Summer is over as I write this and it is back-to-school time. My five-year-old started kindergarten this year. Adjusting to kindergarten has been difficult for a lot of the students, mainly due to the "no-nap" policy. The kids bring home weekly progress reports that rank items like behavior and academics on a scale from "satisfactory" to "needs more work." I couldn't help but think of the report Jordan's received this week-- "needs more work"--as I summarize the results of the 1999 Session Annual Supplemental Report.
The SASR is a two-page questionnaire that the Office of the General Assembly 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 to develop questions for inclusion in the form. The SASR form for 1999 included questions about guest preachers, higher education, racial ethnic schools and colleges, congregational ministries, men's organizations, peacemaking, and evangelism.
Guest Preachers
Although the 1999 General Assembly mandated that all PCUSA congregations invite racial ethnic preachers to preach during Sunday worship services at least once a year, only 28 percent of congregations actually did this. Of those that did, smaller congregations tended to have guest preachers more often (twice the average number of Sundays: 3.3 vs. 1.5 in large congregations).
Higher Education
Only 20 percent of congregations are engaged in outreach activities to nearby college or university students and it's not for lack of a college or university nearby--just 8 percent gave this reason. Of the churches involved in outreach, 75 percent provide opportunities for participation in the church, 48 percent provide fellowship and recreation activities, 39 percent provide Bible study, 37 percent provide opportunities for community service, and 30 percent offer some "other" service or activity (including mission trips and scholarships).
Racial Ethnic Schools & Colleges
Only about a third of congregations (37 percent) report that they received information about one or more of the racial ethnic schools and colleges of the PCUSA. These congregations received such information from the schools directly (57 percent), from the PCUSA Office of Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges (50 percent), and from other unidentified sources (16 percent). Only 11 percent of congregations report that their members are "familiar with what is going on in the Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges," and one third of congregations (37 percent) indicated they would like to receive a newsletter about the schools.
Congregational Ministries
More than three-fourths of congregations (79 percent) have no distinct single adult ministry, and almost two-thirds of congregations (63 percent) have no distinct family ministry. While more than half of congregations (55 percent) are aware of the group "Presbyterian Mariners," which provides ministry for contemporary families and marriages, only 9 percent have such a group in their congregation. About as many that reported being aware of the group were interested in getting more information about this group (54 percent). Eighty percent of congregations were not aware of the Mariner's conference which was held in July, but it was not entirely due to a lack of interest as half of those (40 percent) indicated they would like more information on the conference.
Men's Organization
Forty percent of congregations have a men's organization. This has increased from 30 percent ten years ago. However, the number of congregations that reported their men's group is affiliated with the national organization, Presbyterian Men, has dropped from 20 percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 1999. The majority of men's ministries (91 percent) do not use denominational resources such as The Men's Bible Study Series, Lift High the Cross, or Mantalk.
Peacemaking
Although this number has increased from 28 percent in 1987, in 1999 less than half of all congregations (43 percent) had adopted the "Commitment to Peacemaking."
Evangelism
Only three in ten congregations (30 percent) have adopted the "Commitment to Evangelism." Of those adopting the commitment, more than half (54 percent) had reviewed and updated their goals in the last three years. The percentage that have adopted this commitment has grown from 19 percent in 1991.
Upon summarizing these results, like Jordan's teacher, I can't help but see where there is room for improvement. How would you grade our congregations in these areas?
Contact Research Services for more information or for a copy of the full report.
Email the author: Ida Smith-Williams
Research Services