wfn.org | 3,000 U.S. congregations to be surveyed April 29

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Note #6482 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

10-April-2001
01125

3,000 U.S. congregations to be surveyed April 29

by John Filiatreau

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - More than 850,000 worshipers from a random sample of more
than 3,000 congregations across the United States will be asked to fill out
a short survey form during worship on Sunday, April 29.

	The $1.3 million U.S. Congregational Life Survey is part of a project
funded jointly by the Louisville Institute and the Lilly Endowment and
supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA). Similar surveys are being
conducted in three other countries: England, Australia and New Zealand.

	In all, the four-nation study will involve about 2.45 million worshipers
from 77 denominations and 17,300 congregations

	The U.S. survey is expected to produce the first comprehensive statistical
portrait of U.S. worshipers and their congregations.

	The survey will collect information about congregations; information about
the relationships between congregations and their communities; and
information about specific denominations.

	When the results have been tabulated, each participating congregation will
receive several free reports summarizing the findings and comparing their
own responses to those of worshipers across the country. Each will also
receive a workbook intended to help congregations find ways to use the
information.

	Answers will be kept confidential. Survey planners are asking participants
not to put their names on the forms, which should take no more than 20
minutes to fill out.

	The survey forms were to be sent to the congregations in early April.
Reports of the results, and workbooks to help participants make use of the
material, will be sent to participating congregations in January 2002.

	The study administrator is U.S. Congregations, an ecumenical religious
research group headquartered in the Presbyterian Center at 100 Witherspoon
Street in Louisville.

	The principal purposes of the project are to assess congregational vitality
and to describe the religious landscape of the United States at the start of
a new millennium.

	More specifically, the planners hope the project will help congregations
better understand themselves; develop resources to help congregations assess
their ministries and relate more effectively with their communities; create
a database that will enable congregations to measure themselves against
denominational, national and international benchmarks; and create resources
for church leaders and planners.

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