United Methodists Launch Worldwide Study on 'State of the Church'

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The United Methodist Church has launched its own worldwide study on the "State of the Church" with the first draft of the report expected by the end of the year.

Currently, leaders within the denomination are being asked to fill out the survey to collect thoughts, feelings and opinions for a better understanding of the United Methodist Church today. Research is being conducted by the Chicago-based Martec Group which is gathering data from the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Germany, Switzerland, Russia and the Philippines.

"It seems when agencies of our church do surveys, they tend to do it from that agencies' perspective," commented United Methodist Bishop John L. Hopkins, chairperson of the Connectional Table, which is sponsoring the project to guide mission and ministries.

"The Connectional Table is trying to do something above and beyond any particular perspective, and that is why we went with an outside firm," he said, according to the United Methodist News Service.

The principal researcher for the United Methodist data for Martec is a United Methodist, Meera Buck.

Bishops, pastors, district superintendents, annual conference treasurers and administrative service directors, connectional ministries directors and designated lay leaders are being interviewed and encouraged to participate in the survey. Some questions include how important certain core beliefs are to their spiritual journey and to what extent the church offers opportunities to study, pray and practice those beliefs.

Survey participants will also indicate how important prayer, worship with others, financial giving, Bible study and working for social justice is to their religious life.

Additionally, survey questions ask for opinions on what the church needs to do to attract young people as members; to voice agreement or disagreement with the official denominational policy on homosexuality; to list their primary reason for becoming a member of the United Methodist Church and express how hopeful they are for future of the local church and denomination as a whole, according to the denomination's news service.

The survey is being conducted by telephone and through the Internet for the 2008 General Conference.