• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• Radio and TV interviews with the authors

2001

News About the Survey:

• The Presbyterian News Service covered the U.S. Congregational Life Survey: 3,000 U.S. congregations to be surveyed April 29 -- April 10, 2001. The Presbyterian News Service release also appeared:
  
  • On the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA) website
  • In Presbyterians Being Faithful Today, a PC(USA) publication that no longer exists.

• Who Speaks for You? first appeared in Monday Morning magazine.

• Census of 2 Million Christians in Four Countries to Provide Snapshot of Faith -- Christianity Today (May 14, 2001)

• Duke surveying clergy on pastoral leadership-- United Methodist News Service press release describing the survey of congregational leaders conducted by Duke as part of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (May 23, 2001)

2002

Results of the Survey:

• Highlights of Keynote Address about the U.S. Congregational Life Survey at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Churchwide Redevelopment Conference (January 2002)

• Summary of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Churchwide Redevelopment Conference -- Where we presented preliminary findings of the project (January 2002)
  • Also appeared on the Church Business website (January 18, 2002).

• Churchgoers Move About -- article in the January/February 2002 newsletter of the PC(USA) Synod of Mid-America.

• Religion: Searching for Best Fit -- Atlanta Journal Constitution (January 21, 2002)

• Even with no question on religion, U.S. census helps churches plan (Backgrounder) -- Catholic News Service (January 18, 2002)

• Church Shoppers: Many Newcomers in the Pews -- appeared in Christian Century (January 30, 2002)

• Doesn't Anybody Stay in One Place Anymore? -- Charlotte Observer (March 4, 2002)

• Leader Survey -- Findings from leaders who participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (Adobe Acrobat file). The Leader Survey was conducted by Jackson Carroll (Divinity School, Duke University) as part of the Pulpit and Pew project.

• Survey Explodes Myths about Churchgoers -- Durham Herald-Sun (April 19, 2002).

• Women Outnumber Men at Churches Across the Board, Study Finds -- The Greenville News (April 21, 2001).

• Go Figure -- Christianity Today (April 22, 2002).

• Distance Not Factor for Some -- The Oklahoman (April 27, 2002).

• Survey Offers New Details on United Methodist Congregations -- News release from the United Methodist News Service (May 2, 2002).

• The State of Grace: Small Churches Face Challenges -- The Washington Times (May 8, 2002).
  • Also appeared in Cross Over Athens website (May 22, 2002).
  • Also appeared in The Chimes Official Newsletter of Wilshire Christian Church (June 26, 2002).

• Small Churches in America Face Many Challenges -- Charisma Online News Services (May 8, 2002).

• Results of the U.S. Congregational Life’s (sic) Survey �EMessage of the day, HughHewitt.com (May 8, 2002)

• Religious Survey Results -- Article on FaithSite.com (May 8, 2002).

• Closer Look -- Interview on K-LOVE radio (May 13, 2002). (Under "Past Editions of Closer Look," go to "American Congregations Survey.")

• Study Finds Churches Face Many Challenges -- Maranatha Christian Journal (May 13, 2002).

• Congregational Survey Profiles U.S. Worshipers -- Episcopal News Service, News Briefs (May 14, 2002).
  • Also appeared on the Foundation for Religious Freedom website (May 14, 2002).

• Ten Myths About U.S. Churches -- Texas District, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Newsletter (May 15, 2002).

• Massive Survey Looks at Religious Life at Local Church Level -- Religion News Services (May 15, 2002).
  • Also appeared in Presbyterian Outlook (July 1, 2002).
  • Also appeared on the United Church of Christ, United Church News, News Briefs web site (May 17, 2002).
  • Also appeared in Contra Costa Times -- June 28, 2002.
  • Also appeared in ChristianGlobe.com

• Throughout and Beyond -- a ministry resource of the Office of Navy Chief of Chaplains, featured the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (May 17, 2002).

• Small Churches Face Challenges -- Family News in Focus; Focus on the Family web site (May 15, 2002).

• Small Churches Face Obstacles -- The Parsonage (May 17, 2002).

• Highlights of U.S. Congregational Life Survey �EonReligion.com web site (May 2002).

• Grove City Church Takes Part in National Survey about Membership �EGrove City Record (May 2002).

• Newswatch �EUnited News and Information radio news network; posted on uninews.com (May 2002)

• Survey Offers Insight into New Members �EChurchCentral.com web site (May 16, 2002).

• Survey: 10 Percent of Churches Draw Half of all U.S. Worshipers �EWestern Recorder (May 21, 2002).

• Who Attends United Methodist Churches? -- Results for Worshipers in United Methodist Pews (includes Adobe PDF file and PowerPoint presentation of UMC results).

• "Survey Provides Detailed Picture of United Methodists" -- in UM Connections the newspaper of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church (May 15, 2002)

• Who's New in Your Pew? -- Article in the Go Figure column Presbyterians Today magazine (June 2002).

• The Leading Edge -- A newsletter by Earl Creps, Director of the AGTS DMin Program in Pentecotal Leadership (June 2002).

