It feels timely to call your attention to the fact that October is data collection season!
The national church is asking every parish to be particularly vigilant over the next few weeks as they record attendance numbers which will be included in the ‘October count’, an important part of the annual Statistics for Mission return.
I’d be really grateful if you could be sure that data is accurately gathered at all of your worship services (not just Sunday worship) over this period.
As you engage with the Stats for Mission return (which doesn’t have to be submitted until the beginning of 2025) some of the language is strange and may not be how you would describe activities in your context.
If you have any questions about the form or things that need ‘interpreting’ for your situation then don’t hesitate to speak to either myself, your incumbent, or area dean - we’re here to help!
Equally, if you’re struggling to navigate the online portal then do, please shout out.
Your information is just as important as any other church and we do want to capture the important things you can tell us, not least, the history of your church in numbers.
On a more general note, can I just say a very big THANK YOU for collecting this information for us – it really is invaluable.
I do appreciate that in the busyness of church life it might not seem the most glamorous or important job but, when put together with other churches from the deanery, diocese and country it paints a really helpful picture of what God is doing and how He is doing it.
This picture tells us what’s ‘fruitful’ and what’s ‘less fruitful’ – through this we can offer training, advice, and ideas to all ministers as to how they might best engage in Mission & Ministry in their communities.
It also helps see how the church is changing and how we might best train ministers for the models of ministry needed in the future.
Be encouraged, from the earliest days the church has been collecting Stats for Mission – if you don’t believe me, read Acts 2:41!
Alongside Stats for Mission, we, working with other Church House colleagues, collect information around the financial position (Financial returns) and Energy use (Energy Footprint Toolkit) of churches.
These are also equally vital in helping us understand the strength and health of the church so that we can know how best to help and support.
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your assistance in this is greatly appreciated, nothing is ‘lost in the machine’, every scrap of information helps build the picture we need to navigate these changing times.
Rev Canon Matt Barnes
Director of Discipleship, Mission & Ministry
