The most recent U.S. Congregational Life survey, conducted in 2008 and 2009, summarizes the views of more than 40,000 people who worship in 521 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations, as well as providing congregational profiles and surveys of leaders.
Those surveyed include both Presbyterians and those from other faith traditions, providing kind of a “national snapshot” of worshipers’ views at a particular point in time. The 2001 survey, for example, was conducted in more than 2,200 congregations from more than 50 faith groups, including 523 PC(USA) congregations as well as nondenominational and Pentecostal congregations, Protestants and Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Jews, Buddhists, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The answers Presbyterians gave in 2008 and 2009 also were compared with those from the earlier survey, conducted in the spring of 2001, with funding from the Lilly Foundation, the Louisville Institute, and the PC(USA).
Among the findings, which representatives of the PC(USA)’s Office of Research Services presented to the General Assembly Mission Council at its meeting in Louisville today (Oct. 7), are that:
* Presbyterian worshippers are older than typical worshipers, and getting older. The median age of Presbyterian worshipers in 2008 was 61, compared with age 58 in 2001. More than four in 10 of Presbyterian worshippers (43 percent) in 2008 were age 65 or older, and only 6 percent were ages 15 to 24 and just 15 percent ages 25 to 44.
Most people who join PC(USA) congregations are transfers from somewhere else – either from another Presbyterian church or another denomination. Relatively few are “unchurched” people who come to a Presbyterian church without a previous religious affiliation.
* Presbyterian congregations today face more serious economic challenges than they did in 2001. Nearly a third of Presbyterian congregations (32 percent) in 2008 said their financial base was declining, compared to 20 percent in 2001. Only 15 percent of congregations in 2008 said they had a growing financial base. While most Presbyterian congregations are small — with fewer than 100 people in attendance at worship — the declining financial base applies across the board to congregations of all sizes.
* Fewer than half of Presbyterian worshippers (44 percent) had, in the previous year, invited to worship a friend or relative who doesn’t attend any other church. Only about one in five are involved in their congregation’s evangelistic or outreach efforts.
Many Presbyterian pastors struggle with their weight. The median male pastor was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds; the median female pastor stood 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 169 pounds (with median meaning half were above that level and half below). The median body mass index was 27.3 for male pastors and 28.2 for female pastors. A body mass index below 25 is considered a normal weight.
Presbyterian pastors also are at risk for feeling depressed, in crisis and burned out, said researcher Cynthia Woolever — with many not taking time out regularly for self-care, exercise, and time to spend with family and friends. Council member Sue Ezell, a minister, said while sometimes she didn’t get paid a lot, her generous parishioners often “paid me in baked goods” which, while delicious, did not help with controlling weight.
What’s typical?
So what’s a “typical” Presbyterian these days? According to the findings, that person has belonged to the same congregation for more than five years; serves in leadership and participates in some kind of group at the church; and gives at least 5 percent of his or her income to the church. He or she voted in the last presidential election.
What’s the typical Presbyterian congregation? It was founded before 1940, holds one worship service a week, which lasts for about an hour, and averages fewer than 100 people in attendance.
Here’s some more:
* Three-fourths of worshipers in PC(USA) congregations prefer traditional hymns in worship. For Presbyterians surveyed, the next strongest preferences (when asked to choose two from multiple possibilities) were for praise music and choruses (28 percent) and contemporary hymns (21 percent). Only 2 percent favored contemplative chants and 9 percent music from a variety of cultures. Among younger Presbyterians, however, the preference for traditional music was less strong.
* About half of Presbyterian worshippers (48 percent) say they’ve had a conversion experience or moment of decisive commitment to faith. Another 30 percent say “no,” and 22 percent are unsure. These responses track fairly closely to answers from the broader sample from other denominations.
* Nearly all Presbyterian worshippers – 94 percent – say they contribute financially to their local churches. And just under one in five – 18 percent – say they regularly tithe 10 percent or more of their net income to the local church. Another third – 36 percent – say they regularly give 5 percent to 9 percent of their income. (The researchers say some people overstate in surveys how much they actually give.) The level of Presbyterians who tithe 10 percent lags a little behind figures for other denominations. Nationally, 26 percent of Protestant worshippers regularly give 10 percent or more of their net income and 31 percent give between 5 percent and 9 percent.
* Just over three-quarters of Presbyterians worshippers attend worship weekly or more. Almost half of Presbyterians surveyed spend time daily in devotional activities such as prayer, mediation, or reading the Bible. Another 21 percent follow those practices a few times a week. These numbers track pretty closely the answers given by worshippers surveyed from other denominations.
* Nearly half the people in U.S. congregations (49 percent) and nearly as many in PC(USA) congregations (45 percent) say they’ve experienced much growth in their faith over the last year.
More than six in 10 Presbyterians said they usually or always experience God’s presence, and feel joy or inspiration during worship, as well as feeling a sense of fulfilling obligations. Relatively few say they regularly experience boredom or frustration. But spontaneity is relatively uncommon too, as the report states: “` decently and in order’ seems to apply to our worship as well as our polity too.”
About six in 10 take part in community service, social justice or advocacy work in their communities — many of them through groups not connected to their congregation.
Nearly six in 10 (58 percent) of Presbyterian worshippers are involved in leadership in some way in their local congregations.
About 10 percent of Presbyterian worshippers regularly participate in the congregation’s life, but are not members or in the process of becoming members. With younger Presbyterians, that number rises.
Most Presbyterian worshippers report either no conflict (39 percent) or only minor conflict (35 percent) in their congregations in the previous two years.