• Most Christians Fail to Invite Others, Survey Shows -- Biblical Recorder (North Carolina Baptist Journal, June 7, 2002).

• Survey Challenges Churches to Reach Out -- Charleston Post and Courier (June 9, 2002).

• Churches Big and Small Say Spirit is the Right Fit -- Chicago Tribune (June 14, 2002).

• U.S. Congregations: Who's Going Where? -- Ethical Leadership Resources (June 14, 2002).

• Survey Says: Presbyterians are Busy Worshipers -- Preliminary results for worshipers in Presbyterian congregations -- Presbyterian News Service (June 15, 2002).

• Take a Snapshot of Your Worshipers -- Presbyterian News Service (June 15, 2002).

• Religion & Ethics Newsweekly -- Special series on Exploring Religious America (June 21,2002).

• A Home for Worship -- Sacramento Bee (June 22, 2002).

• ELCA Survey Shows "Who is Coming to Church" -- ELCA News Release (June 24, 2002).

• Filling the Pews -- Tri-City Herald (Washington state, July 15, 2002).

• Church Market: Investing in Congregations, book review by Don Luidens -- in Christian Century (July 31, 2002).
  • Article is archived in Religion-Online

• Field Guide Indentifies Worshipers -- In Trust (Summer 2002).

• “Building Blocks of Congregational Strength�E- in ReDeveloping News, publication of the PC(USA) Office of Transformation (Summer 2002).

• Survey Reveals Habits of U.S. Churchgoers -- InterConnections: for Lay Leaders of Unitarian Universalist Congregations (August 2002).

• Just Who Are Those People in the Next Pew? -- United Methodist New Service (August 13, 2002).

• Pastor's Reflections -- Review of Beyond the Ordinary by the Reverend Jesse Thornton, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, McAllen, Texas (September 3, 2004).

• Southern Baptist affirm Scripture, Tithing: survey -- Baptist and Reflector, Tennessee Baptist Convention newsletter (October 2, 2002).

• Which Church Size is the Best Size? -- Offering Christ Today Online, by Mark J. Key (October 9, 2002).

• "The Voice of American's Worshipers" -- in Ohio Christian News, publication of the Ohio Council of Churches (November 2002).

• What is driving evangelical growth?" -- in the Toledo Blade (November 23, 2002).

• "Ordinary People, Strong Congregations" -- in Congregations, publication of Alban Institute (December 2002).

• "American and Australian Catholics, So What’s the Difference?�E-- in Christian Research Association Bulletin (December 2002).

• Australian Catholics: Older But Not Wiser -- Sydney Morning Hearld (December 18, 2002--compares Catholics in the U.S. to those in Australia).

• Growth Industry -- Southeast Texas Live/Beaumont Enterprise (December 28, 2003).

2003

• Dollars and Cents -- article in the Go Figure columun in Presbyterians Today (January 2003).

• A Jolt of Religion -- The Buffalo News (January 25, 2003).

• Multiple strengths make successful congregations, says survey by Leslie Scanlon -- article in Presbyterian Outlook (May 13, 2003).
  • Also appeared in Western Recorder.
    
  • Also appeared in The Canadian Press

• Survey of Congregations looks at Factors for Success, by Leslie Scanlon -- Religion News Service (May 31, 2003).
  • Also appeared in Washington Post (May 31, 2003).
  • Also appeared in the Charlotte Observer (May 31, 2003).
  • Also appeared in the ContraCosta Times (May 31, 2003).
  • Also appeared in the Online Standard, newsmagazine of Texas Baptists (June 6, 2003).
  • Modified story appeared in Beliefnet.com.

• Survey Finds Strengths in Small Churches -- Ken Garfield, Knight Ridder Newspapers
  • Appeared in Charlotte Observer (June 7, 2003).
  • Appeared in Grand Forks Herald (June 14, 2003).

• "How are we alike and different?" in Just in Time: Trends and Information for All Unity Leaders (July 1, 2003)

• A Field Guide to Congregations reviewed in Clergy Journal (September 2003).

• "Single Women -- A Challenge to the Church?" in Strategic Adult Ministries, online journal of Cook Ministries (September 2003).

• Small churches can thrive -- Delaware Online -- online edition of The NewsJournal (October 26, 2003).

• Congregational Vitality Tied to 10 Strengths -- LCMS Insights, A Quarterly Review of Religious Research (Vol. 2 No. 1, November 2003).

• Are We Accurately Sizing Up Congregations? -- Zion's Herald (2003, Vol. 177, Issue 6, November/December 2003).

• Heating and Healthcare strain small churches -- Christian Science Monitor (December 1, 2003).

• Church Life at its Best -- Press Release about the book, Beyond the Ordinary: 10 Strengths of U.S. Congregations, B&B; Media Group (January 29, 2004)

• State of Congregations: Committed and Challenged -- by Julie Sevig in The Lutheran (January 2004)

• Some will be surprised by findings in newest book based on Congregational Life Survey -- E-newsletter from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies (February 26, 2004).

• Church Health -- Editorial by John Yeats in Baptist Messenger newsletter of the Oklahoma Baptist Convention (February 28, 2004)

• Ordinary to Extraodinary on Crosswalk.com, resources for pastors.

