What can we learn from fast-growing churches—those in the top 3% across the denomination in numerical growth?[i] We compared growing PC(USA) churches (117 growing churches and their 8,000 worshipers participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey) with a random sample of more than 500 Presbyterian churches and their 40,555 worshipers. The results are enlightening. Building […]

The fastest-growing Presbyterian churches exhibit an outstanding ability to reach out to their members, potential worshipers, and people in need. Think of these churches as having more tentacles than the most gregarious octopus! Comparing growing PC(USA) congregations to a random sample of PC(USA) churches reveals the reach of their tentacles. More growing churches than others […]

The percentage of worshipers giving 10% or more of their income to their local Presbyterian church clearly distinguishes one church from another. Yet Presbyterian churches are demographically and behaviorally different from the average conservative Protestant congregation, where high-percentage giving is more common. Are factors like the gender ratio and participation levels associated with high-percentage-tithing in Presbyterian churches […]