Barna Research

One thing I use this blog for is to flag things I want to remember to read when I have more time. This is one of them: Barna Research Online Home Page

Why are small churches small? Why are large churches large and more likely to grow? These are some of the factors explored in this week’s report. In that summary you will discover:

Small churches have a higher proportion of downscale adults, who tend to be less aggressive, less inclined to assume leadership, and less oriented toward institutional growth.

Larger churches attract a greater proportion of conservative adults, who tend to prefer knowing acceptable boundaries and working within them. Church-going conservatives substantially outnumber church-going liberals.

Baby Busters are more likely to attend a small church than a large church. They have energy but they are less interested in numerical growth, have less leadership experience and fewer resources to invest in a church.