The primary research project of the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership (CCSP) is Faith Communities Today (FACT), a series of national surveys of U.S. congregations. This research is unique in many ways. Not only do the reports show the similarities and differences of congregational life among the faith traditions, but they also provide insightful trend line data reflecting the changing landscape of congregational life in the United States.

In addition, our periodic topical publications investigate certain congregational practices and address major challenges facing congregations today with practical resources.

The FACT series was launched in 2000 with the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the United States. The study of 14,301 local churches, synagogues, parishes, temples and mosques provided a public profile of the organizational backbone of religion in America – congregations – at the beginning of a new millennium. Two smaller studies followed this in 2005 and 2008. A full replication of the 2000 study, FACT 2010, was released in 2011. It was a survey of over 11,000 congregations.

In 2015, a smaller survey of 4,436 congregations was done and the findings were released in late 2015, with focused reports following in 2016-2018.

Our FACT 2020 survey was the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the U.S., with 15,278 responses. The findings were released in Fall 2021, with additional focused reports currently in development.

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Faith Communities Today 2020

The 2020 Faith Communities Today national data set is the result of a collaborative venture of 21 denominations and religious groups in this cooperative partnership. These partners developed a common core questionnaire of 180 questions consisting of items from the previous surveys plus original (first-time) items. Copies of this and all FACT questionnaires and reports are available and should be consulted for the exact wording of items used in this report.

Using the common questionnaire, partner groups conducted an online survey of a representative, random national sample of their own congregations independently or in conjunction with a common contractor hired to support this collaborative effort. Usually this key informant questionnaire was completed by a congregation’s primary leader. A national survey of nondenominational congregations based on a random sample drawn from several mailing and marketing lists was also conducted. Finally, the partnership, assisted by the common contractor, surveyed a sample of congregations from non-partner-denominations, also based on a random sample drawn from several mailing and marketing lists. The survey was customized for individual faith groups and was also translated into 5 languages in addition to English – Cantonese, French, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Together, these efforts resulted in responses from 80 religious denominations and traditions. For purposes of the overall national analysis, the 21 sub-surveys were individually weighted by region and size (attendance) for their faith group. Then responses from each partner denomination, faith group, and the random sample were combined into an aggregated dataset. Through the use of statistical weights, 2020 data are proportionate to their representation in the total population of congregations in the United States as well as adjusted for size and regional distribution using a combination of 2010 US Religion Census and 2018/19 National Congregations Study information.

The aggregated dataset includes responses from 15,278 congregations from 80 denominations/religious groups. This makes it the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the U.S. The estimated response rate for the overall survey was 35%. Sub-survey response rates ranged from 10% to 80%. Sampling error for a survey such as the 2020 FACT effort can be only roughly estimated. We believe a conservative estimate is +/- 4% at the 95% confidence level. Learn more and explore the summary report.

Faith Communities Today 2015

FACT 2015 used key informants in each surveyed congregation, typically the senior or sole clergy leader, to complete the survey. This sample was a composite of a random national sample designed to represent the universe of American congregations and random oversample surveys from 11 faith groups. The final dataset contains responses from 4,436 congregations. The sampling error for such types of samples is difficult to calculate with precision. We estimate it to be +/- 4 percent. Explore the questionnaire used to collect the information for FACT 2015 (including the general frequency findings).

Faith Communities Today 2010

FACT 2010 used key informants in each surveyed congregation, typically the senior or sole clergy leader, to complete the survey. This sample was a composite of a random national sample designed to represent the universe of American congregations and random oversample surveys from 20 faith groups. The final dataset contains responses from 11,077 congregations. The sampling error for such types of samples is difficult to calculate with precision. We estimate it to be +/- 4 percent. Explore the questionnaire used to collect the information for FACT 2010 (including the general frequency findings).

Faith Communities Today 2008

FACT 2008 used key informants in each surveyed congregation, typically the senior or sole clergy leader, to complete the survey. This sample was a composite of three layers of random national samples designed to represent the universe of American congregations. The final dataset contains questionnaires from 2,527 congregations. The sampling error for such types of samples is difficult to calculate with precision. We estimate it to be +/- 4 percent. Explore the questionnaire used to collect the information for FACT 2008 (including the general frequency findings). FACT2008 had responses from 2,527 congregations.

Faith Communities Today 2005

The FACT 2005 key informant questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 3,000 congregations. 884 responses were received. Responses were weighted to known population parameters for region and faith family, and for size of congregation and rural/city/ suburban location. Sampling error for such a survey can only be estimated. We estimate it to be +/- 4% at the 95% confidence level. Explore the questionnaire used to collect the information for FACT 2005 (including the general frequency findings).

Faith Communities Today 2000

The FACT 2000 data included 26 individual surveys of congregations representing 41 denominations and faith groups, representing about 90 percent of worshippers in the US. More than 14,000 congregations participated in the survey. These denominations and faith groups worked together, in multi-faith cooperation, to undertake this survey. Their collaboration for this purpose was unprecedented, as was the data that was produced.  Explore the questionnaire used to collect the information for FACT 2000 (including the general frequency findings).