Why Episcopal Churches are

Growing

Findings from the Faith

Communities Today Survey of
Episcopal Congregations
 Figure 1. Location, Location, Location
Percent of congregations growing

50%

39%
40%

30%
30%
23% 24%
22% 21%
20%

10%

0%
Rural Area or Town or Newer Suburb Older Suburb Older Downtown or
Small Town Small City of a City of a City Residential Central City
Area of a City

Place Where Congregation's Principal Place of Worship is Located

Figure 2. Young Congregations Grow
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50% 48%

40%

30% 28%

23% 24% 23%

20%

10%

0%
1695-1900 1901-1945 1946-1965 1966-1989 1990-2000

Year Congregation Officially Organized or Founded

Figure 3. Race, Ethnicity and Growth
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%
34%

30% 28%

23%

20%

10%

0%
Anglo Black Asian/Pacific Islander,
Hispanic, Native American,
Multi-Racial

Predominant Racial/Ethnic Group in Congregation

 Figure 4. Aging Congregations Don't Grow
50%
Percent of congregations growing

42%

40%

31%
30%

19%
20%
14%

10%

0%
25% or Less 26-50% 51-75% 76% or More

Percent of Active Members Who are Age 50 or Older

 Figure 5. Households with Children and Growth
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%
40%

30%
26%

19%
20%
16%

10%

0%
10% or Less 11-20% 21-40% 41% or More

Percent of Households in Congregation with Children Under 18 at

Home
Figure 6. The Gender Balance and Decline
70%
Percent of congregations declining

60%

50%
50%
45%
40%
40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
40% or Less 41-60% 61% or More

Percent of Regularly Participating Adults Who are Female

 Figure 7. Theological Orientation and Growth
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50%

40% 37%
33%

30% 27%
26% 26%

20%

10%

0%
Predominantly Somewhat Right in the Somewhat Predominantly
Conservative Conservative Middle Liberal Liberal

Theological Orientation of Most Active Members

Figure 8. Purpose-Driven Growth
50%
44%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

30% 28%

20%
16%

10% 7%

0%
Disagree Unsure Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Our Congregation Has a Clear Mission and Purpose

 Figure 9. Spiritual Vitality and Growth
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

34%

30%

21%
20%

12%
10%
10%

0%
Disagree Unsure Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Our Congregation is Spiritually Vital and Alive

Figure 9A. Being a Force for Positive Change in
the Community and Growth
50%

42%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

30%
26% 26%

20%

11%
10%

0%
Disagree Unsure Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Our Congregation is a Source for Positive Change in the Community

Figure 10. Living Things Change
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%
36%

30%
26%

20% 18%

13%

10%

0%
Disagree Unsure Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Our Congregation is Willing to Change to Meet New Challenges

Figure 11. Conflict and Declining Attendance
70%
Percent of Congregations Declining

60% 58%

51%
50% 46%
43%

40% 38%
33%

30%

20%

10%

0%
Little or No Minor Conflict Moderate More Serious Serious Greatest
Conflict Conflict Conflict Conflict Conflict

Conflict in Congregation in Past Five Years

Figure 12. Source and Seriousness of Conflict and
Attendance Decline
70%
Priest's Leadership Style
Actions of 2003 General Convention
60%
Percent of Congregations Declining

55%

50% 49%
50%
44% 43% 43%

40% 36% 37%

30%

20%

10%

0%
No Conflict Over Issue Not Very Serious Conflict Moderate Conflict Very Serious Conflict

Seriousness of Conflict Over Issue

Figure 13. Worship Services and Growth
60%
Percent of congregations

50%
42%
40%
33%
growing

30%
22%
20%
20%

10%

0%
1 2 3 4+
How many worship services does your congregation usually hold
each weekend? (Not counting weddings or funerals)
Figure 14. Making a Joyful Noise
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

32%

30%

24%

20%
14%
11%
10%

0%
Slightly to Not at All Somewhat Quite Well Very Well

How well does "it is joyful" describe your worship service with the largest
attendance?
 Figure 15. Predictability and Lack of Growth
40%
Percent of congregations growing

