Women Speak Out on Optimism and Opportunity
Nielsen has a very interesting new study of the attitudes of women. What makes this study useful for our work in the Church Growth Program is the breakdown of the data from the survey results across ethnic and other demographic lines that make it a good resource for planning mission and ministry programs.
SOURCE: Nielsen
We’re learning from the 2010 Census data about the profound changes in demographics reshaping our country. Those changes are not just ethnic they are also being reshaped by the changing role of women in the workplace and in our society. Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group and their attitudes about optimism and opportunity will have major impacts on media, retail and manufacturers now and in the years ahead—and provide lessons about of message of hope and opportunity for an optimistic role for woman in the Episcopal Church.
The Nielsen study offers good news for our mission and ministry work in the vineyard over the next year working congregation by congregation to help each devise a church vitality and growth strategy that works for them. Its focus on attitudes about optimism and opportunity are very important benchmarks for our church vitality and growth work ahead.
SOURCE: Nielsen
Headlines from this Nielsen study?
- Optimism was highest among African American and Hispanic women, especially when it came to how they viewed the opportunities they have had compared with those of their mothers.
- Women of today are not only optimistic for themselves, they expect their daughters to have more opportunity than they do.
- American women are heavy users of technology – even if they aren’t early adopters. Women of all ethnicities use media in similar ways, with one key exception: smartphones. Just 33 percent of Caucasian women have a smartphone in their household, compared to penetration rates in the 60s for women of other ethnicities.
SOURCE: Nielsen
I recommend this Nielsen Report to you: Women of Tomorrow: U.S. Multicultural Insights.
Related articles
- Church Growth and Vitality in East Contra Costa County (churchgrowthprogram.com)
- Study: Indian Women Are the Most Stressed on Earth (newsfeed.time.com)
- Women, African Americans, & Older Americans Watch The Most Video (reelseo.com)
- Nielsen: ‘vast majority’ of those under 44 have smartphones (electronista.com)
- Nielsen Wire: Women of Tomorrow, US Smartphone Surge; Countdown to Product Launch (ynative77.wordpress.com)
Grow My Church!
At the October 15th Membership Growth Team Workshop at St. Clare’s, Rev Ron Culmer told us about the Grow My Church program.
Here is the background information we promised:
Every Sunday thousands of people leave church and never come back.
Here in North America, 80% of our churches are not growing.
That means yours is probably one of them.
The reasons are not always simple, but there are solutions.
Grow My Church! is a new church renewal program designed to help stop the slide and rebuild declining congregations. It’s a practical self-assessment tool designed to stimulate introspection and growth by combining sage advice from leading congregational development experts with a practical, easy-to-use format to help you evaluate your ministry and take steps to improve.
Grow My Church! is a low-cost alternative to consulting firms and can help congregations identify their challenges and develop a productive course of action. Once finished, churches usually have a much better idea of where their growing edges lie and are thus better equipped to take further steps to address them.
The course leads your group through key areas of congregational life essential for health and vitality: leadership, purpose, worship, spirituality, service, fellowship, generosity, hospitality and invitation. During the course, your church will develop its own personalized Congregational Growth Plan, which includes attainable goals and realistic expectations.
Grow My Church! is designed for a small group of 6-10 participants. It includes a DVD with 4 hours of teaching, and companion CD featuring course outlines, worksheets, and appendices rich in practical information.
Grow My Church! is written by Chris Yaw, an experienced pastor who has a heart for building healthy congregations. He is the author of several books and articles and holds degrees from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Cost: $298 (plus s/h). Money back guarantee
Your church does not have to continue its downward slide. You may be able to bring renewal to your faith community. Learn more at www.thegrowmychurchcourse.com. Then think about it, pray about it, and take a first step towards a healthier congregation.
Research About Church Growth & Decline
This is a list of useful resources and views about church growth and decline. It is by no means an exhaustive list. if you know of other resources please ADD A COMMENT with the link and a brief description.
