The health of Australian Christianity
Sixty-one percent of Australians self-identified as Christians in 2011, which is down from 91 percent in 1911, only 100 years earlier. Australia's population is steadily getting older, but the church is about to get younger. As the churchgoing elderly (78.5 percent of Australians born before 1946 self-identify as Christians) slowly begin to pass away, the ever-growing middle-to-young population of Australia will begin to dominate the churches, though those churches will likely be smaller due to the number of young people no longer self-identifying as Christians. (1) Here are three primary pieces of the churches of Australia that will be integral to their health in the long run:
1. Evangelism
Sixty-seven percent of Australians who self-identify as Christians are comfortable sharing their faith with friends and family. This means that 33 of every 100 Australian Christians are uncomfortable sharing the gospel with those closest to them. (2) (Remember, this is self-identified Christians, which makes up 67% of Austalia and 75% of the United States, but that includes a lot of people who are nominal Christians.
had much growth in faith in the past year through their congregation
inspiration, joy, awe or mystery in worship services a strong and growing sense of belonging to their congregation awareness of and strong commitment to a vision. (4)
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, "The 'average' Australian," Australian Social Trends 4102.0, April 2013, p. 1-15.
2. NCLS Research Fact Sheet, A Profile of People Who Share Faith, Catalogue Number 01.09.12.0
3. The Effectiveness of Church Planting, Some Initial Research Findings, J.Bellamy and K. Castle, October 2003
4. Ruth Powell and Kathy Jacka, "Moving Beyond Forty Years of Missing Generations,"NCLS Occasional Paper 10, January 2008, p. 7.
1. Evangelism
Sixty-seven percent of Australians who self-identify as Christians are comfortable sharing their faith with friends and family. This means that 33 of every 100 Australian Christians are uncomfortable sharing the gospel with those closest to them. (2) (Remember, this is self-identified Christians, which makes up 67% of Austalia and 75% of the United States, but that includes a lot of people who are nominal Christians.
This difference seems to show up in the areas of discipleship and ministry. Seventy-eight percent of Australians who have experienced "much growth" in the last year are willing to share their faith.
Also, 74 percent of those who are in a ministry or leadership role in their churches are willing to share their faith with those closest to them. (2)
2. Church Planting
In a recent (but too old) study, approximately 1.8 percent of churches in Australia currently self-identify as church plants. Additionally, approximately four percent of the churches that meet weekly in Australia every Sunday were started after 1996. This means that about 50 percent of those churches under 18 years old are church plants. (3)
Far and away the group that plants the most churches in Australia is the Pentecostal movement. As many as 45 percent of the churches planted in Australia since 1996 (at the time of the study in 2003) have been planted by Pentecostals. In second place are Baptists, with only 12 percent of the stake in church plants in that same study. (3) Interestingly, in relation to the last point regarding evangelism, 56 percent of those who attend church plants invited someone to church in the last year—the national average is 45 percent. (3) Finally, and perhaps most intriguing, is the age of those who attend church plants. In Australia, approximately 48 percent of those who attend church (of any kind) on a regular basis are between the ages of 15 and 49. In a church plant, approximately 69 percent of its population is between the age of 15 and 49—that is a 21 percent difference. (3)
In a recent (but too old) study, approximately 1.8 percent of churches in Australia currently self-identify as church plants. Additionally, approximately four percent of the churches that meet weekly in Australia every Sunday were started after 1996. This means that about 50 percent of those churches under 18 years old are church plants. (3)
Far and away the group that plants the most churches in Australia is the Pentecostal movement. As many as 45 percent of the churches planted in Australia since 1996 (at the time of the study in 2003) have been planted by Pentecostals. In second place are Baptists, with only 12 percent of the stake in church plants in that same study. (3) Interestingly, in relation to the last point regarding evangelism, 56 percent of those who attend church plants invited someone to church in the last year—the national average is 45 percent. (3) Finally, and perhaps most intriguing, is the age of those who attend church plants. In Australia, approximately 48 percent of those who attend church (of any kind) on a regular basis are between the ages of 15 and 49. In a church plant, approximately 69 percent of its population is between the age of 15 and 49—that is a 21 percent difference. (3)
3. Addressing Generational Differences
The Australian population is progressively getting older, but soon, according to the authors of this cited study, the churches in Australia will be getting younger. At present, here are the statistics reflecting the percent of self-identified Christians in Australia (4):
Oldest Generation (1926 or before) = 79%
Lucky Generation (1927-1946) = 78%
Baby Boomers (1947-1966) = 67%
Generation X/Y (1967-1986) = 63% (down from 75% in 1986)
iGeneration (1987-2006) = 59%
What does all of this mean? Well, obviously, those numbers don't look good, but let's not miss how it impacts age. The churches in Australia are presently older than it's average overall age of 37, but it is about to get younger. Ruth Powell and Kathy Jacka write for NCLS Research:
Over the next few decades, many churches will face the loss of a sector of committed and loyal attenders who carry knowledge and experience. The implications are far-reaching and churches will need to prepare for a shift in constituency as well as size. Time will tell how effectively the different generations work together towards the future. (4)
Though less and less of the younger generation is self-identifying as Christian on the whole, they will be filling churches soon enough as there is a glaring generational gap between them and their grandparents.
Younger generations and older generations, though very different, do have much in common. Similar percentages of Australian believers across generations have:
The Australian population is progressively getting older, but soon, according to the authors of this cited study, the churches in Australia will be getting younger. At present, here are the statistics reflecting the percent of self-identified Christians in Australia (4):
Oldest Generation (1926 or before) = 79%
Lucky Generation (1927-1946) = 78%
Baby Boomers (1947-1966) = 67%
Generation X/Y (1967-1986) = 63% (down from 75% in 1986)
iGeneration (1987-2006) = 59%
What does all of this mean? Well, obviously, those numbers don't look good, but let's not miss how it impacts age. The churches in Australia are presently older than it's average overall age of 37, but it is about to get younger. Ruth Powell and Kathy Jacka write for NCLS Research:
Over the next few decades, many churches will face the loss of a sector of committed and loyal attenders who carry knowledge and experience. The implications are far-reaching and churches will need to prepare for a shift in constituency as well as size. Time will tell how effectively the different generations work together towards the future. (4)
Though less and less of the younger generation is self-identifying as Christian on the whole, they will be filling churches soon enough as there is a glaring generational gap between them and their grandparents.
Younger generations and older generations, though very different, do have much in common. Similar percentages of Australian believers across generations have:
had much growth in faith in the past year through their congregation
inspiration, joy, awe or mystery in worship services a strong and growing sense of belonging to their congregation awareness of and strong commitment to a vision. (4)
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, "The 'average' Australian," Australian Social Trends 4102.0, April 2013, p. 1-15.
2. NCLS Research Fact Sheet, A Profile of People Who Share Faith, Catalogue Number 01.09.12.0
3. The Effectiveness of Church Planting, Some Initial Research Findings, J.Bellamy and K. Castle, October 2003
4. Ruth Powell and Kathy Jacka, "Moving Beyond Forty Years of Missing Generations,"NCLS Occasional Paper 10, January 2008, p. 7.
