Helping the church make fact-based decisions

Research Services helps congregations, presbyteries, synods, seminaries and other entities of the denomination learn more about themselves and their constituencies. [Read more.]

Women in the Church
Presbyterian Panel report released

• Three-quarters of members have been part of a congregations where a woman served as pastor.
• When referring to the people of God during worship, eight in ten pastors say their congregations use gender-inclusive language always or most of the time.
• Two-thirds of pastors report at least one Presbyterian Women group or circle in their congregations.

Learn more about Women in the Church in this new Presbyterian Panel report.

How do we measure up?

Comparative Statistics, published annually by the office of Research Services, provides a variety of windows on the Presbyterian Church, comparing membership, money and leadership among presbyteries and synods and across years. This publication is unique — no other denomination has gathered as much material over so many years.

As a result, Presbyterians have a unique opportunity to take stock of where we are and where we’ve been.  Take a look at Comparative Statistics 2006, now available, to compare your presbytery with others or to see trends within the PC(USA).  Challenges may appear; are there also signs of hope? 

Lilly awards $1.4 million to PC(USA) Research Services
Grant will fund second phase of US Congregational Life
Survey

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE — The Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis has awarded $1,470,555 to the Research Services office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly Council (GAC) to expand the U.S. Congregational Life Survey.  [Read more.]

What do Presbyterians really believe?
2005 Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians full report released

We can find out what individual Presbyterians are supposed to believe by reading the confessions, but how do we learn what they actually believe? Responses to Presbyterian Panel surveys give us details on personal beliefs as well information on religious backgrounds, church participation and demographic characteristics from a recent national survey of members, elders and ministers. Download the full report.

We offer:

• “Do-it-yourself” research strategies for congregations conducting mission studies or self-studies or seeking to discern their future, including free ten-year trends and demographics. [Read more.]
• The Presbyterian Panel—the PC(USA)’s ongoing means of learning who Presbyterians are, how they are involved in their congregations, what they believe, and where they think the denomination should be going. [Read more.]
• Help with congregational surveys. Discover your congregation’s strengths! [Read more]
• Statistics and information about the denomination, its congregations, ministers, and finances. [Read more.]
• Research results on a wide variety of topics. [Read more.]
• Help for presbyteries, synods, and other entities that want to better understand their congregations and constituents. [Read more.]

From Presbyterians Today | April 2008

Number of PC(USA) missionaries by year

By Jack Marcum

Let’s take a look at the numbers of overseas missionaries sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor denominations over the last four decades.

Read the rest of this Go Figure article.

Read past Go Figure articles.