Friday, 23 September 2011

Invitation for Anglicans to take part in unique Bible survey

Posted On : September 22, 2011 4:02 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/9/22/ACNS4942
Related Categories: ACO - Bible in the life of the Church

By Stephen Lyon, Co-ordinator Bible in the Life of the Church Project

As part of the Bible in the Life of the Church project we are undertaking a Communion-wide survey of the way Anglicans understand and engage with the Bible. We rightly say the Bible is central to our life together but we also engage with it and interpret it in different ways. What are those differences? Why might there be differences? What can we learn from those who differ from us?

We are undertaking this survey by means of a questionnaire that is now available online and in a downloadable paper form. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and we want as many Anglicans as possible to get involved – either individually or through their local churches.

We also want to use the questionnaire as a way that churches can explore further the way they engage with the Bible, the processes used. So we have written a five-session course outline that looks in more depth at the issues that lie behind the questionnaire.

The results from the survey will be included in the final reports that come from the project when it reports to Anglican Consultative Council at its next meeting in November 2012.

Below are the various ways you can be involved in the survey and the necessary links or contacts.

1. Get your church or group to participate together using paper or online completion. For details look at “Guidelines for distribution and collection” http://www.aco.org/ministry/theological/bible/survey.cfm

2. Take part individually in the survey online by going to: http://tinyurl.com/bilcsurvey

3. Use the survey as part of a bible-study programme. For details of the five-session course Leaders’ notes look at: http://www.aco.org/ministry/theological/bible/survey.cfm

For more details about the project as a whole go to: www.aco.org/ministry/theological/bible/index.cfm

To contact Stephen Lyon email: stephenplyon@gmail.com  


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3 comments:

  1. "The questionnaire is anonymous and the answers you give will be treated confidentially" - yet the last page of questions certainly give enough information for someone with a copy of the Birmingham Diocesan Directory to identify me.

    Richard Huss
    Elmdon, Solihull

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  2. There's some statements there that drive the pedant in me crazy - "Joshua destroyed the walls of Jericho", for instance. God destroyed the walls, through the Israelites following the orders from Joshua that God gave to him. Do I put "definitely happened", even though it's a simplistic statement that removes God, and the people of Israel, from the equation?

    In the end I went with yes, and put a note at the end, as I assumed that the author was shorthanding the reality.

    Also the passage from Mark 9(?) had those questions with three options that weren't mutually exclusive and you could only tick one. Sometimes I wanted to tick all three, other times two, never just one. Grrr!

    Si Hollett
    Amersham, Bucks

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  3. Agree with all that Si. I find myself wondering at the whole point of the questionnaire and how the findings will be used. Is it just a bit of consumer research to better understand 'customers' and how they use the 'product'? It's good to find out what people really think rather than asking them questions to which they will give the response they think you want but does that mean there actually are 'no right or wrong answers'?? Hmmm

    Elizabeth Bridcut
    Wirral

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