• A Look @ Books -- Gregg Cantelmo, KPXQ radio (AM 1360 Phoenix, Arizona, March 16, 2004).

• Interview with Beyond the Ordinary authors, Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, on First Edition with host Chris Fabrey, featured on FaithfulReader.com. Listen in: First Edition, interview with Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce (6.1 MB)

• Study Examines What Makes for "Strong Congregations" -- by Adelle Banks, Religion News Service (March 2004).
  • Highlighted in the RNS e-newsletter (March 5, 2004).
  • Appears on The Canadian Press.
  • Appears in Biblical Recorder (North Carolina Baptist News) (March 10, 2004).
  • Appears in New Orleans Times-Picayune (March 13, 2004).
  • Appears in San Diego Union-Tribune (March 18, 2004).
  • Appears in Christian Century (April 6, 2004).
  • Appears in Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist (June 2004).

• 'Beyond the Ordinary' reports that congregations' strengths vary by size and across denominational lines -- Web site of The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (March 11, 2004).

• Some will be surprised by findings in newest book based on Congregational Life Survey -- E-nesletter of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies (March 11, 2004).

• Review of Beyond the Ordinary by Dennis Hensley on Christian Book Previews.

• Covered in "Faculty Books" section of Praxis, News from Hartford Seminary (April 2004).

• Good Churches -- in Centurymarks column of Christian Century (May 18, 2004.

• Best Practices: A Summer Reading List in Still Learning for Life, newletter of the Christian Education and Discipleship office of the Reformed Church in America features Beyond the Ordinary (May 2004).

• Featured on cover of Religion Update, Publishers Weekly (May 2004). (See cover.)

• "Let's Hear it for the Smaller Congregations!" in Lutherans United (May 2004).

• "Low Participation Found in Non-worship Church Social Groups" in the Living Stewardship column of MMA-online, Mennonite Mutual Aid online (May 2004).

• The Resource Connection -- Newsletter of Monmouth Presbytery (May 2004).

• Want to Know What is Going on in Your Pews? -- in InSites into American Religion (May 2004).

• Growing Presbyterian Churches -- Address by Bill Jordan, Executive Presbyter, Monmouth Presbytery (May 25, 2004).

• Small Congregationn Stand Tall -- in Anglican Connections the newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan (June 2004).

• Authors: Regardless of Size, All Churches Have Strengths to Exploit -- Agape Press (June 2, 2004).
  • Also appears on ChristiansUnite.com Absolute News (June 2, 2004).

• Smaller; Mid-size Churches Among "Unsung Heroes" in Strengths Study -- Western Recorder: Practical Resources for Kentucky Baptists (June 3, 2004).

• Mentioned by Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in his editorial Hear What the Spirit Says to the Churches: Reflections on the 2003 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Statistics, first published in Christian Century (June 2004).

• Churches Are Like Snowflakes -- report on presentation made at the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation breakfast at the 216th General Assembly (Richmond, June 29, 2004).
  • Also appears on DistrictNet, the newsletter of the Methodist Church, London North West District, England.

• On the U.S. Congregational Life Survey -- Cynthia Woolever interviewed by Terry Schier published on Resources for American Christianity Web site (July 2, 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary featured on PreachingNow Book of the Month (July 2004).

• Review of Beyond the Ordinary in Preaching Now (July 27, 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary "required reading" on ChurchCentral.com (August 4, 2004).

• Corvallis Gazette Times (August 27, 2004).

• For many Americans, autumn is a time for trying new churches -- Christian Science Monitor (September 21, 2004).

• Church growth: Nine myths, no magic bullets -- Presbyterian Outlook (September 25, 2004).

• Ready, set, grow! -- Article in Presbyterians Today (October 2004).

• Why churches grow -- article in the Go Figure column of Presbyterians Today (October 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary reviewed in Leadership (Fall 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary reviewed by Alban Institute, Resources for Congregation (Fall 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary featured in The News of San Fernando Presbytery (article by Jerry North, Executive Presbyter, November 2004).

• Growing Presbyterian Churches--by William H. Jordan Executive Presbyter, Monmouth Presbytery newsletter (October 28, 2004).

• Synod Hears Report From G.A. Council That U.S. Churches Are Stronger Than Believed--The News a newsletter of the San Fernando Presbytery (November 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary reviewed by Carol Lytch in Christian Century (November 30, 2004).

• Join the Church? Well . . . article including discussion of US CLS research by Jack Marcum presented at SSSR 2004 by John Dart in Christian Century (November 30, 2004).
  • Also cited in Religion Watch (December 2004).

• Doubt About Doubts—article citing US CLS research by Neal Krause (published in Sociology of Religion) in Centurymarks column of Christian Century (December 14, 2004).

• Praying for More Men: What will Bring them Back to Church? by Henry G. Brinton. The Washington Post (December 19, 2004)
  • Also cited in the Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky (December 25, 2004).

• Beyond the Ordinary listed on Alban Institute, Congregational Resource Guide December 2004.