FACT 2023 Survey Launch
We are excited to share that our Faith Communities Today (FACT) 2023 survey has launched! It is the seventh such survey in the FACT series, begun in the year 2000, which provides religious leaders of all traditions critical information about the changing nature of congregational life and how to respond effectively.
This survey is also being conducted in partnership with the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations study, which is actively researching change and innovation in the American religious landscape as a result of COVID-19.
If you received an invitation to participate in the survey and/or are interested in the forthcoming research findings, please refer to the list of Frequently Asked Questions below:
Who/what is Faith Communities Today?
Faith Communities Today is an interfaith research coalition that conducts and produces surveys, studies and published reports on congregational life in the United States.
Why are you conducting this survey?
Congregations are the cornerstone of faith development, religious expression and American volunteerism. Yet the challenges of congregational vitality within our changing world are often not well understood by those entrusted to lead. Nor are the contributions of congregations to civic life fully appreciated by the media and broader public. That is why we began studying and supporting congregational life in 2000 and have continued our national surveys of American congregations every five years since. This year (2023), we added an additional mid-point survey in collaboration with the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations study, to better gauge the rapidly changing dynamics of the religious landscape as a result of COVID-19.
Through our wide range of interfaith partners, we are able to distribute the survey to a broad spectrum of religious bodies and faith traditions using a common core questionnaire that is modified to fit the terminology of each respective group. Each group owns their own data, but also contributes to a larger dataset that allows us to present a comprehensive picture of the ever-changing landscape of faith communities in the U.S.
Is the survey affiliated with a particular religious tradition or denomination?
Our members represent a wide spectrum of American religious bodies and faith traditions, including Baha’i, Eastern Orthodox, Hindu, Jewish, Latter-day Saint, Muslim, Non-denominational, Protestant (both mainline and evangelical), and Roman Catholic. View a list of current and past FACT partners.
What makes FACT surveys unique?
They are based on insider knowledge of the groups being surveyed. Our joint research is conceived, conducted and analyzed by individuals with in-depth knowledge of their respective religious bodies (our partner organizations). This allows us to achieve something that few other national surveys can: study congregations using a solid national sample that spans the widest possible array of faith traditions. FACT partners are also able to add questions to the survey that are particular to the needs of their respective groups. This allows them to gather key information important to their internal research while also examining how their group fits into overall national findings and trends. All collected data is then merged together to form an interfaith study of congregational life.
Will my response be confidential?
Your response is confidential and will not be used for marketing purposes. Reports are always aggregated, and never single out a particular congregation.
Who should respond?
The survey can be completed by the congregational leader, a staff member, an administrator, or a well-informed lay leader. It should take about 20 minutes to complete.
How can I participate?
If you received an invitation from your faith tradition, denomination, or directly from Faith Communities Today as part of our national random sample, please follow the instructions and link on the email you received.
How do I receive a copy of the report(s)?
When completing the survey, check “yes” to the question “Would you like to receive a copy of the National Summary Report?” and include your email address. Alternatively, you may sign up for our email list to receive notification of report releases, along with other helpful information and resources for faith leaders.
What is the deadline to participate in the survey?
Please respond by no later than April 2023. (Individual faith tradition or denominational groups may have an earlier deadline, so please be sure to note the specific deadline in the invitation you received.)
How will the data be used?
FACT surveys offer insights into pressing questions for congregations and religious leaders.
Here are several examples of our past survey reports:
- Twenty Years of Congregational Change: The 2020 Faith Communities Today Overview
- American Congregations 2015
- A Decade of Change in American Congregations: 2000-2010
- American Congregations 2008
- American Congregations 2005
Additionally, here are a few examples of topical publications using our survey data:
- FACTs on Congregational Programming
- Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
- FACTs on Finance
- Vital Congregations
- Engaging Young Adults
- Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
- Insights Into Congregational Conflict
- Insights Into Attracting and Keeping Members
Regardless of what brought you to this page, we appreciate your interest in our research and encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on the latest Faith Communities Today research findings.
