Pastors Report Mixed Economic Signs Survey of 1,000 Protestant Pastors

2 Methodology  The telephone survey of Protestant pastors was conducted in May 18-25, 2011  The calling list was randomly drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. Up to six calls were made to reach a sampled phone number  Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church called  Responses were weighted to reflect the geographic distribution of Protestant churches

3 Methodology Continued  The completed sample is 1,000 phone interviews  The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error does not exceed +3.2%  Margins of error are higher in sub-groups  Comparisons are also made to the following telephone surveys using the same methodology:  1,002 pastors conducted November 5-12, 2009  1,000 pastors conducted March 1-9, 2010  1,000 pastors conducted October 7-14, 2010  1,002 pastors conducted January 17-27, 2011

Survey Responses

5 The impact of the economy on churches is similar to levels in January 2011, but still more negative than Q: “How is the current economy impacting your church?” Among Protestant Pastors

6 In 2011, over 70% of pastors report offerings either about what was budgeted or higher than budgeted. Q: “Since the beginning of 2011, have your offerings been:” May 2011 offerings compared to budget

7 Less than one in four Protestant pastors report lower offerings in 2011 compared to Q: “Compared to your calendar year 2010 offerings, have your total offerings so far for 2011 been…” May 2011 offerings compared to 2010

8 The average change in giving for Protestant churches in 2011 is +2% but the median is 0%. Q: “Approximately what percentage are your calendar year 2011 offerings different from you 2010’s offerings?” Among Protestant Pastors

9 Protestant Churches Have Noticed A Number of Changes in Their Churches Related to the Economy 96% of pastors report that their church has experienced at least one of the eleven changes tested

10 70% of Protestant churches are receiving more requests for assistance, and many are making efforts to meet those needs in time and money. Q: “Compared to recent years, has your church seen changes in any of the following areas in the last year?” Among Protestant Pastors

11 A higher percentage have a greater sense of excitement about opportunities to minister than have a greater sense of caution about assisting. Q: “Compared to recent years, has your church seen changes in any of the following areas in the last year?” Among Protestant Pastors

12 Protestant pastors report many economic impacts on the people with their church. Q: “Compared to recent years, has your church seen changes in any of the following areas in the last year?” Among Protestant Pastors

13 Churches report both an increase and a decrease in people volunteering. Less churches reporting an increase in people losing their jobs. Note: All differences shown are statistically significant at the 5% level. Q: “Compared to recent years, has your church seen changes in any of the following areas in the last year?” Among Protestant Pastors

14 More than 3 in 4 Protestant churches have seen changes in at least three of the categories in the last year. Q: “Compared to recent years, has your church seen changes in any of the following areas in the last year?” Among Protestant Pastors

15 Doing More With Less …. Nearly half of Protestant churches are freezing salaries and making rather than buying, but around 1 in 4 have launched a new ministry to help the disadvantaged.

16 Actions churches have taken in response to the economy in May 2011 are very similar to actions in November % None of these Q: “Have the recent problems in the economy caused your church to take any of the following actions?” Among Protestant Pastors Significant difference at 5% level

17 Over two-thirds of Protestant churches have taken two or less of the actions suggested. 57% have taken no more than one of the economic actions. NOTE: The following two choices were removed to establish the list of economic actions. (a) Explored starting a new ministry to help people who are disadvantaged (b) Launched a new ministry to help people who are disadvantaged Q: “Have the recent problems in the economy caused your church to take any of the following actions?” Among Protestant Pastors

18 “How is the current economy impacting your church?” Protestant pastors of churches with attendance of 250 or more are least likely to be very negatively (3%) and most likely to be somewhat positively (14%) impacted by the current economy. Churches with Protestant pastors having a graduate degree are less likely to be somewhat negatively impacted (61% to 54%) by the current economy than churches with pastors having at most a Bachelor’s degree.

19 “How is the current economy impacting your church?” continued Protestant pastors age are most likely to state the economy has had no impact on their church (37%).

20 “Compared to your calendar year 2010 offerings, have your total offerings so far for 2011 been…” Churches with larger attendance, (49%) and 250+ (47%), are more likely to have increased offerings from 2010 compared to smaller churches, 0-49 (23%) and (34%). The smallest churches, attendance of 0-49, are least likely to have increased offerings in 2011.

21 “Compared to your calendar year 2010 offerings, have your total offerings so far for 2011 been…” continued Churches with Protestant pastors having a graduate degree are more likely to have increased offerings (41% to 34%) and less likely to have lower offerings (20% to 25%) than churches with pastors having at most a Bachelor’s degree. Pastors identifying themselves as “mainline” are more likely to have increased offerings (45% to 38%) compared to pastors identified as “evangelical”.

22 Protestant pastors’ views on the impact of the economy on their church by budget status Among Protestant Pastors

23 91% of pastors of churches that currently have offerings lower than budget state the economy is negatively impacting their church. Conversely, 82% of pastors who state the economy is having a positive impact have current offerings either higher than or about equal to budget. Of pastors who state the economy is having no impact on their church, 93% have 2011 offerings either higher than or about equal to budget. Protestant pastors’ views on the impact of the economy on their church by budget status

Pastors Report Mixed Economic Signs Survey of 1,000 Protestant Pastors