Braving the cold

Religious researchers representing a dozen different U.S. Christian denominations and faith communities will brave icy Midwestern weather this week in order to put together critical information about congregational vitality that your church or faith community may need. The Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership Steering Committee is holding its winter meeting at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, where a week of bad winter weather has left thousands still without electric power and sub-zero wind-chill-factor temperatures in the air. How to analyze and publicize responses to the partnership's Faith Communities Today (FACT) 2008 survey of congregational leaders and whether and how to organize a major 2010 survey in the midst of lean economic times are two issues on the agenda. Pictured above - in this week's ice - is Peace Seeker, the decorative horse that graces the outside entrance to Louisville's Presbyterian Center.

-- Perry Chang

Attendance up but finances down

At least one-third of U.S. churches and other religious congregations experienced an increase in worship attendance of more than 5% between between 2000 and 2005 (42%) and no conflict between 2003 and 2005 (35%). But leaders of only a quarter of congregations (26%) strongly agree that their congregation has a strong sense of purpose, and only one in six congregations (16%) are in excellent financial condition.

Those are findings of a 2005 survey of nearly 1,000 sampled congregations from across the country. The Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership (CCSP), a consortium of U.S. Christian denominations and other faith communities and religious researchers affiliated with them, has sponsored three Faith Communities Today (FACT) surveys (in 2000, 2005, and 2008).

The findings that almost half of congregations are experiencing numerical growth suggests that the widely commented on decline in community involvement has affected secular activities more than religious activities. The finding that few congregations are in great financial health may portend trouble in the future, as nationwide economic conditions threaten to drag down congregations with them.

For more information about findings from the FACT 2005 survey, see the "American Congregations 2005" report, available for order at http://fact.hartsem.edu/products/index.html and accessible on-line at: http://fact.hartsem.edu/American%20Congregations%202005%20pro.pdf.

For general information about the partnership and the survey, see: http://fact.hartsem.edu/

-- Perry Chang