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Alexei Krindatch (akrindatch@aol.com)
Ten Facts about US Orthodox Churches from the
                 FACT Study
What is FACT (“Faith Communities Today”) Study?
 Established in 2000, FACT is ongoing survey-based
  research project which examines various aspects of life of
  American religious congregations
 FACT’s work is conducted and publicized by a multi-faith
  group of religious researchers. FACT partnership includes
  researchers from 25+ faith groups and denominations.
 FACT projects are coordinated by Hartford Institute for
  Religion Research
 The US Orthodox Churches have been and are full-fledged
  members of FACT partnership from its very inception
 Detailed info about FACT work, projects and findings:
           www.faithcommunitiestoday.org
What is FACT 2010 study?
 Faith Communities Today 2010 national survey is most
 recent major study of American congregations
 accomplished by FACT partnership
 11,000+ randomly selected religious congregations
  representing 32 of the country’s largest denominations and
  faith traditions completed standard questionnaires
 FACT 2010 surveys were sent to all GOA, OCA, AOCA
  parishes. 370 parishes completed questionnaires – 30%
  return rate (including 85 AOCA parishes – 34% return)
 For various subject-oriented reports from FACT 2010 study
  look at: http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/fact-2010
Fact 1 Orthodox parishes are much more “urban” than
Roman Catholic parishes and Protestant congregations
“How would you describe the location of your church
                     building?”
                                                      13%
                 Rural area or village or town                       41%
Eastern
Orthodox                 under 10,000                                      53%

Churches                                                            40%

                                                        18%
Roman Catholic                                    8%
Church             Town or city 10,000-50,000
                                                 6%
                                                  8%
Mainline                                                            38%
Protestant       Downtown or old residential                 23%
Churches
                   area in city over 50,000            15%

Evangelical                                                  22%
Protestant                                                    26%
Churches            Suburbs around city over          12%
                             50,000                   13%
                                                        16%
Fact 2 Other than English languages are still much
   more present in US Eastern Orthodox than in
     Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches
        % congregations which hold worship services in other
           than English language or have bilingual services


         Eastern Orthodox Churches                             46%




            Roman Catholic Church                  25%




  Mainline Protestant denominations    5%




Evangelical Protestant denominations        8%
But the usage of other-than-English languages
  varies significantly among major US Orthodox
                     Churches
        % parishes which hold worship services in other than
             English language or have bilingual services

       0%            20%             40%            60%        80%



AOCA                       23%




OCA                   19%




GOA                                                            78%
Fact 3 Compared to Protestant congregations
and Roman Catholic parishes, demography of
membership in Orthodox parishes is different:
 Members of Orthodox churches are better educated:
  Orthodox parishes have higher % of persons with college
  degree
 Members of Orthodox churches spend longer time
 commuting to their churches
 Orthodox parishes are less “female” than Roman
  Catholic parishes or Protestant congregations
 There are fewer senior (65+) members among Orthodox
  parishioners than among members of Roman Catholic or
  Mainline Protestant Churches
“Of your total regular participants estimate the
                percent who are…”
   Average % of various categories of members:
  Category of members     East. Rom. Mnln. Evng.
                          Orth. Cath. Prot. Prot.
College graduates           53     40     43     31
Living within 15 minutes
of parish’s church building   46   73   75     55
Female                        54   57   61     57
Senior adults: age 65 and
older                         26   30   38     24

New to congregation /
parish in the past 5 years    23   18   19     30
Demography of GOA, OCA, AOCA members is
           also quite different
  Average % of various categories of members for
     GOA, OCA, AOCA parishes nationwide
    Category of parishioners        AOCA GOA OCA
College graduates                    57   54   49
Living within 15 minutes of
parish’s church building             47   53   34
Female                               53   56   56
Senior adults: age 65 and older      21   30   26
New to parish in the past 5 years    30   15   27
Converts to Orthodoxy                50   26   48
Fact 4 Theologically Orthodox parishes are much
 more conservative than Roman Catholic or Oldline
             Protestant congregations
“How would you describe theological outlook of the majority
        of your regularly participating adults?”
   Conservative (somewhat or very)     Moderate
   Liberal (somewhat or very)


