With funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. and the Louisville Institute, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recently began a systematic study of racial-ethnic members. This study provides, for the first time, information about how these subgroups are similar to and different from the majority of members (93%) who are white. The first survey gathered background information about these groups including their church background, religious beliefs and practices, and demographic characteristics. The second survey focused on issues related to evangelism. The third survey, described here, covered a wide range of topics.

This summary presents results from the third survey sent to African-American, Hispanic, and Korean members. After several reminders the response rates were: African Americans, 52% (n=546); Hispanics, 50% (n=247); and Koreans, 37% (n=244).

Musical Instruments Used in Worship

Large majorities of members in all three groups report that organ or piano music is "always" or "often" included in the worship services at their church (see Figure 1). Among African-American members, that is the only type of instrument that is regularly heard. About a third of Hispanic members report that their worship services "always" or "often" include flute, acoustic guitar or other non-electrified instruments (29%); electric guitar or bass (35%); and drums, maracas, tambourine, or other percussion instruments (38%). Three in ten Korean members (29%) also hear electric guitar or bass in worship.

Efforts to Welcome Others to the Church

One-half of Korean members and three-quarters of Hispanic and African-American members report that if an adult visitor came alone to a worship service at their church, he or she would be welcomed by "many persons." Among Korean members, another 45% indicate a visitor would be welcomed by "a few persons."

In each sample, a majority agree (either "strongly agree," "agree," or "tend to agree") with this statement: "Our congregation has a program to invite people in the community where our church is located to visit the church" (Hispanics, 66%; African Americans, 60%; Koreans, 56%). Hispanic members were most sure about this, with 26% responding "strongly agree."

Fewer reported that their congregation has a program to invite people who have just moved to the community from another country to visit the church – 23% of African-American, 26% of Korean, and 34% of Hispanic members reported such a program.

Services Provided by Congregations

Members were asked to identify which of 13 services their congregation provides to individuals in the local community. As can be seen in Figure 2, few said their congregation doesn't provide any of these services. Those offered most often are: cash assistance, food pantries and soup kitchens, and clothing donations or thrift stores.

Almost one-quarter of Hispanic members (23%) and 31% of Korean members reported that their congregations offer classes to teach members English. Few African-American members (9%) reported English-language classes for members. Two-thirds of Korean members (67%), but just 6% of Hispanic members and 1% of African-American members, indicated that their congregations offer classes to teach members Korean. About 40% of Hispanic members (but only 3% of African Americans and 8% of Koreans) said their congregations offer Spanish-language classes for members.

Church Growth and Decline

When asked whether the membership of their congregation has grown in the last year, a majority in each sample indicated that there had been "some" or "a lot" of growth (African Americans, 53%; Hispanics, 60%; Koreans, 52%). In no sample did more than 20% report "a lot" of growth. Another one-quarter in each group reported that membership had stayed about the same.

Despite these consistent reports of membership increases, when asked how they feel about their congregation's growth, majorities in each sample responded "I wish my congregation was growing" (African Americans, 70%; Hispanics, 64%; Koreans, 72%). One-quarter to one-third believe "my congregation is growing at just the right pace."

Seven in ten Korean members (72%) agree that "my congregation is losing its young people when they marry individuals who do not speak the language used in our church services." One-third of Hispanics (34%) and just 16% of African Americans responded similarly.

A large majority of Korean members (80%) and about half of Hispanic and African American members (49% and 44%, respectively) agree that "my congregation is losing its young people when they marry individuals who prefer a style of worship that the congregation does not offer."

Ministry to Racial-Ethnic Congregations

One-half of Korean members (47%), two-thirds of Hispanic members (69%), and three-quarters of African- American members (77%) agree that "there is a shortage of racial-ethnic pastors in the PCUSA today." Large majorities in all three samples (88% to 90%) agree that "the church needs to do more to encourage racial-ethnic persons to consider a call to ministry."

Korean members are more likely than Hispanic or African-American members to recall a sermon or presentation in the last year that encouraged youth or young adults in the congregation to consider a call to ministry (see Table 1). Hispanics are more likely than other racial-ethnic members to recall hearing the pastor encourage members to think about going into ministry or to mention the need for ministers in a sermon in the last year.

Table 1: Efforts to Encourage Racial-Ethnic Members to Consider a Call to Ministry (percent who recall each in the past year)

Have these efforts paid off? A number of racial-ethnic members, although less than half, reported that at least one racial-ethnic person from their congregation was ordained to the ministry in the last five years (23% of African Americans, 34% of Koreans, and 44% of Hispanic members).

A majority of racial-ethnic members think their congregations would be at least somewhat open to calling a woman as senior or solo pastor, including 61% of African Americans, 65% of Koreans, and 72% of Hispanics. Another 11% of African-American members, 4% of Hispanics, and 1% of Koreans indicated their congregation is already served by a female pastor.

There was somewhat less support for calling a commissioned lay pastor (CLP). Four in ten African Americans (41%), half of Hispanics (53%), and almost two-thirds of Koreans (64%) think their congregations would be at least somewhat open to calling a CLP. Less than 10% in any sample said their congregation is currently served by a CLP.

Pastoral Leadership Style

When asked which of four styles best describes their current pastor's leadership style, a majority of Hispanics (57%), but fewer African Americans (42%) and Koreans (32%), responded "leadership that inspires people to take action." Among African Americans, the style named second most often was "leadership that tends to take charge" (24%). Among Koreans, 22% selected each of these: "leadership that tends to take charge" and "leadership where the people start most things."

Is the leadership style of their current pastor the preferred style? For the most part it is. Majorities of African- American and Hispanic members (53% and 59%, respectively), and almost half of Korean members (46%), gave the same answer when asked about the leadership style practiced by their current pastor and about the leadership style the pastor should practice.

Large majorities in all three samples say that their pastor puts a priority on encouraging members to find and use their gifts and skills (77% of African Americans, 84% of Hispanics, and 67% of Koreans responded "yes, definitely" or "yes, to some extent").

Congregational Climate

When asked if their congregation has experienced conflict in the last two years, most respondents reported either "no conflict" or "easily resolvable" conflict, including 65% of African-American members, 66% of Hispanic members, and 57% of Korean members.

Members mentioned both positive and negative outcomes of congregational conflict. Those mentioned most often include people leaving the congregation (African Americans, 22%; Hispanics, 20%; and Koreans, 36%) and improved cooperation and communication (African Americans, 21%; Hispanics, 19%; and Koreans, 15%). In addition, 28% of Koreans (but less than 10% in the other two samples) reported that cooperation and communication are now worse.

Stewardship Issues

Most racial-ethnic members reported that they (or someone in their family) filled out a pledge card or commitment card regarding church giving in the previous year (80% of African Americans, 81% of Hispanics, and 66% of Koreans reported that they did so).

Two other questions focused on members' views of stewardship (see Table 2). Although majorities in all three samples agreed with each statement, Korean members were more likely than African-American or Hispanic members to agree (either "strongly agree," "agree," or "tend to agree").

Table 2
Views of Stewardship
(percent who agree)