Helping the church make fact-based decisions
Research Services helps congregations, presbyteries, synods, seminaries and other entities of the denomination learn more about themselves and their constituencies.
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What's new in Research Services?
The following resources are now available from Research Services. These resources include the most recent data, which is from the end of year 2010.
Comparative Statistics 2010 available
Comparative Statistics 2010 is now available! This resource shows trends in membership, finances, and ministers. The introductory article, Mapping the PC(USA), includes maps showing newly chartered churches, churches without installed pastors, and more. Learn more
Presbytery Ten-Year Trends – This report compiles data from the Session Annual Statistical Report for each congregation in the presbytery over the past ten years. This year’s report covers the years 2000 to 2010.
Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire 2010 – The Clerk's Annual Questionnaire is distributed to all congregations. The report for 2010 describes congregations’ environmental ministries, mission activities, music ministries, bequests, loans, congregational history committees, and guest preachers.
The Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the PC(USA) – We are asked many questions about the denomination. Brief answers to some of the more frequent questions are provided.
For questions, please email Ida Smith-Williams or call (800)728-7228, x5159
Who are we Presbyterians?
The Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians 2011 answers this question. The profile reveals results of a survey of nearly 4,000 participants in the 2012-2014 Presbyterian Panel.
Every three years the PC(USA) Research Services staff assembles a new Panel from representative samples of members, ruling elders and teaching elders (also known as ministers). Research Services first asks these Presbyterians broad questions about their beliefs, demographic characteristics, and religious practices.
Interesting results from the fall 2011 survey include:
- The median age of ruling elders climbed from 58 in 2005 to 62.
- More than three-quarters of members over the age of 25 are married.
- Presbyterians remain predominantly white and college-educated.
Profile of PC(USA) congregations in 2010
This snapshot provides an up-to-date view of the programs, finances, leaders and participants in PC(USA) congregations based on a survey of a random sample of PC(USA) congregations. The survey was part of the larger Faith Communities Today (FACT) 2010 study of 10,000 congregations from 100 Christian denominations and other faith groups in the United States.
Update what you know about Presbyterians
A Field Guide to Presbyterian Congregations: Who’s Going Where and Why
Conducted by the PC(USA) Research Services office, the U.S. Congregational Life Survey tallied responses from 40,000 worshipers in a national study of Presbyterian congregations. In the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009 a random sample of 521 PC(USA) congregations participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. The survey was given in worship and included the responses of all worshipers age 15 and older. In 2001, a random sample of 523 PC(USA) congregations participated.
A Field Guide to Presbyterian Congregations: Who’s Going Where and Why (available through Presbyterian Distribution Services, order item 02056-10100) presents findings from the survey. The resource is a companion piece to A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, previously released by Presbyterian Publishing Corporation).
The Top 10 most frequently asked questions about the PC(USA)
We are asked many questions about the denomination. Here are brief answers to some of the more frequent questions.
Go Figure From Presbyterians Today
Lack of Concentration
By Jack Marcum
Presbyterians don’t have a state or region where they are the predominant religious group. But what they lack in concentration, they make up in spread: In 2010 there was at least one PC(USA) congregation in 2,388 of the 3,221 counties in the United States (74 percent).