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What is Congregational Statistics?
Each year, the Research Services office develops the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire form, a two-page questionnaire that the Office
of the General Assembly distributes, as a supplement to the
Session Annual Statistical Report, to all congregations.
Research Services staff work with other entities of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) to develop questions for inclusion in the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire form. Each year, different topics are covered.
Instructions that accompany the form suggest that the clerk
of session of each congregation complete it, reporting pertinent
information for the congregation.
Results for several previous years
are available here.
The 2007 form included questions on involvement in disaster assistance, children’s programs, Christian witness, music, multicultural ministries, guest preachers, world mission, bequests and planned giving, and finances (investments and loans). Completed surveys were returned from 62 percent of all PC(USA) congregations. The majority of surveys (97 percent) were completed on a Web-based system, while 3 percent were submitted via hard copy.
The 2006 form included questions in the following areas: social witness ministries (housing, hunger, justice, peacemaking), socially responsible investing, guest preachers and finances (loans, investments, bequests). For 2006, leaders of two-thirds of congregations (64%) responded. Two-thirds of responses (67%) were received via a Web-based version of the survey. The remaining responses were received on printed surveys.
The 2005 form included questions in the following areas: Congregational growth goals, Guest preachers, Finances (loans, investments, bequests). For 2005, leaders of two-thirds of congregations (64%) responded. Two-thirds of responses (67%) were received via a Web-based survey. The remaining responses were received on printed surveys.
The 2004 form included questions in the following areas:
- Congregational finances and giving
- Worship
- Access to technology
- Health ministries
For 2004, leaders of three in five of the denomination’s 11,019 congregations (61%) responded to the questionnaire. For the first time, more than half (57%) submitted their responses by completing a Web-based survey.
The 2003 form included questions in the following areas:
- Guest preachers
- Congregational finances (loans, investments, wills and bequests)
- Languages used in worship
- Multicultural ministries
- Friends of the church
- Hearing from missionaries
- Stewardship
For 2003, 7,975 of the denomination's 11,064 congregations reported—a response rate of 72%. The results for 2003 include congregations in 166 presbyteries in 16 synods. Most congregations (84%) returned paper forms, while 16% of congregations chose to fill out their surveys online.
The 2002 form included questions in the following areas:
- Guest preachers
- Women's groups
- Congregational finances
- Congregational location
- Ministry of music
- Racial ethnic/immigrant membership growth
For 2002, 8,636 of the denomination's 11,097 congregations
reported — a response rate of 78%. The results of the
2002 Congregational Annual Report include congregations in 158
presbyteries in 16 synods.
The 2001 form included questions in the following areas:
- International Relationships
- Training for church Leaders and New Member
- Preparation Guest Preachers
- Stewardship
- Curriculum
Year Ending 1996
Year Ending 1995
Year Ending 1994
Year Ending 1993
- Planned Giving and Wills Emphasis
- Evangelism Efforts
- Peacemaking Efforts
- Ministry for Single Adults
- Involvement in Interfaith Activities
- Racial-ethnic Composition of Congregations
A brief Congregational Statistics Report is available from
Research Services office in the fall of each year. To request
a report for one of the years shown above send email to:
Congregational Statistics or by mail to our address to the
right. Please indicate that you want Congregational Statistics
and specify which topic or year. |
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