At the same time, the survey found it disturbing that:

When the public thinks of churches, the image that comes to mind is a mega-church or a high-steeple urban church. The reality, however, is that half of the congregations in the United States have fewer than 100 regularly participating adults and just over half are located in small town and rural settings. Indeed, a full quarter of congregations have fewer than 50 regularly participating adults, while less than 10 percent have more than 1,000.

Perhaps less obvious is the dramatic shift over time in the geographic locus of new congregations. Congregational development in the West surpassed even the South in the last decade. This trend is something religious establishments, whose mindsets have yet to make the Westward shift, should note.

Congregations with a clear sense of purpose feel vital and alive. In contrast to feelings of unity based on heritage (the past), this center of cohesion looks to the future. Not surprisingly, the confidence of congregations in their future is closely tied to their ability to attract and mobilize the energies of their youth. The ability to attract teenagers and children contributes to membership growth. Purpose-driven vitality also can be measured by the quality and quantity of financial support that members give a congregation. Size makes a significant difference here. New churches, especially when they are small, report a precarious financial situation, while older, larger congregations, especially in suburbs, feel their financial health is stronger.

Fifty percent of congregations report that they are growing and that they welcome change, which contributes to growth. The survey found that they grow by:

Contrary to some widely quoted scholars, congregations with a strong commitment to social justice and with direct participation in community outreach ministries are more likely to be growing than other congregations.

Location makes a major difference as well. Congregations in suburbs are more likely to be growing, while those in rural areas are apt to be losing members, regardless of their openness to change or willingness to accept new members.

The impact of change to contemporary worship is clear throughout this report. Changes in worship patterns, especially in using new instruments (electronic guitar and electronic keyboard, for example) have a strong, positive association with congregational vitality, member growth, financial stability and other signs of a healthy congregation. Changes in congregational worship, like growth, are associated with size and location, apparently as congregations respond to changing community and cultural conditions. Also, the immediacy of the Holy Spirit seems parallel to contemporary worship practices such as use of electronic instruments.

Where populations make it possible, change for many congregations also means an effort to increase their racial/ethnic diversity. Congregations most committed to increasing diversity are in the centers of metropolitan areas, while faith communities least committed to increasing their racial-ethnic diversity are located in rural areas, villages and towns, where the opportunities are fewer.

But change does not come without the emotional cost of conflict. The tensions around change are compounded when congregations are faced with dwindling financial resources. Congregations report an increase in conflict as their resources become more limited.

Conflicts around worship are more likely to occur in center city congregations, where social diversity is higher and finances are less available. Conflicts also are more evident in congregations located in new suburban areas, where the funding may not be as limited (depending on congregational size and age) but the pressures to reach contemporary culture are even stronger.

Congregations feeling the greatest pressure for additional space are located in the growing suburbs. The most crowed facilities are directly associated with membership growth.

Many congregations outside the suburbs report more space than they need. Fortunately, many of the congregations with additional or unused room are located in communities of greatest need for human services in rural and central city settings. They are uniquely situated to respond with space and facilities to provide faith-based social ministries to strengthen their communities, where no other such buildings are available. Congregations working for social justice and with a broad array of outreach ministries are more likely to express vitality.

While the majority of congregations are vital and alive, some report that they have lost the energy that comes with clear vision. Age of congregation is one factor that places a drag on a congregation’s sense of energy and purpose. Leaders in such congregations face the challenge to recover a fresh sense of mission and purpose, to help the congregation "to dream again."

For the complete report go to http://fact.hartsem.edu.