U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2008-2009, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Congregational Profile Survey

DOI

10.17605/OSF.IO/MWA7U

Citation

Woolever, C., Bruce, D., Kopacz, J., & Smith-Williams, I. (2020, December 5). U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2008-2009, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Congregational Profile Survey.

Summary

Over 500,000 worshipers in more than 5,000 congregations across America participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (Wave 1 and Wave 2) - making it the largest survey of worshipers in America ever conducted. Three types of surveys were completed in each participating congregation: (a) an attender survey completed by all worshipers age 15 and older who attended worship services during the weekend the survey was given; (b) a congregational profile describing the congregation's facilities, staff, programs and worship services completed by one person in the congregation; and (c) a leader survey completed by the pastor, priest, minister, rabbi or other principal leader. Together the information collected provides a unique three-dimensional look at religious life in America. (From Appendix 1, U.S. Congregational Life Survey Methodology: A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, Second Edition).

This data file contains data for the sample of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations that completed the Congregational Profile Survey form. (U.S. Congregational Life Survey Wave 2 ELCA Attender data and ELCA Leader data will be provided in separate data files.)

The ARDA has added four additional variables to the original data set to enhance the users' experience on our site.

Data File

Cases: 361
Variables: 306
Weight Variable: None

Data Collection

Fall 2008 - Spring 2009

Original Survey (Instrument)

USCLS Congregational Profile Survey, Wave 2

Funded By

The Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Louisville Institute
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Collection Procedures

Self-administered surveys

Sampling Procedures

In Wave 1 and Wave 2, other denominations were also invited and encouraged to draw a random sample of their congregations. Denominational samples were large enough so that the results are representative of worshipers and congregations in each denomination. This allows denominations to compare their "typical" congregation and worshiper to congregations and worshipers in other denominations. Along with the PC(USA), denominations participating in this oversampling procedure in Wave 1 and Wave 2, were Church of the Nazarene, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Methodist Church (UMC) and United Church of Christ (UCC). In Wave 2, the Church of God (Cleveland, TN.) also participated by surveying a national random sample of their denomination's congregations. (From Appendix 1, U.S. Congregational Life Survey Methodology: A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, Second Edition.)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Congregational Profile data can be linked to the ELCA Attender data and ELCA Leader data by the CONGREGA variable.

Principal Investigators

Cynthia Woolever, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), co-principal investigator

Deborah Bruce, Associate Research Manager, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), co-principal investigator

Joelle Kopacz, Research Assistant, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Ida Smith-Williams, Associate for Information, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Related Publications

A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations: Who's Going Where and Why. Second Edition. 2010. Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Westminster John Knox Press.

A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations: Who's Going Where and Why. 2002. Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Westminster John Knox Press.

Beyond the Ordinary: 10 Strengths of U.S. Congregations. 2004. Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Westminster John Knox Press.

Places of Promise: Finding Strength in Your Congregation's Location. 2008. Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Westminster John Knox Press.

Leadership That Fits Your Church: What Kind of Pastor for What Kind of Congregation. 2012. Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Westminster John Knox Press.