Given the wide variations in data gathered and the recognition that our measurements are often dependent on a range of sociological factors, I am revisiting the question of what we are measuring and how we interpret the measurements.
My questions is intentionally general. There seem to be few papers or interest in church statistics. The few who specialise in this area have particular preferences and these are divergent.
To be more specific, two major categories of church statistics, are membership and attendance. These are measured both internally by churches and externally by surveys (eg statistics Canada). At a national level, the church I serve currently requests 3 measures of attendance and two of membership. My diocese requests 6 measures of attendance and 4 of membership. I wonder how these different measures are interpreted, and whether these interpretations are in any way robust.
My questions is intentionally general. There seem to be few papers or interest in church statistics. The few who specialise in this area have particular preferences and these are divergent.
To be more specific, two major categories of church statistics, are membership and attendance. These are measured both internally by churches and externally by surveys (eg statistics Canada). At a national level, the church I serve currently requests 3 measures of attendance and two of membership. My diocese requests 6 measures of attendance and 4 of membership. I wonder how these different measures are interpreted, and whether these interpretations are in any way robust.
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