Shaping the Spirituality of the Church 
Research Materials
A range of articles on many topics related to religious faith and church life in Australia are to be found below. You may search these articles for a particular topic using the search facility in the left-hand column
* Australian Culture and Society
* Congregational Life
* Religion Internationally
* Clergy and Theological Education
* Ethical Issues
* School and Education
* Social Capital
* Spirituality
* Rural Church Life
* The Church Serving the Community
The Spirituality Of The Church
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012Spirituality Of Family, Workplace And Community
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012The Spirituality of Family, Workplace and Community
The Spirituality Of Youth
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012The Spirituality of Youth and Ministry to Young People
The National Spirit
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012The National Spirit
Possibilities For Leadership In Rural Catholic Churches
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012With the declining number of priests available, many Catholic dioceses are investigating various ways of organising their parishes. The issue is similar to that faced by many denominations. Catholic parishes, however, have some issues not faced by most Protestant denominations in that priests have an irreplaceable role in celebrating the sacraments. Priests are central to parish life in the Catholic church and there has not been a tradition of lay people as leaders of worship. However, two case studies suggests that the patterns of leadership can change and may even strengthen parish life as they do so.
Religion And Youth: World Perspectives
Sunday, January 8th, 2012Two major books have recently appeared on religion and youth around the world. The first is a collection of essays edited by Sylvia Collins-Mayo and Pink Dandelion entitled Religion and Youth. The second book is edited by Giuseppe Giordan, Youth and Religion. The picture in most of the articles is one of decline in interest in religion. This picture is also supported by data from the International Social Survey Program.
Christian Faith And The Economy In A Globalised World
Sunday, January 8th, 2012With increasing debt levels, ageing populations, climate change, and deepening divisions between rich and poor, the world is staggering economically. Some international and Australian Christian bodies have called for profound economic changes for the flourishing of human life in a more equitable and sustainable world. These bodies include the World Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Fellowship and the Uniting Church in Australia.
Social Networking Among Secondary Students
Sunday, January 8th, 2012In the last few years, social networking has become a major preoccupation among young people. Surveys conducted among 3700 Australian school students in 2011 found that three out of four students are frequently involved in social networking and close to 40 per cent of all students say that social networking is very important for their peace and happiness.
Dropping Out Of Church
Sunday, January 8th, 2012Two-thirds of all Australians over the age of 50 remember a time when they attended a church frequently when they were children. Among Australians aged between 30 and 50, approximately half have that memory. But among Australians under the age of 30, less than 30 per cent remember attending church frequently.
Why Some Churches Decline While Others Grow
Sunday, January 8th, 2012Some Australian denominations are in rapid decline while others are growing. According to our calculations based on various surveys, between 1996 and 2006, the numbers attending on a typical Sunday in Australia declined in the following denominations: