By Deborah Bruce
If your congregation participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, or if you're interested in congregatonal life, you might own the first edition of A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations: Who's Going Where and Why (2002). Now an updated and expanded edition is available!
The second edition features results of Wave 2 of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey when almost 1,600 congregations and 163,000 worshipers took part. This latest volume has been revised to reflect Wave 2 findings and includes up-to-date statistics, tables with the latest information about worshipers and congregations, and original cartoons (!!) (It's OK to admit that the cartoons are your favorite part of our books. We love them, too!) The second edition also features two new chapters: one on pastoral leadership and another that describes the significant changes in congregational life between Wave 1 in 2001 and Wave 2 in 2008 and 2009.
Here's a sample from the new book:
Most clergy are satisfied with their work in ministry. Despite stress, long hours, sometimes limited compensation, and the potential for isolation in ministry, most pastors (92%) are satisfied int heir work. Seven in ten (73%) say they have not doubted their call to the ministry in the past year.
The new edition can be ordered from Amazon or from Cokesbury.
Happy reading!
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