2023 Family & Intergenerational Faith Formation Survey Report
In the Spring of 2023, Lifelong Faith conducted a national survey to identify how well churches are implementing practices of family faith formation and intergenerational (all ages together) faith formation. A total of 408 churches completed the survey.
This is the first report of the survey findings. The second phase of the research will include reports on the churches that are offering family and/or intergenerational faith formation programming. These reports will be available beginning in September 2023 on the Lifelong Faith website: https://www.lifelongfaith.com.
#1. Family Faith Formation Practices
The survey asked churches to rate eight practices in family faith formation. The top three responses include 1) providing experiences for the whole family that promote growth in faith and discipleship, 2) providing resources to nurture growth in faith and practice at home, and 3) helping parents grow in faith and discipleship, and practice a vital and informed Christian faith.
The second question asked about the type of family programming their church offers. The top three responses were 1) family programs at church, 2) family sacramental preparation programs, and 3) at-home family faith practice activities.
#2. Intergenerational Faith Formation Practices
The survey asked churches to rate nine practices in intergenerational faith formation. The top two responses (Sunday worship) describe settings that are more multi-generational (multiple generations gathered together) than intergenerational. When we speak of intergenerational we mean an intentional approach or strategy to engage people with other generations: building relationships, learning together, sharing stories, praying with each other, serving together, and more. Sunday worship has the potential for becoming much more intentionally intergenerational when the generations have the opportunity to interact in meaningful ways. The responses to the next top responses focused on building intergenerational relationships and doing activities together – practices that are more intentionally intergenerational.
The second question asked about the type of intergenerational programming their church offers. The top responses were seasonal or occasional intergenerational programs, followed by intergenerational service projects, and monthly intergenerational learning.
#3. Challenges in Offering Family or Intergenerational Faith Formation
The final question asked about the challenges leaders faced in offering family or intergenerational faith formation. Nineteen responses surfaced repeatedly in the 486 individual responses to the question. Among the most mentioned challenges were the following:
This is the first report of the survey findings. The second phase of the research will include reports on the churches that are offering family and/or intergenerational faith formation programming. These reports will be available beginning in September 2023 on the Lifelong Faith website: https://www.lifelongfaith.com.
#1. Family Faith Formation Practices
The survey asked churches to rate eight practices in family faith formation. The top three responses include 1) providing experiences for the whole family that promote growth in faith and discipleship, 2) providing resources to nurture growth in faith and practice at home, and 3) helping parents grow in faith and discipleship, and practice a vital and informed Christian faith.
The second question asked about the type of family programming their church offers. The top three responses were 1) family programs at church, 2) family sacramental preparation programs, and 3) at-home family faith practice activities.
#2. Intergenerational Faith Formation Practices
The survey asked churches to rate nine practices in intergenerational faith formation. The top two responses (Sunday worship) describe settings that are more multi-generational (multiple generations gathered together) than intergenerational. When we speak of intergenerational we mean an intentional approach or strategy to engage people with other generations: building relationships, learning together, sharing stories, praying with each other, serving together, and more. Sunday worship has the potential for becoming much more intentionally intergenerational when the generations have the opportunity to interact in meaningful ways. The responses to the next top responses focused on building intergenerational relationships and doing activities together – practices that are more intentionally intergenerational.
The second question asked about the type of intergenerational programming their church offers. The top responses were seasonal or occasional intergenerational programs, followed by intergenerational service projects, and monthly intergenerational learning.
#3. Challenges in Offering Family or Intergenerational Faith Formation
The final question asked about the challenges leaders faced in offering family or intergenerational faith formation. Nineteen responses surfaced repeatedly in the 486 individual responses to the question. Among the most mentioned challenges were the following:
- family participation at Sunday worship and parish life
- family participation in family or intergenerational programming
- family schedules, busy lives, lots of activities
- getting families to make this a priority, to commit the time, to see the benefits
- availability of volunteers, and dedicated leaders committed to family and intergenerational faith formation
- support of the pastor, and educating the pastor and church leadership about the importance and benefits of family and intergenerational faith formation
- changing the paradigm from child-centered to family-centered faith formation
Download the Report in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues.
| 2023 Faith Formation Survey Report.pdf |
