Pittsburgh
In mid-October researchers from Wycliffe’s Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research (CIECR) made the six-hour drive to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to participate in the prestigious annual joint conference hosted by the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) and Religious Research Association (RRA).
Our four-day visit began with a lively conversation, hosted by The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), about how research can contribute to theological post-secondary education. We were heartened to hear about the growing partnerships between theologians and empirical researchers, and the particular interest in using our unique CIECR tools and data to bolster collective understanding of post-secondary trends.
CIECR had the opportunity to feature our own work on Sunday morning. The focus of our seminar was our 2024 Divine Pulse Project (https://ciecr.wycliffecollege.ca/divine-pulse-project/), launched last May, which explores the current condition of the Canadian Church. Delivered by Associate Director Dr Scott Mealey and Director Dr Stephen Hewko, the kick-off paper provided an overview of the project. It highlighted two machine-learning tools that help recognize major patterns of decline and growth, and inflection points in church giving.
Research Fellow Dr James Watson chronicled the way denominations strategize and support church planting in Canada and how this is driving a resurgence of new churches lead by first- and second-generation Canadians. Research Fellow Dr Wing Wong challenged the assumption that church decline is a product of competing religious and ethnic values, discovering instead that it is more often witnessed in small, rural areas where there is less circulation of ideas and people. Research Fellow Dr Elizabeth Millar shared her exploration of “great” churches across Canada, irrespective of denomination, region, or community size. Her early discoveries included the often-repeated importance of ecumenicalism – which may prove to be an especially valuable consideration for churches looking to revitalize in the future.
Despite presenting on the last morning of the conference, team members were pleased to find themselves in the presence of a lively (and notably Canadian) crowd who asked engaging question and offered helpful feedback.
Canmore
Associate Director Scott Mealey and Research Fellow Dr James Watson then presented at the Church Planting Canada’s leaders’ meeting in Canmore, Alberta. For over 25 years, this cross-denominational organization has been providing leadership and energy to church planters in Canada. As the organization considers new approaches and models for an emerging, cross-cultural era, CIECR was privileged to share its financial and census data coupled with a beta version of our new Church Planters’ Map. As a result, we will be helping facilitate leaders from numerous denominations and regions as they make plans for an ambitious season of starting new churches in Canada.
We are thankful for the ways that God and Wycliffe College have facilitated our Institute’s vision for serving the Church through rigorous empirical research. Stay tuned for our Divine Pulse Project reports in January 2025.
By Associate Director Dr Scott Mealey
Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research
