The Faith Communities Today 2010 national survey brought together 26 individual surveys of congregations. 24 were conducted by or for partner denominations and faith groups, representing 32 of the country’s largest denominations and traditions. The common core questionnaire of the survey replicates over 150 questions from the 2000, 2005 and 2008 surveys, plus a special section on the 2008 recession.

Rather than releasing all the survey data at one time, we opted to explore themes within the results to create timely reports throughout the years following the data collection and analysis:

  • A multi-faceted look at Young Adults in faith communities: this resource offers materials to address the involvement of young adults in churches and other religious communities. It includes a research overview of survey results from congregations with successful young adult ministries, a review of the current literature on young adults, and 10 case studies of young adult programs.
  • FACTS on Worship: designed to help congregations understand how worship practices can affect their vitality and inspire their members.  The author is Marjorie H. Royle, former Director of Research for the United Church of Christ. She has written extensively about worship, congregational vitality and clergy leadership.
  • Virtually Religious: Technology and Internet Use in American Congregations, released in 2012, investigates the extent to which churches and other congregations are using the internet and what difference this makes to how they function. The author is Scott Thumma, Professor of Sociology of Religion and Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary.
  • Facts on Growth: 2010 explores the theme of church growth in the 21st century. This work identifies what congregational characteristics relate to the growth and vitality of religious communities. The author is C. Kirk Hadaway, former Church Officer for Congregational Research, The Episcopal Church.
  • A Decade of Change in American Congregations: 2000 to 2010 notes key patterns and findings from our decade of congregational studies.
  • American Congregations Reach Out To Other Faith Traditions, released in 2011, looks at the changes that have taken place in interfaith relations over the last 10 years.
  • Holy Toll: The Impact of the 2008 Recession on American Congregations examines the program, human and organizational toll of the 2008 recession.