Author, Speaker and Missiologist, Ed Stetzer posted some interesting results from a recent Barna Group study, which showed the size of congregation is related to the beliefs, behavior and demographics of that congregation. Stetzer said, “Specifically the study showed ‘statistically significant differences between churches of 100 or fewer adult attenders and churches of 1000 or more adult attenders.’ In fact, the only issue covered where no real difference existed was whether the person had prayed during the previous week.”
It’s interesting stuff.
You can read more by clicking here.
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Shawn,
ReplyDeleteWhile the aforementioned study from Barna is interesting and while there is undoubtedly much from this study that should cause us to think, I would suggest that one might possibly want to reread and revisit Barna's information in light of some of the remarks made by Chuck Warnock, over at http://chuckwarnockblog.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/barna-bungles-small-church-vs-big-church-survey/
Yep. It could have been said better. Chuck is all over it, and Ed already responded. Ed said, "I find the info to be helpful (as I do almost all new information), but I get what you are saying.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a better way to say it is to add, "Non-evangelical churches tend to be smaller, and this probably impacts the results."
However, I get the concern. Just not sure how you change the facts. A bigger sample (probably) won't help.
You basically have to change the sampling methodology to get different results-- and that can lead to some agenda-driven research.
I get that the small church gets hit a lot. I am a frequent defender.
But, I also think researchers must be able to do studies and look at the facts and/or challenges without being criticized for not adding variables to make certain groups look better.
And, I should add that Barna is a competitor of sorts, so I don't have any reason to defend his approach. I just think it is a bit of a catch-22 for researchers."
You can read all the dialogue by going to Ed's page. http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2009/08/a-churchs-size-often-reflects.html#comments