Sufficiency and Post-growth in church congregations in rural areas

Summary of the project

Working together with churches in rural areas offers the opportunity to coach people of all social and political backgrounds as well as age groups in a joint process of change of attitudes and behaviour in the sense of a lifestyle characterized by sufficiency. The aim is both an adaptation of the congregation structures, as well as a translation of the principles on the members’ everyday life in regard to degrowth. The first of the main pillars of the project is the development of universally applicable and evidence-based working materials as well as event concepts including information and experience learning tailored to the various target groups in a church. Besides individual parameters, we especially focus on variables of social influence and group processes. In addition, various multiplier effects are intended. Serving as a model, the developed strategy will be applied and evaluated in one congregation in the rural area of Brandenburg/Germany. The project promotes exchange within the commune, between parishes in the region, and sustains the transregional knowledge transfer. A local contact point will be set up and two multiplier trainings will be conducted. A detailed documentation and evaluation as well as a publication of all materials and results based on the open science guidelines are to ensure an effective transfer of knowledge. We thereby build a bridge between research and application.

Beneficiaries

Church community members in rural areas, parish council, employees of the municipality