     Eastern Orthodox                      70%           26%   4%

      Roman Catholics                50%           41%         9%

   Oldline Protestants               47%          34%      17%

Evangelical Protestants                    74%           21% 5%
There is not much difference between AOCA,
     GOA and OCA parishes in terms of their
“theological preferences” (conservative vers. liberal)
“How would you describe theological outlook of the majority
        of your regularly participating adults?”
  Conservative (somewhat or very)   Moderate
  Liberal (somewhat or very)



AOCA                      74%                    22%   4%



 GOA                    65%                    30%     5%



 OCA                      74%                    22%   4%
Fact 5 But there is significant difference between
 AOCA, GOA and OCA churches in how much
   emphasis they place on various programs
 % of parishes reporting that following programs and
       activities are given “a lot of emphasis”
                                                                     74%
                         Sunday school                                 80%
                                                         52%
 AOCA
                                                   44%
 parishes                  Bible studies                       62%

                                           28%
                                                     44%
                        Music programs      25%
 GOA                                                41%
 parishes                                                   52%
             Religious formation classes                 45%
                                                    41%
                                                            53%
 OCA                    Youth programs                               68%
 parishes                                    27%
                                                  35%
            Community service activities            40%
                                           23%
Fact 6 Compared to Roman Catholic and
 Protestant Churches, the Orthodox Churches
  do not communicate much with religiously
“others:” the level of ecumenical involvement
  of Orthodox parishes is significantly lower
   than among Roman Catholic parishes or
           Protestant congregations
“During past 12 months, has your parish / congregation
 been involved in any of the following ecumenical or
                interfaith activities?”
                  % reporting "Yes"              28%
                                                             53%
                           Worship services
 Eastern                                                                 77%
                                                         55%
 Orthodox
 Churches                                              41%
                    ,Joint celebrations, fairs                 53%
 Roman
                         cultural events                              65%
 Catholic                                                      52%
 Church
                                                       34%
 Mainline        Educational or fellowship                   47%
 Protestant              activities                                   65%
 Churches                                                      52%
 Evangelical                                                       59%
 Protestant                                                              74%
               Community service activities
 Churches                                                                80%
                                                                     62%
Overall GOA parishes have higher level of ecumenical
      involvement than AOCA or OCA churches
“During past 12 months, has your parish been involved in
any of the following ecumenical or interfaith activities?”

                 % reporting "Yes"
                                                17%

                          Worship services              36%

                                                  24%
   AOCA
   parishes                                               40%
                   ,Joint celebrations, fairs
                                                                46%
                        cultural events
                                                          34%
   GOA
                                                        28%
   parishes     Educational or fellowship
                                                                43%
                        activities
                                                        28%

   OCA                                                                 59%
   parishes
              Community service activities                              62%
                                                                      55%
Fact 7 Reportedly, worship in Orthodox parishes is
  more “powerful” than in Roman Catholic and
               Protestant churches
 % of parishes / congregations reporting that following
 describe their week-end worship service “very well”
                                                                  70%
  Eastern                                           28%
                       Worship is reverent
  Orthodox                                    24%

  Churches                                          27%
                                                            43%
  Roman
                                                    31%
  Catholic               Worship is joyful           31%
  Church                                                   39%
  Mainline                                                  42%
  Protestant                                    22%
                   Worship is inspirational
  Churches                                          26%

  Evangelical                                         33%

  Protestant                                               39%
                                                22%
  Churches    Worship is thought provoking          29%
                                                          37%
Reportedly, worship in AOCA parishes is more
  “powerful” than in GOA and OCA churches
% of parishes reporting that following describe their week-
             end worship service “very well”
                                                                       80%

