American congregations continue to struggle, facing declining attendance at worship, eroding financial health, waning spiritual vitality and increasing uncertainty about their mission and purpose.

These findings are some of the initial conclusions drawn in the "American Congregations Study" a Faith Communities Today 2008 (FACT2008) survey of American congregations. According to the survey analyst David Roozen, "The research indicates areas of concern, but there are also concrete programs that congregations can put into place to increase vitality."  

From 2005 to 2008 fewer congregations report that they are spiritually vital and alive, that they have seen worship attendance growth, or that they have a clear mission and purpose.  Just 19 percent say their current financial health is excellent, down from 31 percent in 2000 (and note the FACT2008 survey predates the market collapse that began late in 2008). The down tick in vitality holds across faith families.

Old-line Protestant congregations confront a special challenge. Their memberships are significantly older than for any other faith family. In fact, 60% of old-line congregations have over a quarter of participants age 65 or older. This is nearly twice as great as for any other faith groups and nearly three times as great as for Evangelical Protestant congregations. One unfortunate corollary of a congregation's age structure is that the more seniors, on average, the lower a congregation's vitality across all of FACT2008's vital signs.

The Good News - Congregational vitality is within your organization's control.  

Several factors can positively impact church vitality: Openness to change, clarity of purpose, vibrant worship, excellent and diverse programming and effectively managing conflict. In addition, FACT research indicates a strong correlation between good clergy leadership and vital congregations.

FACT2008 also points to several rather ordinary things that vital congregations do well. Two examples are hospitality to newcomers and support of lay volunteers. Congregations with greater spiritual vitality are more likely to invite new people to become involved in visitor orientation classes, to take leadership roles in worship, and to become involved in a social ministry. These congregations also are more likely to provide training for volunteers and to recognize their service. "These are easy things to do that can have a positive impact on congregational vitality," states Roozen.