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

FACT 2020 Survey Results

Summary

Twenty Years of Congregational Change: The 2020 Faith Communities Today Overview summarizes the findings of the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the U.S. It captures a pre- and early pandemic picture of America’s faith communities and affirms many of the trends evident over the past few decades, while also highlighting some distinct areas of change. This report is published by Faith Communities Today, a multireligious and collaborative research initiative that has been tracking trends in the U.S. religious landscape since 2000.

Access Report

Supplementary Materials

General Frequencies
Report Graphics
Press Release

About the Research

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.

Across the years of FACT surveys, occasionally a partner faith group made the difficult choice to omit a set of questions in order to maximize return rate. This is a challenge for cross survey comparisons. Additionally, some years not all questions were asked, changes were made in key questions, or certain responses from some denominations and faith groups had missing data therefore caution should be taken in interpreting some of the longitudinal results.

Additional Information

For additional information and resources, please explore the links below. If you still have questions after reviewing these pages, please feel free to contact us.

  • Facts About FACT: Gearing Up for Our 2020 Survey
  • FACT 2020 Survey Participants (a list of partner groups who surveyed their constituents)
  • Celebrating 24 Years of Multifaith Research (additional context on who we are and what we do)
  • About Us
  • Faith Community Partners
  • Latest News
  • Contact
© 2023 Faith Communities Today | Hartford Institute for Religion Research | Hartford International University for Religion and Peace | 77 Sherman St, Hartford, CT 06105
SearchPostsLogin
Monday, 6, Feb
FACT 2023 Survey Launch
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

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