NCLS Research carried out research into church attenders' integration of faith and work, based on responses to the 2016 National Church Life Survey, on behalf of Reventure.
This project provided a research foundation towards Reventure's goal to invest in an emerging Faith & Work movement and to “help believers to have the best impact in their workplaces in how they lead and how they work".
Aims
The research aim of this project was to investigate faith and work integration for churchgoers across denominations in Australia. More specifically, the study aimed to:
- Provide an overview of the demographic profile of church attenders in paid employment (e.g. age, gender, education and ethnicity).
- Provide an overview of the denominational profile of church attenders in paid employment (e.g. Catholic, Mainstream Protestant, Pentecostal and Other Protestant).
- Provide a detailed description of the ways in which faith and work are integrated for Australian church attenders (e.g. impact of work on faith growth, impact of faith on work practices, work-related values, faith practices in the workplace, sense of vocation etc).
- Identify some factors that are associated with high levels of faith-work integration.
- Share insights from churches on how to encourage the integration of faith and work
Methods
Quantitative Analysis
The datasets associated with the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) can help to provide part of the picture of how faith and work are being integrated for attenders in local congregations across a range of institutional denominations and movements in Australia. The NCLS is a survey of thousands of local churches, hundreds of thousands of churchgoers and thousands of local church leaders from approximately 20 Christian denominations across Australia every five years from 1991 onwards. This study will examine data from church attenders who are in paid employment.
Illustrative Case Studies
We will interview around three to five congregational leaders who are ‘exemplars’ in the sphere of faith and work integration and share some of their insights.
Related information
Reventure
The Mission of Reventure is “to be the catalyst, collaborator and encourager for new thinking and renewal that transforms the way people, organisations and churches view the purpose, value and meaning of work.” Their strategy to see work transformed in Australia is to work in two key areas – engaging believers and engaging the world of work.
About NCLS Research
NCLS Research is a world leader in research focused on connecting churches and their communities. Decades of rigorous and thoughtful research has focussed on well-being, spirituality and church health. Cooperating denominations, including Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants, are a network for sharing practical resources to help churches and communities.
Our Research Projects
NCLS Research carries out many research projects, the most well known being the five-yearly National Church Life Survey, which has had millions of participants. Internationally, Church Life Surveys have been held in South Africa and the Netherlands in 2019. Commissioned research projects are regularly undertaken for organisations, including academics and universities; church leadership, at national, denominational, diocesan and state levels; community service agencies; not-for-profit organisations; as well as consultants.
Our Research Services
NCLS Research provides social research and organisational evaluations of the highest calibre to our clients. Our research services, from highly skilled and experienced professionals, are gaining world renown. Led by Associate Professor Ruth Powell, our research team has decades of experience in social sector research and includes academics with particular expertise in the areas of sociology, psychology and religious studies.
