Geoff Troughton - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Mon, 16 Sep 2013 07:50:18 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg Geoff Troughton - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 New Zealand church turns to alcohol to attract more members https://cathnews.co.nz/2013/09/17/new-zealand-church-turns-alcohol-attract-members/ Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:06:33 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=49702 With promotional events like "Wine and theology evenings" and "Beer and barbeque" church services, congregants of New Zealand's Presbyterian Church are now embracing alcohol as an evangelism tool to attract more members and increase their bottom line according to a new study coming out of that country. Highlighting new research by religion expert, Dr. Geoff Read more

New Zealand church turns to alcohol to attract more members... Read more]]> With promotional events like "Wine and theology evenings" and "Beer and barbeque" church services, congregants of New Zealand's Presbyterian Church are now embracing alcohol as an evangelism tool to attract more members and increase their bottom line according to a new study coming out of that country.

Highlighting new research by religion expert, Dr. Geoff Troughton of Victoria University of Wellington, in a Medical Xpress report, revealed that the Presbyterian Church's anti-alcohol campaign had slacked off radically since the 1990s to shore up their bottom line and attract more people to the dying church. Continue reading

 

New Zealand church turns to alcohol to attract more members]]> 49702 Another church for sale because of dwindling and ageing congregation https://cathnews.co.nz/2012/09/25/another-church-for-sale-as-because-of-dwindling-and-ageing-congregation/ Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:30:39 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=34021

A church on Auckland's North Shore has been put on the market. It is the latest of a a number of churches that have been closed or sold in recent years because of declining church attendance and changes in the worshipping habits of those who do go to church. In February this year, for example , there were 9 churches on Read more

Another church for sale because of dwindling and ageing congregation... Read more]]> A church on Auckland's North Shore has been put on the market. It is the latest of a a number of churches that have been closed or sold in recent years because of declining church attendance and changes in the worshipping habits of those who do go to church. In February this year, for example , there were 9 churches on the market.

The Castor Bay Presbyterian Church is being disposed of after its dwindling and ageing congregation accepted it was impractical to keep it. Reverend Don Hall says the 15 remaining parishioners, who range in age from 60 to 80, will join a nearby church in Mairangi Bay.

The church, which has ocean views and sits beside a separate hall on a 1133sq m block of prime real estate valued at $1.125 million, could be turned into a family home or removed for a new building.
Dr Geoff Troughton, a lecturer in religious studies at Victoria University in Wellington, said there was a lot of mobility between religions and churches had to compete to attract people.

"The more popular churches these days typically offer a wide range of services and activities and can be very busy centres," he said.

"Rather than seeking to maintain a presence in every suburb, the older denominations are often pooling resources in order to meet this demand.

"In some ways there is a lot of competition out there - but churches are also choosing not to compete everywhere."

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Another church for sale because of dwindling and ageing congregation]]> 34021