Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

 In "The Fence-sitters: How real is the hope?" (Observer, Nov. 2009), author Richard Wright questions the role of research numbers in church growth efforts, including The United Church of Canada's Emerging Spirit initiative. Since data formed part of the Emerging Spirit research we had to make some decisions about their use and authority.

Wright raises the question of whether the 77% identified by Environics as "Potentials" is a valid statistic. We believe it is. In addition to Bibby, a 2006 Ipsos-Reid survey collaborates what many church leaders know - a significant interest in spiritually and faith exists "out there."  The Potentials identified in the Environics quantitative research are just that-those with a potential interest in a church with the attributes of The United Church of Canada. There was never any guarantee that these people would become members of the United Church according to the definition of the last century.

Emerging Spirit also did a qualitative study in 2006 with the research firm Terra Nova. This study revealed in greater depth the doubts many 30-45 year olds have about organized religion. This study made it clear few in this demographic would visit (much less become members of) a church unless some of their assumptions and expectations about organized religion could be changed. This work of challenging these assumptions has been behind Emerging Spirit's head-turning WonderCafe website and advertising campaign.

Emerging Spirit research has made it clear from the beginning that a long-term campaign and radical shift in priorities would be required if the church were serious about nurturing relationships with young Canadians. Clearly, the research offered a realistic perspective on the challenge of church growth as much as it did on the possibility of hope.

With legitimate survey numbers showing both a distrust of organized religion and an interest in issues of faith, the big question left unanswered by Wright's article was what we should be doing about it. This leads to the question of call.

What if Environics' 77% is slightly too positive? How about half of that number or a third? What if even 20%, one in five, of that same group signified a willingness to enter into a relationship with the church? Would that not be sufficient statistical grounding to believe there might be hope for a relationship between our church and this missing generation?

The experience of Emerging Spirit tells us that there is indeed cause for hope. God continues to surprise us with numerous people across the country who have inspiring vision and energy for the future of The United Church of Canada. And with or without the statistical backing, as people of faith our call to spread the good news of the gospel and offer life and hope to the world remains the same.