                       Worship is reverent                       66%
   AOCA
                                                                69%
   parishes
                                                          50%

                          Worship is joyful   36%

   GOA                                               47%
   parishes                                               51%

                   Worship is inspirational    34%

                                                      47%
   OCA
   parishes                                         43%

              Worship is thought provoking     34%

                                                    42%
Fact 8. AOCA parishes have higher expectations
with regard to religious practices of their members
          than GOA and OCA churches
% of parishes reporting that they place “a lot of emphasis”
  on following personal and family religious practices
                                                          52%

             Personal prayer                43%
  AOCA
                                             49%
  parishes
                                            42%

              Family prayer          37%

  GOA                                 36%
  parishes                                          49%
               with children
                                            40%
                about faith
                                            41%
  OCA
  parishes                                                  56%

                     Fasting                  43%

                                                    50%
Fact 9 Financial health of Orthodox Parishes is worse
      compared to Catholic parishes and Protestant
                     Congregations
“How would you describe current (2010) financial health of
              your parish / congregation?”
% of parishes / congregations reporting:

                  100%
  In difficulty                      20%                        16%
                          24%                      23%
                  80%

  Tight, but      60%                40%                        40%
                                                   40%
  we manage               45%
                  40%
  Good or
  excellent       20%                40%           37%          44%
                          31%
                   0%
                          Eastern    Roman       Mainline    Evangelical
                         Orthodox   Catholic     Protestant   Protestant
                         parishes   parishes   congregationscongregations
Compared to GOA and OCA churches, Antiochian
      parishes report better financial situation.
“How would you describe current (2010) financial health of
                    your parish? ”
% of parishes / congregations reporting:


  In
            100%
  difficulty           15%
                                      29%            23%
            80%
  Tide but
  we        60%        47%
                                                      47%
  manage                               42%
  Good /    40%
  Excellent
            20%        38%
                                      29%            30%

             0%
                   AOCA parishes   GOA parishes   OCA parishes
GOA churches were hit harder by financial crisis than
         the OCA and AOCA parishes
“How would you assess the impact of 2008-09 crisis on
your
             parish’s staff and operations?”
% of parishes reporting “Moderate or Major impact” on
each of following                            24%

             Staff salary reduction / freeze                     37%

  AOCA                                              19%

  parishes                                     5%

                 Staff layoffs or furloughs         13%

                                               5%
  GOA
  parishes                                          21%
                     Funds available from
                                                                   39%
                        investments
                                                           28%
  OCA
  parishes   Capital campaign or building
                                                           28%

                                                                  38%
                       program
                                                          26%
Members of GOA churches were also hit harder by
financial crisis than the OCA and AOCA parishioners

“How would you assess the impact of 2008-09 economic
         crisis on the members of your parish?”
% of parishes reporting “Moderate or Major impact” on
                 Requests of
each of following                 19%
               parishioners
                                              35%
  AOCA           for cash
  parishes      assistance      18%


               Requests of            19%

  GOA          parishioners
                                                         32%
  parishes     for pastoral
                counseling             20%



  OCA        Unemployment
                                            31%

  parishes    among parish                         36%

                members                      32%
Fact 10 US Orthodox parishes are as involved in recruiting
new members as Catholic parishes or Mainline Protestant
churches. But they lag far behind Evangelicals churches.
“Overall, to what extent are your parish’s / congregation’s
   participants involved in recruiting new members?”
% of parishes / congregations reporting:

               100%
  Not at all / A
                                                                 26%
  little         80%      41%         39%           41%
  Some          60%
                                                                 44%
                40%       40%         44%           40%
  Quite a bit /
  A lot         20%
                                                                 30%
                          19%         17%           19%
                 0%
                       US Orthodox    Roman       Mainline    Evangelical
                         parishes    Catholic     Protestant   Protestant
                                     parishes   congregationscongregations
The stereotype about particular missionary zeal of
    Antiochian churches seems to be exagerrated.
“Overall, to what extent are your parish’s / congregation’s
  participants involved in recruiting new members?”
% of parishes / congregations reporting:


