Annual surveys provide a view of trends across the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania
The results from two annual surveys to be sent out next month will provide a hugely important snapshot of how congregations are faring in Victoria and Tasmania.
Much like a visit to the doctor, the information gained from the Community Life Return and Financial Return gives the Synod an insight into the relative health of congregations.
The surveys have been taking place since 2016, helping to provide an insight into what is happening in each congregation, and providing a view of trends across the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania.
The Community Life Return focuses on the membership, worship and activities of congregations in the previous calendar year.
It looks at how worship is undertaken, including the introduction of online and hybrid options, and the types of activities offered to members of the congregation and the wider community.
The survey also includes local approaches to governance, risk management, and occupational health and safety.
The Financial Return focuses on the finances and properties associated with each congregation in 2024, and covers sources of income, types of expenses, uses of properties, and areas of compliance around auditing of records and essential safety measures.
The Community Life Return is used by Presbyteries and equipping Leadership for Mission staff to help with planning around ministry and leadership development, resourcing for local and international mission, and to monitor congregational health.
The Synod’s Culture of Safety team uses the report to monitor and support congregations in their responsibilities in relation to a safe church environment.
The Financial Return is used by Presbytery finance committees to monitor financial and mission sustainability, including the ability to sustain commitments relating to paid ministry roles.
Presbyteries and Synod staff use the Financial Return reports to assess grant applications as well as plans around property maintenance and development.
Executive Officer at eLM, Duncan Macleod, says the surveys play a vital role in monitoring the health of congregations in Victoria and Tasmania.
It is vitally important then, he says, that as many congregations as possible fill out and return the surveys.
“In 2024 we had a return rate of 62 per cent for the Community Life Return and 74 per cent for the Financial Return,” Duncan says.
“What we’re obviously hoping for is greater engagement in terms of the number of returns this time around.
“It does require some real effort, but it’s so important that they are filled in by congregations.
“Surveying congregations and presbyteries around some of the trends relating to worship, mission, property and finance provides us with a very useful snapshot.
“The results from those surveys help us to monitor the vitality and health of the Church in Victoria and Tasmania, and means we can then offer support to congregations in different ways if needed.”
Questions around the surveys should be directed by email to returns@victas.uca.org.au
