Research Note: Beyond the Ordinary and Adventist Congregations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2006

Abstract

In 2001, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States participated with about 50 other faith groups in the U.S. Congregational Life Study (USCLS). Nearly 5600 Adventist church attenders in 94 congregations filled out a 56-item questionnaire about their faith and involvement in the life of the congregation. USCLS identified 10 strengths that put congregations "beyond the ordinary." They are (1) Growing spiritually, (2) Meaningful worship, (3) Participating in the congregation, (4) Having a sense of belonging, (5) Caring for children and youth, (6) Focusing on the community, (7) Sharing faith, (8) Welcoming new people, (9) Empowering leadership, and (10) Looking to the future. For each strength, one or more questions were chosen from the survey. Then the percentage of those who responded in a specified way to a particular question was calculated, and an index of that strength was constructed. The procedure used in the national USCLS study was replicated with the Adventist data and comparisons are made.

Journal Title

Review of Religious Research

Volume

48

Issue

1

First Page

50

Last Page

55

First Department

Christian Ministry

Link to Full Text

@ the James White Library

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