LibGuides: Open Access Resources in Religious & Theological Studies: Congregations

Defining Congregations

Congregations: small-scale, local collectivities and organizations through which people routinely engage in religious activity: churches, synagogues, mosques, temples.
--Mark Chaves, "Religious Organizations: Data Resources and Research Opportunities." The American Behavioral Scientist 45, no. 10 (2002): 1523.

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Congregational Resources

National Congregations Study (NCS)
The NCS surveys a representative sample of America's churches, synagogues, mosques and other local places of worship. It gathers information about a wide range of characteristics and activities of congregations. Mark Chaves, Professor of Sociology, Religion, and Divinity at Duke University, directs this study. A 2012 study is underway.
Faith Communities Today
Published by the Cooperative Congregations Studies Partnership, Faith Communities Today conducts a series of ongoing studies related to congregational life. Their data looks at trends across many different sects of Christianity and also interfaith worship. The most recent study was conducted in 2010.
Religious Congregations and Membership in the United States
Provides a county-by-county measure of religious bodies in the US. The study is currently sponsored by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. The survey includes maps, reports, and data sets of survey results. 2010 RCMS to be released May 1, 2012. See also: 2000 RCMS report (in print)
US Congregational Life Survey
The US Congregational Life has been conducted in two waves in an effort to take a "snapshot" of regular congregational life. The survey was conducted by worshipers in a random sampling of congregations in the US. Results of the survey are made available, along with publications utilizing the data, in the Of General Interest section of the Publications and Research link on the main page, generally arranged by topic. Findings of this survey are also found in Woolever's Field Guide to US Congregations.
Hartford Institute for Religion Research
This resource is maintained by the Hartford Seminary, containing links to articles, research data and statistics on a number of topics such as practical theology, denominations, leadership resources, special research projects, and sociology of religion.

Open Access Resources in Religious & Theological Studies: Congregations

Defining Congregations

ARDA Congregation Quicksearch

Congregational Resources

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