U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2011, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Associate or Assistant Leader Survey

DOI

10.17605/OSF.IO/QP3TA

Citation

Woolever, C., Bruce, D., Kopacz, J., & Smith-Williams, I. (2021, March 16). U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2011, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Associate or Assistant Leader 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 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Associate Leader Survey for the Wave 2 U.S. Congregational Life Survey. (U.S. Congregational Life Survey Wave 2 PC(USA) Attender data, PC(USA) Congregational Profile data, and PC(USA) 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: 752
Variables: 432
Weight Variable: None

Data Collection

2011

Original Survey (Instrument)

USCLS Associate Leader Survey, Wave 2

Funded By

The Lilly Endowment, Inc.
The Louisville Institute
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Collection Procedures

Self-administered surveys

Sampling Procedures

Using denominational records, PIs sent a PC(USA) Associate Leader Survey to every associate pastor in the PC(USA), along with a postage-paid return envelope. Surveys were mailed to 1,254 associate pastors. Full-time, paid associate pastors serving in 611 congregations completed 752 surveys, a response rate of 59%. (The response rate would be higher if we included part-time PC(USA) associate pastors who filled out an associate leader survey.

The 8-page PC(USA) Associate Leader Survey was similar to the PC(USA) Leader Survey included in the package sent out to churches participating in Wave 2 and completed by the principal leader.

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.

Merging Datasets

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Associate Leader data can be linked to the PC(USA) Attender data, PC(USA) Congregational Profile data, or PC(USA) Leader data by the APID2008 variable.