Findings
Each year, the Research Services office develops the Congregational Annual Report form, a two-page questionnaire that the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) distributes, as a supplement to the Session Annual Statistical Report form, to all congregations. Research Services staff work with other entities of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to develop questions for inclusion in the Congregational Annual Report form. Instructions that accompany the form suggest that the clerk of session of each congregation complete it, reporting pertinent information for the congregation.
The Congregational Annual Report form for 1999 included questions in the following areas: guest preachers, higher education, racial ethnic schools and colleges, congregational ministries, men's organizations, peacemaking, and evangelism.
For 1999, out of the denomination's total of 11,216 congregations, 9,774 reported a response rate of 87%. A total of 170 presbyteries reported out of the 173. The three non-reporting presbyteries were Dakota, Lackawanna, and Winnebago. There were only four presbyteries with less than 50% of their congregations reporting. They were East Iowa, St. Andrews, Hanmi, and San Juan.
Findings
A summary of the findings is presented below. Further analyses were done by membership size, region, and race ethnicity. Congregations were categorized into three groups based on membership size: small (fewer than 251 members), medium (251 to 600 members), and large (over 600 members). Region categories were based on the four areas the U.S. Census uses (Midwest, Northeast, South, and West). For race ethnicity, congregations were categorized into 90% or more white, 50-89% white, and less than 50% white. Membership size, region, and race ethnicity were obtained from other databases.
The 1999 General Assembly urged all congregations to invite racial ethnic ministers to preach during Sunday worship services at least once a year. The results show that only 28% of congregations actually did this in 1999. Of those that did, 92% had a racial ethnic minister preach for five or fewer Sundays. The mean (average) number of Sundays that racial ethnic guest preachers were present in these congregations was 2.8.
Large congregations were more likely to have invited a racial ethnic minister to serve as a guest preacher (38% did) than medium-size churches (32%) or small churches (25%). Although large congregations were more likely to have invited at least one racial ethnic guest preacher, small congregations tended to have invited such speakers more often. Small congregations reported having such guest preachers twice as often as large congregations (3.3 Sundays in small congregations; 1.5 in large congregations).
Congregations in the West (35%) and Northeast (33%) were more likely to have invited a racial ethnic guest preacher compared to congregations in the South (27%) and Midwest (21%). However, congregations in the South tended to have such guest speakers slightly more often (3.2 Sundays) compared to those in the West (2.8), Northeast (2.7), and Midwest (2.3).
Looking across congregational size and region shows that small and medium-size congregations in the West and large congregations in the Northeast were more likely to have invited a racial ethnic minister to preach as a guest. However, as shown in the table below, smaller churches in all regions had a higher mean number of Sundays that a racial ethnic minister served as a guest preacher.
Region |
Congregational Size |
Mean Number of Sundays A Racial Ethnic Guest Speaker Preached |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Small | 3.05 |
| Northeast | Medium | 2.16 |
| Northeast | Large | 1.64 |
| Midwest | Small | 2.71 |
| Midwest | Medium | 1.75 |
| Midwest | Large | 1.33 |
| South | Small | 3.82 |
| South | Medium | 2.31 |
| South | Large | 1.45 |
| West | Small | 3.25 |
| West | Medium | 2.10 |
| West | Large | 1.80 |
Those congregations with less than 50% white members were almost three times more likely to have invited a racial ethnic minister to preach (67% vs. 23% for congregations with 90% or more white members).
When asked if the congregation was engaged in any outreach activities to college or university students other than members, 20% said "yes." Few congregations (ranging from 4% of large congregations to 9% of small congregations) reported that there is no college or university nearby. The larger the church's membership, the more likely they were to be involved in such outreach activities. Only one in seven small congregations (14%) attempt to serve college students, while more than double that of medium-size churches (30%) and three times as many large churches were likely to do so (46%).
Of the churches involved in such outreach, 75% indicated that they provide opportunities for participation in the church, 48% provide fellowship and recreation activities, 39% mentioned Bible study, 37% reported opportunities for community service, and 30% reported that they offer some "other" activity or program (items written in include mission trips, scholarships, etc.). The majority of congregations, regardless of size, provide "opportunities for participation." Table 2 shows the different types of outreach activities by size of church. Large congregations were twice as likely as the smallest churches to offer outreach to college students through Bible study.
| Congregational Size | |||
| Type of Outreach | Small | Medium | Large |
| Bible Study | 30% | 41% | 60% |
| Fellowship and recreation | 40% | 50% | 63% |
| Opportunities for community service | 33% | 35% | 48% |
| Opportunities for participation in the church | 71% | 77% | 81% |
| Other | 31% | 31% | 27% |
Eight Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Barber-Scotia College (NC), Cook College (AZ), Knoxville College (TN), Mary Holmes College (MS), the Menaul School (NM), Presbyterian Pan American School (TX), Sheldon Jackson College (AK), and Stillman College (AL). Congregations were asked if they obtained any information about any of these schools during 1999, the source of that information, the type of information received, how familiar they are with the schools, and if they would like to receive further information about these schools.
