Faith Communities Today
  • Research & Findings
    • FACT 2020
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • FACT 2015
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • FACT 2010
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • FACT 2008
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • FACT 2005
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • FACT 2000
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • About Us
  • Latest News
  • Partners
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Faith Community Partners
  • Latest News
  • Contact
Faith Communities Today
  • Research Projects & Findings
    • 2020 Study
      • Overall Findings 2020
      • Partner Reports 2020
    • 2015 Study
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • 2010 Study
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • 2008 Study
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • 2005 Study
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • 2000 Study
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Newsletters
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • Resources

Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride

A new report co-authored by Dr. Jonathan Wiggins and Maria Andronicou, M.A. of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), along with Dr. Patricia Tevington of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, explores both the top challenges and perceived best attributes of U.S. congregations based on open-ended responses from our Faith Communities Today (FACT) 2020 study.


With more than 15,000 respondents, the FACT 2020 survey of congregations offers a sweeping portrait of the religious life of the United States. While traditional quantitative analysis of survey data is extremely helpful in providing an overall portrait of the ins and outs of the sample, there are limitations in terms of what can be conveyed surrounding the character and ministry of congregational life through tallies around forced choice questions. As such, we also included a few open-ended survey questions, giving the respondents room to tell us about their own faith communities—in their own words. Specifically, we asked participating congregations to offer their top two concerns about the future of their congregation and the top two things they were most proud of about their faith community. Nearly two-thirds of the entire sample responded to these prompts, sharing their thoughts.


Among the most commonly expressed concerns were:

  • Challenges associated with membership and growth (25%)
  • Financial difficulty and monetary concerns (12%)
  • Demographic change and decline (9%)
  • Congregational facilities and properties (6%)
  • Leadership issues (5%)

On the flip side, the key attributes that congregations were most proud of included:

  • Service to the local community and those in need (12%)
  • Inclusivity of the congregation (11%)
  • Caring for and loving one another (9%)
  • Growth experienced by the congregation (7%)
  • Level of dedication to members (7%)

Explore the full range of common themes that emerged in the report:

Access Full Report

Note: The Faith Communities Today (FACT) 2020 national survey of congregations took place as the pandemic arrived in the United States. As such, some congregations responded to the survey before restrictions on public worship and other pandemic-related measures were put into effect; others responded in full lockdown mode. The data in this report reflects both the sources of concern and pride that were significant before the pandemic as well as those that emerged during it.

  • About Us
  • Faith Community Partners
  • Latest News
  • Contact
© 2022 Faith Communities Today | Hartford Institute for Religion Research | Hartford International University for Religion and Peace | 77 Sherman St, Hartford, CT 06105
SearchPostsLogin
Thursday, 12, Jan
New Report Explores Trends in Congregational Programming
Wednesday, 21, Sep
New Report Explores Spiritually Vital Congregations
Tuesday, 17, May
New Report Explores the Health of American Synagogues
Thursday, 5, May
New Report Explores Key Sources of Concern and Pride Among U.S. Congregations
Thursday, 24, Mar
New Report Offers Insight Into Congregational Economics
Tuesday, 4, Jan
Webinar Recording – Facing the FACTs: What an Interreligious Survey of 15,000 Faith Communities Says About Congregational Health

Welcome back,

Faith Communities Today
    • facebook
  • Research & Findings
    • FACT 2020
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • FACT 2015
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • FACT 2010
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • FACT 2008
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • FACT 2005
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • FACT 2000
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • About Us
  • Latest News
  • Partners
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
Research & Resources: U.S. Religion During COVID-19
Learn More