  Not at all 100%
             /
  A little
                        32%
             80%                                      40%
  Some                                 46%

             60%
  Quite a               50%                            39%
  bit / A lot 40%                       37%

             20%
                        18%            17%            21%
              0%
                    AOCA parishes   GOA parishes   OCA parishes
Source of Information on US Orthodox
 Churches (available on Amazon.com)
A few useful web-sites on church-life in USA:
www.orthodoxreality.org : about American
 Orthodox Churches today
www.orthodoxhistory.org: about history of
 US Orthodox Churches
www.usreligioncensus.org: county level
 data on religious affiliation, membership
 and attendance in USA
www.hirr.hartsem.edu: vast and diverse
 information on various (mainly
 Christian) religious communities in USA
If you are back home and have
     questions, please, write me at
         akrindatch@aol.com

Now is time for “difficult” questions:
             please ask!

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Workshop on "Ten Interesting Facts on US Orthodox Churches from the FACT Study"

  • 1. Alexei Krindatch (akrindatch@aol.com) Ten Facts about US Orthodox Churches from the FACT Study
  • 2. What is FACT (“Faith Communities Today”) Study?  Established in 2000, FACT is ongoing survey-based research project which examines various aspects of life of American religious congregations  FACT’s work is conducted and publicized by a multi-faith group of religious researchers. FACT partnership includes researchers from 25+ faith groups and denominations.  FACT projects are coordinated by Hartford Institute for Religion Research  The US Orthodox Churches have been and are full-fledged members of FACT partnership from its very inception  Detailed info about FACT work, projects and findings: www.faithcommunitiestoday.org
  • 3. What is FACT 2010 study?  Faith Communities Today 2010 national survey is most recent major study of American congregations accomplished by FACT partnership  11,000+ randomly selected religious congregations representing 32 of the country’s largest denominations and faith traditions completed standard questionnaires  FACT 2010 surveys were sent to all GOA, OCA, AOCA parishes. 370 parishes completed questionnaires – 30% return rate (including 85 AOCA parishes – 34% return)  For various subject-oriented reports from FACT 2010 study look at: http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/fact-2010
  • 4. Fact 1 Orthodox parishes are much more “urban” than Roman Catholic parishes and Protestant congregations “How would you describe the location of your church building?” 13% Rural area or village or town 41% Eastern Orthodox under 10,000 53% Churches 40% 18% Roman Catholic 8% Church Town or city 10,000-50,000 6% 8% Mainline 38% Protestant Downtown or old residential 23% Churches area in city over 50,000 15% Evangelical 22% Protestant 26% Churches Suburbs around city over 12% 50,000 13% 16%
  • 5. Fact 2 Other than English languages are still much more present in US Eastern Orthodox than in Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches % congregations which hold worship services in other than English language or have bilingual services Eastern Orthodox Churches 46% Roman Catholic Church 25% Mainline Protestant denominations 5% Evangelical Protestant denominations 8%
  • 6. But the usage of other-than-English languages varies significantly among major US Orthodox Churches % parishes which hold worship services in other than English language or have bilingual services 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% AOCA 23% OCA 19% GOA 78%
  • 7. Fact 3 Compared to Protestant congregations and Roman Catholic parishes, demography of membership in Orthodox parishes is different:  Members of Orthodox churches are better educated: Orthodox parishes have higher % of persons with college degree  Members of Orthodox churches spend longer time commuting to their churches  Orthodox parishes are less “female” than Roman Catholic parishes or Protestant congregations  There are fewer senior (65+) members among Orthodox parishioners than among members of Roman Catholic or Mainline Protestant Churches
