One of the ongoing conversations in the PCUSA concerns strategies for evangelism. Some emphasize what they see as the Gospel imperative to reach out to everyone. Others take a narrower view, arguing that we can be most effective with limited resources by focusing on the subset of unchurched individuals who most resemble those already inside the Presbyterian fold.
The 1998 survey of adult new members provides an important opportunity to inject some empirical evidence into the debate. While such data can't resolve the theological questions, they can help us to know the current situation and to reflect on pragmatic considerations as we ponder future outreach efforts.
Column 1 in the table presents characteristics of adult new members who, prior to joining, were not members of a Presbyterian church (i.e., they joined via profession of faith, reaffirmation, or transfer from a congregation of another denomination). In general, the profile of this set of new members closely resembles that of the total membership (column 2). On average, new members are a bit younger (median age of 44 years, compared to 55 overall), but in most other ways they look much like the membership as whole (e.g., most are married, white, etc.). The similarity of new members to total members is particularly striking for two indicators, education and political preference. Both new and existing members are exceedingly well-educated, and both contain a Republican majority.
The affinity between the newcomers and Presbyterians in general becomes even clearer when we compare both groups to the U.S. adult population (column 3). Even where new members show a slightly different profile from that of total members (e.g., on income), the two groups tend to be much more alike than either is to the U.S. adult population.
| PCUSA New Members* | All PCUSA Members | U.S. Adult Population |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43 years | 55 years | 45 years |
| White, non-Hispanic | 94% | 94% | 72% |
| Female | 63% | 61% | 56% |
| Currently married | 79% | 71% | 48% |
| Ever-divorced (if ever-married) | - | 18% | 38% |
| Average household size | 2.8 persons | 2.6 persons | 2.5 persons |
| Living alone | 14% | 15% | 26% |
| Political preference | |||
| Democrat | 26% | 25% | 46% |
| Independent | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| Republican | 53% | 55% | 37% |
| Other | 4% | 3% | 1% |
| Formal education | |||
| Non H.S. graduate | 2% | 3% | 17% |
| High school grad | 16% | 12% | 29% |
| Some college/college grad | 58% | 60% | 45% |
| Graduate degree | 24% | 24% | 9% |
| Annual family income | |||
| <$30,000 | 14% | 22% | 47% |
| $30,000-$59,999 | 28% | 34% | 23% |
| $60,000+ | 58% | 44% | 30% |
In short, adults newly joining the PCUSA tend to be younger on average than Presbyterians in general, but in other important ways they tend to mirror quite well the overall Presbyterian profile: white, married, well-educated, Republican, with a solid income. In these and other ways, it is apparent that new Presbyterian members are not a random sample of the larger population, but rather a selective group of people who already look like the group they're joining -who already look like Presbyterians.
To reach out to lower income persons, single adults, or other groups underrepresented among current members remains a challenge. To meet it, we might begin by looking at PC(USA) congregations that have successfully attracted new members who don't fit the typical profile.
These results have important implications for the denomination's goal of tripling (to 20 percent) by 2010 the proportion of members who belong to minority racial-ethnic groups. How can we successfully reach out to a growing U.S. racial-ethnic population that in many significant ways (besides race and ethnicity) does not resemble most Presbyterians?
This essay is the third in a series summarizing the findings of two national surveys one of adult new members and one of confirmands--stemming from a partnership effort by Research Services and Evangelism. If you want more details, a five-page summary of results is available. Send a $3 check (payable to, and in care of) Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202.
Email the author: Jack Marcum
Research Services