Faith Communities Today is a series of ongoing research surveys and practical reports about congregational life, conducted and published by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership, a multi-faith group of religious researchers and faith leaders.

The research partnership includes members from 25+ different faith groups, working in conjunction with Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary. Our first national benchmark study was issued in 2000. Subsequent reports include national studies in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2015. Our latest research for 2020 is currently being planned. We hope to survey 20,000 congregations in 2020.

Membership in the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership is open to religious organizations and denominational agencies that share an interest in:

  1. Producing and promoting research based resources for congregational development.
  2. Creating and disseminating helpful tools and resources, produced as a result of the research findings, that can assist congregational lay leadership in their ministries.
  3. Disseminating information to the media and educating the general public about the role of congregational life in American society.

Learn more about the benefits of membership.

Staff

Steering Committee and Officers

  • Chair: Scott Thumma (Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary)
  • Co-Chair: Susan Barnett (Presbyterian Church USA)
  • Treasurer: Joseph Crockett (National Council of Churches)
  • Secretary: Dale Jones (Church of the Nazarene)
  • Communications Committee Chair: Petr Cincala (Seventh-day Adventist Church)
  • Membership Committee Chair: Alexei Krindatch (Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America)
  • Research Committee Chair: Rich Houseal (Church of the Nazarene)
  • Ryan Curnutt (Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod)
  • Erica Dollhopf (United Church of Christ)
  • Matt Evans (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
  • Mary Gautier (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University)
  • Aaron Spiegel (Synagogue Studies Institute)