  • 8. “Of your total regular participants estimate the percent who are…” Average % of various categories of members: Category of members East. Rom. Mnln. Evng. Orth. Cath. Prot. Prot. College graduates 53 40 43 31 Living within 15 minutes of parish’s church building 46 73 75 55 Female 54 57 61 57 Senior adults: age 65 and older 26 30 38 24 New to congregation / parish in the past 5 years 23 18 19 30
  • 9. Demography of GOA, OCA, AOCA members is also quite different Average % of various categories of members for GOA, OCA, AOCA parishes nationwide Category of parishioners AOCA GOA OCA College graduates 57 54 49 Living within 15 minutes of parish’s church building 47 53 34 Female 53 56 56 Senior adults: age 65 and older 21 30 26 New to parish in the past 5 years 30 15 27 Converts to Orthodoxy 50 26 48
  • 10. Fact 4 Theologically Orthodox parishes are much more conservative than Roman Catholic or Oldline Protestant congregations “How would you describe theological outlook of the majority of your regularly participating adults?” Conservative (somewhat or very) Moderate Liberal (somewhat or very) Eastern Orthodox 70% 26% 4% Roman Catholics 50% 41% 9% Oldline Protestants 47% 34% 17% Evangelical Protestants 74% 21% 5%
  • 11. There is not much difference between AOCA, GOA and OCA parishes in terms of their “theological preferences” (conservative vers. liberal) “How would you describe theological outlook of the majority of your regularly participating adults?” Conservative (somewhat or very) Moderate Liberal (somewhat or very) AOCA 74% 22% 4% GOA 65% 30% 5% OCA 74% 22% 4%
  • 12. Fact 5 But there is significant difference between AOCA, GOA and OCA churches in how much emphasis they place on various programs % of parishes reporting that following programs and activities are given “a lot of emphasis” 74% Sunday school 80% 52% AOCA 44% parishes Bible studies 62% 28% 44% Music programs 25% GOA 41% parishes 52% Religious formation classes 45% 41% 53% OCA Youth programs 68% parishes 27% 35% Community service activities 40% 23%
  • 13. Fact 6 Compared to Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches, the Orthodox Churches do not communicate much with religiously “others:” the level of ecumenical involvement of Orthodox parishes is significantly lower than among Roman Catholic parishes or Protestant congregations
  • 14. “During past 12 months, has your parish / congregation been involved in any of the following ecumenical or interfaith activities?” % reporting "Yes" 28% 53% Worship services Eastern 77% 55% Orthodox Churches 41% ,Joint celebrations, fairs 53% Roman cultural events 65% Catholic 52% Church 34% Mainline Educational or fellowship 47% Protestant activities 65% Churches 52% Evangelical 59% Protestant 74% Community service activities Churches 80% 62%
  • 15. Overall GOA parishes have higher level of ecumenical involvement than AOCA or OCA churches “During past 12 months, has your parish been involved in any of the following ecumenical or interfaith activities?” % reporting "Yes" 17% Worship services 36% 24% AOCA parishes 40% ,Joint celebrations, fairs 46% cultural events 34% GOA 28% parishes Educational or fellowship 43% activities 28% OCA 59% parishes Community service activities 62% 55%
  • 16. Fact 7 Reportedly, worship in Orthodox parishes is more “powerful” than in Roman Catholic and Protestant churches % of parishes / congregations reporting that following describe their week-end worship service “very well” 70% Eastern 28% Worship is reverent Orthodox 24% Churches 27% 43% Roman 31% Catholic Worship is joyful 31% Church 39% Mainline 42% Protestant 22% Worship is inspirational Churches 26% Evangelical 33% Protestant 39% 22% Churches Worship is thought provoking 29% 37%
