What Impact is the Pandemic Having on Church Attendance?
Dr. Joel Thiessen, Professor of Sociology and Director of Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University
At the Flourishing Congregations Institute, one of the ways that we have presented research and practices around flourishing congregations in Canada is through our regular newsletter that included a blog from a ministry practitioner or a researcher. Starting this issue of the newsletter, we will be piloting a short video (instead of a blog) that will share Canadian-based research and/or Canadian-based practitioner experiences and insights with church and denominational leaders on congregational flourishing. Each month, the Flourishing Congregations Institute will curate weekly videos on a single topic (e.g., discipleship, hospitality, leadership development, evangelism).
The opening week’s short video will feature research on the month’s topic, while the other three weeks will include practitioner experiences and insights on flourishing on the month’s theme in their context. The intention is to feature content from people across theological traditions and Canadian regions. In September we’ll be focusing on the topic of volunteerism/equipping the saints. We hope this first short video, by our Director Dr. Joel Thiessen, on the topic of: What Impact is the Pandemic Having on Church Attendance? will be helpful to you and give you a taste of what is to come!
Recommend Resource
More houses of worship are returning to normal operations, but in-person attendance is unchanged since fall
Justin Nortey, Pew Research Centre
As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and pandemic restrictions are eased across the United States, churches and other houses of worship increasingly are holding services the way they did before the outbreak began, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
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Upcoming Events
Resourcing churches for ministering well in this next season
Flourishing Congregations Institute invites you to SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, November 5, 2022, 9am-12noon MST
Join church leaders across theological contexts and Canadian regions at Ambrose University or online for Canadian data, theological reflection, and practical application on various themes.
What’s next after Alpha?
Thursday 22nd September - 1 PM Central
Priests and parish leaders want their Alpha participants to become and grow as disciples. The problem is that, building the next step of discipleship in your parish can be complex: do we have sufficient leaders? what model works best? when do we start? This is why Divine Renovation is inviting you to What’s next after Alpha?, an event where you will learn how to walk with people beyond Alpha, hear about the models that others have developed in their parishes, and be inspired with new ideas to keep moving your parish’s mission forward.
Wayfinding – A Discernment Pathway
Oct 18, 2022 – Nov 15, 2022
Through curated experiences and tools, the goal is to equip leaders with the knowledge and practices to make space, slow down, and hear what God is saying. Each of our Wayfinding cohorts will have pastors, church planters, and missional leaders from denominations across Canada which will offer a diverse array of perspectives, experience and wisdom.
Transformational Coaching from New Leaf
Fall 2022 Session
Weekly from September 28 – November 22, 2022
1-3:00 pm Eastern (online)