30% 28%
27%

22%
21%
20%

10%

0%
Slightly to Not at All Somewhat Quite Well Very Well

How well does "predictable" describe your worship service with the
largest attendance?
Figure 16. Drums, Percussion and Growth
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50%
44%

40%
35%
30%
30% 28%

20%
20%

10%

0%
Never Seldom Sometimes Often Always

How often are drums or other percussion instruments a part of your

congregation's worship services?
Figure 17. Seen But Not Heard?
70%
Percent of congregations declining

60%
53%
49%
50%
44%

40% 35%
31%
30%

20%

10%

0%
Never Seldom Sometimes Often Always

How often do children or youth speak, read or perform during your

congregation's worship services?
 Figure 18. Doing Things Differently and Growing a
Little More
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

33%

30%
24%
21% 22%

20%

10%

0%
One Service Similar Services Somewhat Different Very Different Services
Services

Are Weekend Worship Services Similar, Somewhat Different or Very

Different?
 Figure 19. Wishing Doesn't Make it So, But it
Means Something
40%
Percent of congregations growing

30% 28%

21%
20%

13%

10%

0%
Strongly Disagree to Unsure Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Our Congregation Wants More Members

Figure 20. Recruiting New Members
60%

52%
Percent of congregations growing

50%

39%
40%

30% 26%

20% 17%

9%
10%

0%
Not at All A Little Some Quite a Bit A Lot

To what extent are your congregation's members involved in

recruiting new members?
Figure 21. Luddites Beware!
40%
Percent of congregations growing

30% 27%

20% 18%

12%

10%

0%
In the Last Year No, but Members Would No, and Members Wouldn't
Support Support

Did your congregation establish or maintain a web site in the past year?
Figure 22. Parenting and Marriage Enrichment
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50%

41%
40%

31%
30%

20%
20%

10%

0%
No Minor emphasis Key activity

Does your congregation have parenting or marriage enrichment

programs?
Figure 23. If You Call Them You Will Grow
70%
Percent of congregations growing

60% 54%

50% 44%

40% 36%

30%
23%
20%
20% 15%

10%

0%
0 or 1 2 3 to 6 7 to 10 11 to 30 More Than
30
How many visits or phone calls do leaders make to visitors, prospective
members or newcomers to the community?
 Figure 24. Letting Them Know You Care
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%
35%
31%
30%
25%
22%

20% 17%
13%

10%

0%
No Contacts One Type 2 Types of 3 Types of 4 Types of 5 Types of
or No Visitors Contact Contact Contact Contact

Number of Ways That the Congregation Does Follow-up with Visitors

(mail, phone, e-mail, personal visit, sending materials)
 Figure 25. Growing in Members and Money
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40% 38%
35%

30%

23%

20%
14%
11%
10%

0%
In Serious In Some Difficulty Tight, but We Good Excellent
Difficulty Manage

Congregation's Financal Situation Today

 Figure 26. Clergy Tenure and Growth
70%
Percent of congregations growing

60%

50%

39%
40%
34%
29%
30% 26% 26%

20% 16%
13%
9%
10%

0%
1997 or 1998-99 2000 2001 2002-03 2004 2005 No Priest
Earlier

Year Rector or Vicar was Called

Figure 27: Generating Enthusiasm and Growth
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%
35%

30%
23%

20%

12%
10%
10%

0%
Slightly or Not at All Somewhat Quite Well Very Well

How well does "generates ethusiasm" describe your rector or vicar?

Figure 28: Cooperative Leadership and Growth
50%
Percent of congregations growing

40%

31%
30%
25%

20%
16%

11%
10%

0%
Slightly or Not at All Somewhat Quite Well Very Well

How well does "knows how to get people to work together" describe
your rector or vicar?
 Figure 29: Clergy Time Spent in Evangelism &
Recruitment
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50%
44% 45%

40%

30%
25%

20%
13%

10%

0%
Very Little Some Quite a Bit A Great Deal
Figure 30: Clergy Time Spent Recruiting & Training
Lay Leaders
60%
Percent of congregations growing

50%
44%

40% 37%

30%
23%

20% 16%

10%

0%
Very Little Some Quite a Bit A Great Deal