This likely will be one of several (though not necessarily serial) posts reflecting on some interesting data which has recently been shared around church leader gatherings in Aotearoa NZ - thanks to the work of the Wilberforce Foundation which has recently conducted a "church life" survey and a national study of 1,009 people who live in our country, "representative by age, gender and location." (Available in, Faith and Belief: Te Patapatai Whakapono: Exploring the Spiritual Landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand (November, 2023).)
Today's point of interest (to me, at least) is one set of data Wilberforce has produced, published in a booklet, Insights from the 2023 Church Life Survey New Zealand: The perspective, character and values of church attendees across Aotearoa New Zealand.
On page 07 is a chart, Percent of attendees born overseas by denomination. A bunch of denominations range from 21%-28% (Anglican, Baptist, CCCNZ, Confessing Anglicans, Methodist, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Uniting). Independent churches are at 37% and Wesleyan Methodist at 39%.
Guess which church comes in at a whopping 59% overseas born? The Roman Catholic church!
40% of all participants in the survey were born overseas. Auckland churches have 60% attendees born overseas, other cities are around 29% with 23% in the South Island outside of Christchurch and 24% in the North Island outside of Auckland and Wellington.
There is a bit to think about, isn't there?!
Thought 1: Gospel work is hard work among NZ born Kiwis. Is the good life here so good that we do not feel the need for good news from God?
Thought 2: The future growth of the church, the future of the general resilience of the church here is hugely dependent (from today's perspective) on immigrants. Many people here debate the good and the bad of immigration. Perhaps the church should more clearly side with the good!
Thought 3: I am thrilled for the Roman Catholic churches in our land that many congregations are boosted in numbers and in general congregational life by such a large participative presence of overseas born members.
Two quite Anglican oriented thoughts:
Thought 4: Perhaps our Government would recruit more Anglicans from countries with larger Anglican churches than is the case in the countries from whom many migrants currently come.
Thought 5: We are a long way from the make up of our clergy reflecting the make up of the "new" New Zealand population. Change in the right direction is taking place. Could it be faster? How?
As William, a commenter here often says, Demography is destiny!
2 comments:
Democracy is destiny - but so is devotion. A critical challenge for NZ Catholicism is vocations. The number of men in training for the priesthood is low, and most of these are from Vietnam and the Philippines. Of course, there are advantages in this as well, when many immigrants face the stresses and challenges of being dislocation and loneliness, and churches with sympathetic foreign-born leaders can serve to provide some stability and a focus of community (a sense of belonging, English lessons, home cooking, connecting with fellow nationals). Historically NZ Catholicism focused on education as its primary means of mission, but in an unchurched, post-Christian world, new forms of engagement have to be discovered. A rediscovery of the profound intellectual tradition which challenges scientism, materialism and other secular idols that control the minds of Gens X, Y and Z will be part of the response, along with lives of holiness and integrity that model these truths.
Pax et bonum
William Greenhalgh
It seems to me that most peoples who come to New Zealand,other than from the classically 'western' countries, and those who are born into Maori and Polynesian families here, carry with them an underlying community sense of the divine. Pakeha probably bring a deep rooted individualistic secularity of outlook. I don't think 'the good life here' explains very much, since it is not good for so so many.
Rhys
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