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U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2008-2009, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Congregational Profile Survey

DOI

10.17605/OSF.IO/2XZVC

Citation

Woolever, C., Bruce, D., Kopacz, J., & Smith-Williams, I. (2021, March 16). U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Wave 2, 2008-2009, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 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 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations that completed the Congregational Profile Survey form. (U.S. Congregational Life Survey Wave 2 PC(USA) Attender data, PC(USA) Leader data, and PC(USA) Associate 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: 505
Variables: 300
Weight Variable: None

Data Collection

Fall 2008 and Spring 2009

Original Survey (Instrument)

USCLS Congregational Profile Survey, Wave 2

Funded By

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

Collection Procedures

Self-administered surveys

Sampling Procedures

The second sample (Wave 2) was drawn from a stratified random sample of all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations. The strata were church size (as measured by membership), racial-ethnic composition of membership, and region. Of the 1,005 congregations identified and recruited by mail, 279 returned completed Congregational Profile surveys. Some Presbyterian congregations participated in Wave 1 and again, in Wave 2. There were 209 repeating congregations that returned a Congregational Profile survey. Another 17 congregations to submit completed Congregational Profile surveys were sampled in both 2001 and 2008.

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, Tennessee) 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.)

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.) Congregational Profile data can be linked to the PC(USA) Attender data and PC(USA) Leader data by the CONGREGA variable.

Service Times

Q45A1, Q45B1, Q45C1, Q45D1, Q45E1 represent times in 4 digits, on a 24-hour clock. So morning services stay as they are and 12 is added to evening services to make them on the 24-hour clock. Examples: 8am would be 800, 8:30am would stay as 830, 7pm would be 1900, and noon would be 1200.

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