Publications

RESEARCH REPORTS

FACTS on Worship in 2010

Facts about Worship change and trends in 2010

Worship is the central, quintessential act of religion. The worship gathering is the major setting in which people congregate to grow in their faith. This Faith Communities Today report provides a snapshot of the United States at worship across churches, denominations and faith groups. The picture of worship that emerges from this research report is one of both variety and similarity.

Read a summary of this informative report or download it in pdf to explore the latest findings on religious worship practices across the country.

Virtually Religious: Technology and Internet Use in American Congregations

Religious congregations are making dramatic strides in adapting to the contemporary Internet technological reality. This report describes the level of technological use by religious groups, identifies the factors that either aid or hinder its use, and highlights the positive outcomes for the congregation that embraces the use of technology. The report also speculates beyond the data to offer several reasons why all congregations should intentionally develop their technological ministry capabilities, no matter how large or small, technologically adept or unsophisticated. Read a summary of this informative report or download it in pdf or view it in HTML to explore the latest findings on churchand congregational technology.

Facts on Growth: 2010

Congregations that are spiritually vital and alive, have strong, permanent leadership, and enjoy joyful, innovative and inspirational worship are more likely to experience growth, a new study has found. Other factors that support growth are being located in the South; having more weekly worship services; and having a clear sense of mission and purpose. Read a summary of this informative report or download it in pdf to explore the latest findings on church and congregational growth.

A Decade of Change in American Congregations 2000-2010

The health of America's congregations remains a challenging situation, according to a newly released report from Faith Communities Today. Read the summary of this informative report or download it in pdf to explore the findings that show that despite efforts at innovation, bursts of vitality and increased civic participation, faith communities are entering this decade less healthy than they were at the turn of the century.

American Congregations Reach Out To Other Faith Traditions Read the Summary Overview
or Download the report in pdf format exploring the key findings related to the economic health of 11,000 congregations. This report, written by David Roozen, explores changes in interfaith cooperation over the past decade and explores the impact of 9-11 and the multi-faith context of US churches. The analysis is based on the new Faith Communities Today 2010 national research. To see this pdf report you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, download it for free.

New FACT survey finds 68 percent of U.S. congregations hit with financial difficulties due to recession. Read the Summary Overview or Download the report in pdf format exploring the key findings related to the economic health of 11,000 congregations. This report, written by David Roozen, explores the financial trends over the past decade and explores the impact of the 2008 recession on US churches. The analysis is based on the new Faith Communities Today 2010 national research. To see this pdf report you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, download it for free.
American Congregations 2008 This report of the *FACT2008* national survey of churches and other religious communities is the most recent profiling of congregational life in the United States. The 38 page report presents a comprehensive look at the findings, including trend comparisons to FACT 2000 and FACT 2005 survey findings, and new perspectives on worship, conflict, leadership, interfaith involvement, vitality, economic hardships and other challenges churches, mosques and synagogues tell us they face. View and Download it for free (in PDF format) or purchase online as a printed, 38 page booklet by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. *American Congregations 2008* $16.00 per copy, including first class postage 5 copies for $70.00($14.00 each), including first class postage 10 copies for $120.00($12.00 each), including first class postage 25 copies for $250.00 ($10.00 each), including first class postage

Faith Communities Today 2008 A First Look FACT2008 A First Look is the preliminary report of the recent 2008 national survey of churches, mosques and synagogues in the U.S. This report looks at the story of change over eight years and demonstrates considerable congregational decline but also a pattern of hope and lessons to be learned to grow a healthy and vital congregational life. View and Download it now (in PDF format) *American Congregations 2005* The *FACT2005* national survey of congregations profiles religious life based on the 2005 national survey of congregations. This 30 page report presents a comprehensive look at the FACT2005 findings, including trend comparisons to FACT 2000 survey findings, and new perspectives on worship, conflict, leadership, interfaith involvement, vitality, the prevalence of strong beliefs (both on the right and the left) and the greatest challenges congregations tell us they face. View and Download it now (in PDF format) or purchase online as a printed, 30 page booklet by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. Note: the downloaded PDF cannot be printed. *American Congregations 2005* $15.00 per copy, including first class postage 5 copies for $67.50($12.50 each), including first class postage 10 copies for $110.00($11.00 each), including first class postage 25 copies for $250.00 ($10.00 each), including first class postage

Faith Communities Today: A Report on Religion in the United States. Download the entire 68 page FACT 2000 research report summarizing the key findings of the FACT2000 study, written by David Roozen and Carl Dudley. To see this report you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, download it for free. The research report is a large file and many take some time to open. You can also purchase the report in booklet form online for $15.00 by clicking on the "Add to Cart" button below. FACT 2000 Report

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LEADERSHIP REPORTS

*Insights Into:* Attracting and Keeping Members In all voluntary organizations, growth and vitality are a result of twin processes: recruitment and retention. This publication offers research, insights and resources to help clergy, seminarians and congregational leaders deal constructively with integrating and energizing both new and old congregational participants, an often-forgotten aspect of maintaining healthy religious communities. Download it now.
Insights Into: The Compassionate Congregation Congregations involved in social outreach programs often discover multiple benefits: the potential for faster growth, an enhanced sense of vitality, and the satisfaction of expressing the congregation's compassion through direct service to those in need. This publication offers research, tips and resources to help clergy, seminarians, and congregational leaders to become more actively engaged in compassionate social ministry. Download it now.
Insights Into: Congregational Conflict Is your congregation going through a period of conflict that you aren't sure how to handle? Or are you interested in preparing to better handle future conflicts? This publication offers research, tips and resources to help clergy, seminarians, and congregational leaders deal constructively with this inevitable part of congregational life. Download it now or you can purchase it online in booklet form by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. **Insights into: Congregational Conflict** $4.00 per copy, including first class postage

Insights Into: Congregational Growth What do joyful worship, clear purpose, multiple weekend services, and plans for growth have in common? Here's a hint: they are among those aspects of congregational life that deserve careful attention when thinking about the challenges of numerical growth. Download it now or you can purchase it online in booklet form by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. Insights into: Congregational Growth $4.00 per copy, including first class postage

FACTS on Growth Check out this special report on Church Growth based on the FACT 2005 study which explores growth principles and the variables that made a difference in growing churches such as contemporary worship, spiritual practices and being purpose driven. Read more about this exciting new report from FACT Download it now or you can purchase it online as a printed booklet by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. FACTS on Growth 1-- $8.50 includes postage 2 -5 $2.00 postage, plus $7.50 copy 6 - 10 $4.00 shipping, plus $6.25 copy 11-20 $7.00 shipping, plus $6.25 copy 21-30 $9.00 shipping, plus $5.00 copy 31 - 50 $12.00 shipping, plus $5.00 copy

Insights Into: Financial Giving Check out the first product of this special series which offers news, background information, resources and key questions to help congregational leaders study their financial condition and enhance their stewardship. Download it now or you can purchase it online in booklet form by clicking on the "add to cart" button below. Insights into: Financial Giving $3.00 per copy, including first class postage


Interfaith Facts: Meet your neighbor Check out this special report based on the *FACT 2000* study which explores America's Interfaith reality. Download it now or you can purchase it online as a booklet for $5.00 by adding it to your shopping cart. Interfaith Facts