Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
The Presbyterian Hymnal was introduced by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation in 1990. The largest percentage of respondents, but a minority (44%) indicated that their congregations have purchased no copies of this hymnal. Another 39% of congregations reported that they use the Presbyterian Hymnal to sing hymns during worship services, and 15% reported having bought only a few copies. (Another 1% responded "don't know.")
As Figure 6 shows, a majority of small-membership congregations reported having purchased no copies of the 1990 Hymnal. In contrast, a majority of medium- and large-membership churches reported that they use this hymnal to sing hymns during worship.
A large majority of respondents (87%) reported that their congregations have pew Bibles ("placed in pew racks for congregants to use during worship services"). The remaining 13% do not have pew Bibles. Congregations with 250 members or more are more likely to have pew Bibles (94% do) than do congregations with fewer members (85% of congregations with less than 250 members have pew Bibles). In addition, congregations in the Northeast are more likely than others to report having pew Bibles (91%, Northeast; 88%, Midwest; 87%, West; and 85%, South). These two effects are also somewhat independent. That is, among small and medium-size congregations, those located in the Northeast are more likely to provide pew Bibles. However, among large-membership congregations, there is no difference by region about 95% in each region have pew Bibles.
For information about Congregational Statistics, email Ida Smith-Williams