CHURCHES are not including families in decisions about children’s and youth ministry, early results from a new survey from the Institute for Children, Youth and Mission (CYM) suggest.

More than 1500 people have so far responded to the Taking the Pulse survey, which closes on 31 May. Of the family workers to have responded, 91 per cent said that their church was not including families in decision-making about children’s and youth ministry; 89 per cent of children’s workers surveyed said that children were not included in these decisions; and 60 per cent of youth workers said that young people were not included.

Only half of volunteers involved in children’s ministry felt valued by their church, early results suggest; one third (33 per cent) of volunteers involved in ministry for 11- to 16-year-olds did not feel valued; and 64 per cent of family workers did not feel valued.

The director of research for CYM, Dr Sarah Holmes, said on Tuesday: “If we can collate and present anonymised data to show the impact that these ministries have, this will be so encouraging to teams who work hard week after week in the churches up and down the country.”

Almost one third (28 per cent) of all respondents so far are parents, she said. But just 29 grandparents had so far taken part. “This is not surprising, as often grandparents are not explicitly mentioned in churches as being part of the team supporting the faith of their grandchildren,” but CYM wanted to hear from more of them.

The online survey takes four minutes to complete. Participants have the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher.

cym.ac.uk/research/taking-the-pulse-survey