Strengths- The only evidence-based religion.
- A proven link with Spirit, keeping the message and inspiration relevant
- No reliance on outdated and legend-based theology
- Universalist and non-sectarian outlook
- Modern, inclusive and socially-progressive philosophy with no anti-women or anti-gay teachings
- National network of over 500 churches: SNU 336, GW 52, US 28, Corinthians ?, Unaffiliated ?
- Large population of enthusiastic, skilled and talented volunteers
| Weaknesses- Movement is stuck in ‘messages’ groove
- General standards of mediumship not what joiners have been led (unrealistically?) to expect
- Failure to promote philosophy as interestingly and accessibly as it should be
- Larger number of leavers than joiners over past 21 years(4)
- Inability to retain joiners for very long.
- Untrained leadership at church level
- Church network erratically spaced, based on serendipity rather than strategic planning
- Small size of congregations and churches, making it difficult to offer an interesting and comprehensive range of activities, or to minister to the whole person
- Lack of in-depth leadership at all levels (too many ‘elected unopposed’)
- Too much bureaucracy – too little creativity
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Opportunities- Retain many more from the large numbers we attract
- Create a new model of Spiritualist church or centre
- Retain the large number of joiners we attract with the natural mediums that are out there
- Appeal to family audience with Lyceums alongside Sunday morning services
- Multi-media advertising, using small press ads to direct prospects to website articles, setting out our stall more fully and cheaply than ever before.
- To replace declining Christianity as the natural religion for modern humankind
| Threats- Exposure of a ‘super medium’, bringing our easy recruitment advantage to a halt, whilst accelerating the leavers’ rate
- Possibility of bad publicity and unfair media coverage
- Our own exponents’ limitations being spread by word of mouth
- Legislation (unlikely at present)
- Our own inaction due to failure to recognise our present vulnerability
- SNU’s bureaucratic culture could kill the creativity necessary to transform it
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