The Church of England invites interested parties to tender for an exciting research programme investigating factors relating to spiritual and in particular numerical church growth within the Church of England. This 18 month programme will involve:
- Preparation of the church’s attendance and other data and analysis of these existing data sets to test hypotheses around factors relating to church growth.
- In depth profiling of a sample of growing churches (and a randomly selected control group).
- A study of factors relating to growth at cathedrals, church planting and the impact of amalgamation of benefices and the use of different patterns of deployment of ministers.
Consortium bids from researchers (including those with significant expertise in quantitative methods), church growth experts and those familiar with Church of England structures are particularly encouraged. It is possible to bid for a particular strand or strands of the research programme as well as to undertake the programme as a whole. Any team submitting a proposal to undertake the whole research programme will need to take a mixed method approach, including statistical analysis and qualitative fieldwork.
Further details and a copy of the invitation to tender are available from:
Kevin Norris at Church House Westminster by emailing kevin.norris@churchofengland.org or calling 0207 898 1767.
Potential contractors are welcome to discuss the project with staff between 09/01/12 and 01/02/12.
Closing date for receipt of tenders 17/02/12 (13.00)
Presentations from shortlisted contractors to take place in late February / early March 2012.
