Presbyterians to Study Congregations
Researchers from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will coordinate a study of about 6,500 congregations to gain a comprehensive statistical view of U.S. church life.
The study, which will survey more than 300,000 Christians, will be funded by a $1.3-million grant from the Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based foundation.
Cynthia Woolever, a sociologist leading the project, said the study will present a national picture of congregations, the Presbyterian News Service reported.
“We have some sense of what are some vital signs of a congregation,” she said. “There’s a lot of wisdom out there about congregations, but it is . . . untested.”
The study will include Presbyterian churches and churches of other denominations.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