A little more than a third of congregations (37%) reported receiving information about these schools. Analysis by size demonstrates that large congregations were more likely to obtain such information (54%) than medium-size churches (47%) or small churches (32%). Analysis by region shows that congregations in the Western region were more likely to obtain such information (55%) than were congregations in the Southern (39%), Midwestern (32%), and Northeastern (29%) parts of the country. Analysis by race ethnicity shows that congregations with 50% or less white membership (52%) were more likely to receive information than those congregations with 90% or more white membership (36%).
Information about the Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges that congregations received came, first, directly from the schools themselves (57%); second, from the PCUSA Office of Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges (50%); and third, from "other" sources (16%). As shown in Table 3, smaller congregations tended to receive their information from the associated PCUSA office, while larger congregations were more likely to obtain their information directly from the schools. There were also regional differences. Congregations in the West were most likely to be contacted directly by the schools.
| Congregational Size | Region | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Medium | Large | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| From PCUSA office | 52% | 50% | 43% | 51% | 52% | 54% | 40% |
| From Schools | 53% | 58% | 71% | 52% | 46% | 57% | 73% |
| From "other" sources | 17% | 16% | 11% | 18% | 21% | 13% | 15% |
Congregations that received information from the PCUSA Office of Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges were asked about the types of information they received. Most reported that the information was in the form of mailings (94%). Information was also received in presentations either during worship or at conferences or other events (14%). Five percent or less said the information came through use of the Internet or from visiting a website, as a video, or from "other" (not specified) sources.
With just two out of every five congregations reporting receiving such information, it is not surprising that a majority of congregations reported that their members are "not familiar" or "not very familiar" with what is going on at the PCUSA Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges (89%). Large churches were slightly more likely to report that their members are familiar with the racial ethnic schools than small churches (12% vs 10%). Almost twice as many in the West (55%) compared to the Northeast (30%) said their members are familiar with these schools.
Only a little more than a third of congregations (37%) indicated they would like to receive a newsletter about racial ethnic schools. Large churches were more likely to request the newsletter than small churches (47% for large, 42% for medium, and 34% for small). Congregations in the South (40%) were somewhat more likely to request the newsletter than those in other regions (38% in the West, 35% in the Northeast, and 33% in the Midwest).
More than three-fourths of congregations (79%) have no distinct single adult ministry and almost two-thirds of congregations (63%) have no distinct family ministry. Not surprisingly, larger churches were most likely to have single adult and family ministries. One-half of large congregations (52%) report single adult ministries, compared to 15% of small churches and 27% of medium-size churches. Two-thirds of large congregations (69%) report family ministries, compared to 30% for small, and 49% for medium-size congregations. There was not much of a regional difference; congregations in the West (25%) were slightly more likely than those in the South (22%), Northeast (19%), or Midwest (18%) to have a single adult ministry. Patterns for the Northeast and Midwest appear to be more similar than those in the West or South. For family ministries, 45% of congregations in the West had one, 37% for the South, 34% each for the Northeast and Midwest.
As can be seen in Table 4, in each region about twice as many small congregations have a family ministry than a single adult ministry.
| Northeast | Midwest | West | South | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Adult Ministries |
Family Ministries |
Single Adult Ministries |
Family Ministries |
Single Adult Ministries |
Family Ministries |
Single Adult Ministries |
Family Ministries |
|
| Congregational Size: |
||||||||
| Small | 15% | 27% | 14% | 29% | 17% | 30% | 16% | 34% |
| Medium | 23% | 46% | 21% | 42% | 34% | 51% | 31% | 64% |
| Large | 49% | 65% | 48% | 70% | 58% | 68% | 52% | 76% |
Respondents were asked about their awareness of "Presbyterian Mariners," a group that provides ministry for today's families and marriages. More than half of all respondents (55%) were aware of this group. Again, it was large congregations (79%) and congregations in the West (77%) that were more likely to report being aware of the group. Although more than half of all congregations were aware of the group, only 9% actually have such a group in their congregation. Larger churches and churches in the West were more likely to have such a group. Large congregations were more than twice as likely as small congregations to have a Mariners group (16% vs. 6% for small). Western congregations were twice as likely as congregations in the Midwest (20% vs. 10%), and five times more likely than those in the Northeast and the South (both with 4%) to have a Mariners group. Among congregations that were not aware of the group, about half were interested in getting information about this group for their congregation (54%). Although larger congregations were more likely to be aware of Mariners and more likely to have such a group, large congregations were also the ones more likely to want information about Mariners (65%). Congregations in the South and Northeast (56% each) were more likely to want such information than either those in the West (53%) or in the Midwest (46%).
