Religion Newswriters Association press releases

JULY 19, 2002

Religious "Census" to be released at RNA Annual Meeting

The most complete data available on U.S. religious affiliation and based on reports from 149 religious bodies will be released 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2002, at RNA's annual meeting in Nashville.

Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States: 2000
An Enumeration by Region, State and County Based on Data Reported by 149 Religious Bodies is published every 10 years by the Glenmary Research Center.

The data, available for $110, includes:
• 500+ page book with 24 color maps.
• 25" x 38" major religious families wall map.
• CD-ROM with database files from 1952, 1971, 1980, 1990 and 2000 studies in Excel, SPSS and comma-delineated text.
• free shipping.

Advance orders will be accepted online, beginning mid August, at www.glenmary.org/grc. More information about the 2000 study and those preceding it are also available at this web address.

HISTORY OF THE STUDY

Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States: 2000 is the latest in a series of every-10-year studies conducted at the same time as the U.S. census. It provides the most complete data available anywhere on U.S. religious affiliation.

Beginning in the 19th century and continuing into the 1940s, the U.S. Census Bureau attempted to collect religious information about Americans. When this was no longer feasible because of concerns over the separation of church and state, many feared this valuable information would be lost.
In 1956 the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. made an effort to respond to this need and published what became known as the Church Membership Study. It used 1952 data for 53 denominations, and is now out of print.

The Glenmary Research Center, founded in 1966, became a key stakeholder in the development of every subsequent edition of this Church Membership Study in 1971, 1980, 1990 and, now, 2000.
Beginning in 1990, the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) assumed coordination of the study.

FROM 'CHURCHES' TO 'RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS'

This study has grown each decade in the number and diversity of religious bodies covered. Because of the increasing breadth of this ecumenical endeavor, a more inclusive name has been chosen for this new edition: Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States: 2000.

Previous studies carry the title Churches and Church Membership in the United States followed by the specific dates of the studies: 1971, 1980 and 1990.

SPECIFICS OF 2000 STUDY

The 2000 study contains information for 149 Christian and other religious bodies. This includes the number of churches/congregations, full members and adherents for each group for each county in all 50 states. Data are also presented by state, region and religious group.

The total population for each county is also presented so that the number and percentage of persons in each county who are "unclaimed" by any of the participating religious bodies can be computed. For the first time, the 2000 study will present partial data on the race and ethnicity of church members.

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STUDY

The Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) coordinates the collection and presentation of data and holds the copyright to the study. The Nazarene Research Center manages and processes the data for the study.

The Glenmary Research Center collects Catholic data and publishes and distributes the book, CD-ROM and wall maps.

The Lilly Endowment provides major support.