by Cynthia Woolever
Are congregations more effective now than they were 8 years ago? How do congregations attract new people? What kinds of people attend now? How are congregations changing their worship services and programs?
These questions led us to recruit congregations across America to participate in a panel study—the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. A national sample of congregations took part in the survey project in 2001. Everyone fifteen years of age or older filled out a survey during religious services. These congregations were contacted again in 2008 and asked to distribute the worship surveys again. We wanted to find out how these congregations might have changed in four key areas—spirituality and faith development, activities and relationships within the congregation, community involvement, and worshipers’ vision for the congregation’s future.
More than 300,000 worshipers in over 2,000 congregations provided a representative profile of worshipers and their congregations. Because the first national survey was conducted in April of 2001, that snapshot of congregational life reflected reality before the historic events of September 11, 2001. Taking another snapshot of these congregations in 2008 gave us the opportunity to look at change at the local level.
In 2008, we also recruited another national sample of congregations to take part in this historic effort. These “new” congregations did not take part in our study in 2001. But we knew we could learn something new from them because their worshipers’ experiences add to the total profile of more than 330,000 congregations nationwide.
A broad range of congregations and their worshipers are part of this effort to better understand congregational life. Congregations from many denominations and faith groups participated—from Catholic parishes, non-denominational churches, non-Christian groups (such as Mormon churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques), evangelical Protestant churches, mainline Protestant churches to historically Black denomination churches.
The 2008 survey also involves gathering information from congregational leaders—usually the pastor, minister, rabbi, or priest. We also surveyed the associate pastors in each congregation that had more than one key leader. Information on associate pastors is scarce, and we hope to learn more about how these leaders make congregations more effective.
Continue to check this blog for updates on our new findings about congregations, worshipers, and their religious leaders.
Taking another snapshot of these congregations in 2008 gave us the opportunity to look at change at the local level.
Posted by: darkfall gold | 01/08/2010 at 03:56 AM