wfn.org | New survey will help churches, synagogues, mosques

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Note #6161 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

24-August-2000
00300

New survey will help churches, synagogues, mosques

40 faith groups participate in largest-ever study of religious life of
congregations

by J. Martin Bailey

CHICAGO— As responses poured in for the most extensive study of American
religious life ever conducted, representatives of a broad-based interfaith
coalition outlined plans here Aug. 7-9 for strengthening Christian, Jewish,
Muslim and Baha'i congregations across the nation.
	The survey of local churches, mosques and synagogues is being conducted by
more than 40 participating groups working together in the coalition known as
Faith Communities Today (FACT).
	David Roozen, the project's co-director, told the FACT gathering that 95
percent of all worshipers in the U.S. will be represented in the study. 
Roozen is professor at the Hartford (Conn.) Seminary and director of its
Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
	The Chicago meeting marked a transition from data gathering to utilization,
he said.  With a researcher's wry smile, he announced: "The hard work is
over, now our fun begins.  Analysis of the extensive data will occupy
scholars for months, even years."
	Co-director Carl Dudley led conversations among researchers, educators and
communication specialists about ways that the local groups will study
themselves in the light of the FACT findings.  "We want to help the
congregations build on their strengths and overcome any weaknesses," Dudley
said. "This will be the most powerful use of the data." Dudley also teaches
at the Hartford Seminary and is involved in the Institute.
	Preliminary analysis of the responses shows that most of the congregations
consider themselves "spiritually vital and alive" and that nearly half (48%)
of the congregations report that the number of regularly participating
adults has grown since 1995.
	The still incomplete returns indicate that youth participation is also
surprisingly high.  Fifty-five percent of the congregations reported that
"most" or "almost all" the high school aged children of adult members are
involved in the religious life and activities of the congregation.  Another
27 percent of the congregations said "some" of the members' children were
involved.
	The coalition that developed and conducted the survey includes mainline,
Pentecostal, evangelical, independent and mega-church Protestants as well as
Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Baha'i and others.
	Researchers and educators from more than 40 faith groups have been working
on the project for nearly five years.  The FACT data will help the faith
groups develop strategies and programs that also can be based on the U.S.
Census statistics. Congregations and other religious organizations will be
able to study the FACT data within zip-code geographic areas.
	The research was funded in part by the Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis,
Ind.
	Each faith group was responsible for gathering its own data through
statistically valid samples and will develop its own follow-up programs. 
The faith groups used nearly 190 questions from a common "core
questionnaire." Some groups added additional questions of a specialized
nature.
	The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) survey was conducted by the denomination's
Research Services Office.
	Roozen and Dudley said that the final aggregate results will be announced
publicly early in 2001.  Among the materials that will be developed to help
local congregations will be self-guiding workbooks, study documents,
analytical reports, websites, and newsletters.   Workbooks will be offered
to theological seminaries, interfaith organizations, and denominational
offices as well as to local churches, synagogues and mosques.

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