Worshipers in a national random sample of 309 conservative and mainline Protestant congregations in the USA completed surveys during religious services in 2001. An index was created to capture a dimension of congregational identity: worshipers' vision for their congregation's future and their commitment to it. Results show that worshipers in…

The 400 fastest-growing churches (based on the percentage change in average worship attendance in the previous five years) in the Presbyterian Church (USA), a mainline Protestant denomination, were invited to take part in the US Congregational Life Survey. Completed surveys were received from 19,033 worshipers in 93 fast-growing churches. These…

Women participate in congregations in larger numbers and to a greater extent than men do. This study addresses two linked questions: (1) how do female worshipers differ from male worshipers; and (2) if female worshipers have a distinct profile, what might be the organizational consequences of the gender imbalance on congregations? Based on a…