  • 17. Reportedly, worship in AOCA parishes is more “powerful” than in GOA and OCA churches % of parishes reporting that following describe their week- end worship service “very well” 80% Worship is reverent 66% AOCA 69% parishes 50% Worship is joyful 36% GOA 47% parishes 51% Worship is inspirational 34% 47% OCA parishes 43% Worship is thought provoking 34% 42%
  • 18. Fact 8. AOCA parishes have higher expectations with regard to religious practices of their members than GOA and OCA churches % of parishes reporting that they place “a lot of emphasis” on following personal and family religious practices 52% Personal prayer 43% AOCA 49% parishes 42% Family prayer 37% GOA 36% parishes 49% with children 40% about faith 41% OCA parishes 56% Fasting 43% 50%
  • 19. Fact 9 Financial health of Orthodox Parishes is worse compared to Catholic parishes and Protestant Congregations “How would you describe current (2010) financial health of your parish / congregation?” % of parishes / congregations reporting: 100% In difficulty 20% 16% 24% 23% 80% Tight, but 60% 40% 40% 40% we manage 45% 40% Good or excellent 20% 40% 37% 44% 31% 0% Eastern Roman Mainline Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Protestant Protestant parishes parishes congregationscongregations
  • 20. Compared to GOA and OCA churches, Antiochian parishes report better financial situation. “How would you describe current (2010) financial health of your parish? ” % of parishes / congregations reporting: In 100% difficulty 15% 29% 23% 80% Tide but we 60% 47% 47% manage 42% Good / 40% Excellent 20% 38% 29% 30% 0% AOCA parishes GOA parishes OCA parishes
  • 21. GOA churches were hit harder by financial crisis than the OCA and AOCA parishes “How would you assess the impact of 2008-09 crisis on your parish’s staff and operations?” % of parishes reporting “Moderate or Major impact” on each of following 24% Staff salary reduction / freeze 37% AOCA 19% parishes 5% Staff layoffs or furloughs 13% 5% GOA parishes 21% Funds available from 39% investments 28% OCA parishes Capital campaign or building 28% 38% program 26%
  • 22. Members of GOA churches were also hit harder by financial crisis than the OCA and AOCA parishioners “How would you assess the impact of 2008-09 economic crisis on the members of your parish?” % of parishes reporting “Moderate or Major impact” on Requests of each of following 19% parishioners 35% AOCA for cash parishes assistance 18% Requests of 19% GOA parishioners 32% parishes for pastoral counseling 20% OCA Unemployment 31% parishes among parish 36% members 32%
  • 23. Fact 10 US Orthodox parishes are as involved in recruiting new members as Catholic parishes or Mainline Protestant churches. But they lag far behind Evangelicals churches. “Overall, to what extent are your parish’s / congregation’s participants involved in recruiting new members?” % of parishes / congregations reporting: 100% Not at all / A 26% little 80% 41% 39% 41% Some 60% 44% 40% 40% 44% 40% Quite a bit / A lot 20% 30% 19% 17% 19% 0% US Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical parishes Catholic Protestant Protestant parishes congregationscongregations
  • 24. The stereotype about particular missionary zeal of Antiochian churches seems to be exagerrated. “Overall, to what extent are your parish’s / congregation’s participants involved in recruiting new members?” % of parishes / congregations reporting: Not at all 100% / A little 32% 80% 40% Some 46% 60% Quite a 50% 39% bit / A lot 40% 37% 20% 18% 17% 21% 0% AOCA parishes GOA parishes OCA parishes
  • 25. Source of Information on US Orthodox Churches (available on Amazon.com)
  • 26. A few useful web-sites on church-life in USA: www.orthodoxreality.org : about American Orthodox Churches today www.orthodoxhistory.org: about history of US Orthodox Churches www.usreligioncensus.org: county level data on religious affiliation, membership and attendance in USA www.hirr.hartsem.edu: vast and diverse information on various (mainly Christian) religious communities in USA
  • 27. If you are back home and have questions, please, write me at akrindatch@aol.com Now is time for “difficult” questions: please ask!