When asked if they were aware of the Mariner's conference to be held in July, 2000, the majority (80%) indicated that they were not aware of this conference. However, large congregations were twice as likely as small churches to be aware of the conference (33% vs. 16%). While one in four congregations in the West was aware of the conference (26%), only one in seven in the Northeast was aware of it (15%). Although there was not a great awareness of the conference, 40% of congregations were interested in getting more information about this conference. Those congregations most interested in information about the conference were medium-sized congregations (47% vs. 40% for large and 38% for small) and congregations in the South (44% vs. 40% in the Northeast, 37% in the West, and 36% in the Midwest).
Forty percent of congregations have a men's organization in their congregation. Large congregations were more than twice as likely as small congregations to have a men's group (75% vs. 30%) and Western congregations (53%) were more likely than congregations in the South (44%), Northeast (35%), and Midwest (33%) to have such groups.
Of those having a men's group in their congregation, only 10% reported that the organization is affiliated with the national organization, "Presbyterian Men." Men's organizations that were more likely to be affiliated with the national office were those in churches in the South (14%), which were twice as likely as those in the West (7%), Northeast (8%) and Midwest (8%) to be affiliated with Presbyterian Men.
Denominational resources for men's ministry such as The Men's Bible Study Series, Lift High the Cross, or Mantalk, are used by only 9% of congregations that have men's groups. Large congregations (13%) were more likely to use these resources than either medium-sized congregations (10%) or small congregations (7%). Regionally, it was congregations in the Midwest that were more likely to use the resources (11%).
As Table 5 demonstrates, the percentage of congregations with a men's organization has grown in the last ten years, however the percent who report their men's group is affiliated with the national group has declined.
| Year | Have Men's Group | Affiliated with Presbyterian Men | ||
| 1988 | 30% | 16% | ||
| 1990 | 30% | 20% | ||
| 1999 | 40% | 10% |
Peacemaking was a ten year emphasis of the PCUSA until the 1989 General Assembly designated peacemaking a continuing goal. The "Commitment to Peacemaking" is a tool by which a session makes a promise that the congregation will do, or will continue to do, peacemaking.
Less than half of all congregations (43%) have adopted the "Commitment to Peacemaking." Congregations more likely to have adopted it are large congregations (59% vs. 52% in medium- size and 38% in small) and those in the West (53% vs. 46% in the Northeast and Midwest, and 36% in the South).
Table 6 shows that the percentage of congregations that have adopted the peacemaking commitment has increased over the years.
| Percent Having Adopted the Commitment |
|
|---|---|
| 1987 | 19% |
| 1988 | 30% |
| 1989 | 32% |
| 1990 | 34% |
| 1991 | 36% |
| 1992 | 40% |
| 1993 | 41% |
| 1994 | 42% |
| 1995 | 41% |
| 1996 | 43% |
| 1997 | N.A. |
| 1998 | N.A. |
| 1999 | 43% |
In 1991, the 203rd General Assembly adopted a report and recommendations by the GA Council Task Force on Church Membership Growth. The first recommendation encouraged each congregation to adopt a five-year "Commitment to Evangelism." The Commitment calls for congregations to commit themselves to the task of evangelism, "being hospitable and inviting within our walls."
Only three in ten congregations (30%) have adopted the "Commitment to Evangelism." As with the "Commitment to Peacemaking," congregations adopting this commitment tend to be large (45% vs. 34% in medium and 27% in small) and located in the West (34% vs 32% in the South, 29% in the Northeast, and 26% in the Midwest). Of those adopting the commitment, more than half (54%) reported that they reviewed and updated their goals in the last three years. Large congregations and those in the South were more likely to have refreshed their goals.
The percent of congregations that have adopted the commitment has grown since 1991, as Table 7 shows.
| Percent Having Adopted the Commitment |
|
|---|---|
| 1991 | 19% |
| 1992 | 26% |
| 1993 | 32% |
| 1994 | 32% |
| 1995 | N.A. |
| 1996 | 29% |
| 1997 | N.A. |
| 1998 | N.A. |
| 1999 | 30% |