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During the past two decades, the Science of Congregation Studies has blossomed significantly in the UK, as well as within the USA and Australia. In this illuminating and thought-provoking volume, Leslie J. Francis' research group draws on the Signs of Growth Survey conducted throughout the Anglican Diocese of Southwark to illustrate how the strength of combined qualitative and quantitative research methods can draw on the insights of psychological theory, sociological theory, and empirical theology to illuminate pressing questions of relevance to the sociology of religion, psychology of religion, practical theology and pastoral studies. Individual chapters discuss the missing generation of young people, the greying generation aged seventy and over, how occasional churchgoers express belonging and commitment, connections between psychological type and religious motivation, and the distinctive characteristics of growing congregations.
List of contents
Preface1Shaping congregation studies: A scientific approach Leslie J. Francis and David W. Lankshear.- 2Profiling adult churchgoers within the Diocese of Southwark: An overview David W. Lankshear and Leslie J. Francis.- 3The missing generation: Profiling churchgoers in their twenties David W. Lankshear and Leslie J. Francis.- 4'The people are friendly': Listening to 20- to 29-year-old churchgoers Jenny Rolph, Leslie J. Francis, and Paul W. Rolph.- 5The greying generation: Profiling churchgoers aged 70 and over Albert Jewell, Leslie J. Francis, and David W. Lankshear.- 6'I don't need encouraging, it's part of my life': Listening to churchgoers aged 80 and over Paul W. Rolph, Jenny Rolph, and Leslie J. Francis.-7Who goes to church in their twenties? A comparison of occasional and frequent churchgoers David S. Walker.- 8'The church is very welcoming even though I don't attend often': Listening to occasional churchgoers Paul W. Rolph, Jenny Rolph, and Leslie J. Francis.- 9Church attendance and cohabitation: A study among churchgoers David W. Lankshear, Andrew Village, and Leslie J. Francis.-10Personal predictors of congregational bonding social capital: A study among churchgoers in a multi-cultural society Leslie J. Francis and David W. Lankshear.- 11Belonging, ethnicity and homophily in local congregations: A multivariate analysis Andrew Village and Leslie J. Francis.- 12Predictors of church growth in Southwark Diocese 2000-2008 Andrew Village.- 13Impact of church schools on the attitudes of young churchgoers toward their church and Christian living Leslie J. Francis and David W. Lankshear.- 14Understanding the cathedral congregation: Inside Southwark Cathedral David W. Lankshear and Leslie J. Francis.- 15The human face of the cathedral: A qualitative enquiry into what draws people to Southwark Cathedral Leslie J. Francis, Jenny Rolph, and Paul W. Rolph.- 16Psychological type, temperament theory, and religious motivation: Exploring the distinctive congregational profile of Southwark Cathedral Leslie J. Francis and David W. Lankshear.- ContributorsAuthor Index.- Subject Index.
About the author
Leslie J. Francis is Professor of Religions and Education at the University of Warwick, UK.
David W. Lankshear is Visiting Professor at Glynd¿r University, UK.
