago ___ 3 years ago ___
10 years ago___ I year ago ___
How many inactive members are included in last year’s figure?
What was the average attendance in Sunday morning worship in each of the years listed?
What was the total enrollment in Sunday School in each of the years listed?
What was the average Sunday school attendance in each of the years listed?
How many members were received by baptism in each of the years listed?
How many deaths of church members occurred in the years listed?
How many persons transferred in by letter in each of the years listed?
How many persons transferred out by letter in each of the years listed?
List the number of male and female resident members who fall in each of the following age groups:
Males Females All Percent
Under l0 ________ _________ ________ _________
11-18 ________ _________ ________ _________
19-29 ________ _________ ________ _________
30-54 ________ _________ ________ _________
55-64 ________ _________ ________ _________
65+ ________ _________ ________ _________
Total ________ _________ ________ _________
List the number and percent of resident adult members in each of the following categories.
Number Percent
_______ ________ Husbands and wives living together with children at home.
_______ ________ Husbands and wives living without children at home.
_______ ________ Single adults, including never married, separated, and divorced.
_______ ________ Widows and widowers.
_______ ________ One-parent households with children at home.
_______ ________ Others (describe)
_______ ________ Total
List the number of resident adult members who are currently
Separated _______ Divorced ________
What percentage of those who were seniors in high school and members of your church ten years ago are still members?
Fewer than 25%
25-49%
50-75%
75% or more
What were the total receipts of your church during each of the years listed below?
10 years ago $__________ 3 years ago $____________
5 years ago $ __________ 2 years ago $____________
4 years ago $ __________ I year ago $____________
What were the undesignated receipts during each of the years listed above?
What were the special offerings for missions during each of the years listed above?
What were the total gifts to missions during each of the years listed above?
What were the total gifts to building or other capital needs during each of the years listed above?
What are the ages of the 20 highest giving families (units)? Next ten largest giving units?
What percentage of the congregation gives systematically? weekly? monthly? seldom? never?
Has growth/decline in church revenue followed a trend line? What will/can new ministries do to impact that trend?
4. Church Member Survey
Another option for data gathering is to ask church members to respond to a questionnaire.* This gives every member an opportunity to participate. (Distribute the questionnaire through the mail, in Sunday school, worship services, etc.) The following is a list of possible ministry concerns that could be included in a questionnaire. Is your church involved in a ministry that addresses any of these? If so, are they effective? If not, what should/could the church do? Should your church be involved in other ways not mentioned?
In addition, ask church members the following questions:
How would you list the top ten ministry priorities for your church?
What ministry does your church do best?
What ministry does your church not do effectively? Does it need to be revised or canceled?
What ministries do you think your church needs to develop during the next three to five years?
What do you see as the two or three most critical issues facing this congregation today?
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