Part of our ongoing work is to invite people to better understand our synod, its mission field and the role of a synod bishop. Back in February, ELCA Research created a survey “Bishop Election Feedback“ for distribution among our congregations as we prepare for a bishop election and plan for the future.
John Hessian, Research Analyst with the ELCA Churchwide Organization, met with rostered ministers to talk about the survey results and give an evaluation. We invite you to share the following mission assessment reports with your congregation to better see into the life of your synod. We are thankful for the work of our churchwide Office of Research and Evaluation for their technical help in executing the survey and interpreting it. We appreciate the work of John Hessian in this project.
Reports:
Executive Summary PowerPoint
This PowerPoint shows key information about all the reports listed below. It hits the highlights and key discoveries. The report is 11 pages of PowerPoint information.
Religious Adherence in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
This report is a one page document that shows you about religious engagement in a variety of Christian and interfaith traditions. The largest group are the “Unclaimed.”
3F – SW Minnesota Synod Statistical Report (Southwestern Minnesota Synod Bishop Election Report)
This report helps you compare our synod with the other six Minnesota synods. You will learn about the size, population and baptized membership. You will also learn about worship attendance, financial support across the synods and congregations’ life. It is nine pages long with multiple graphs making up much of the report.
Southwestern Minnesota Bishop Election Report: Synod Ministry Review
This is a written and graphic summary of the online questionnaire. It tells you about the research. It takes you into the results. The report sketches key information about understanding of the synod, mission partners and people’s longings for the next bishop’s gifts and focus. It lifts up key challenges, opportunities and advice. It also gives a look into congregational mission emphasis.
Meeting Notes:
The Association of Religious Data Archives
(You can see the ELCA in the drop down menu. Then you can click on any synod and see the breakdown of religious adherents in that synod. So you can get a sense of how prominent the ELCA is in SW MN compared to synods in other parts of the US. You can also search by state, the whole US, etc.)
Baptisms Data
This is an Excel file showing the gains and losses of baptized members in 2000, 2010 and 2019. The question was asked, what percentage of baptized losses were from statistical adjustments (cleaning the rolls). In 2000, transfers out were the main cause of the loss of baptized members. In 2010, statistical adjustment was the biggest category of baptized losses. In 2019, deaths and statistical adjustments were about the same (each were a little over one-third of all losses).
