The FaithX Project

Strategic Missional Consulting

Congregational Vitality Assessment Research Sources

congregational vitality

The Congregational Vitality Assessment (CVA) is grounded in congregational vitality research. Every year we review relevant research findings and update the CVA and this list of research sources accordingly.

Primary Sources for Congregational Vitality

  • Linda Bobbitt. (2014). “Measuring Congregational Vitality: Phase 2 Development of an Outcome Measurement Tool,” Review of Religious Research 56(3).
  • Maren Freudenberg. (2016). “Liturgical Traditionalism and Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Congregational Practices in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society, 6(2).
  • Kenneth W. Howard. (2017). “The Religion Singularity: A Demographic Crisis Destabilizing and Transforming Institutional Christianity.” International Journal of Religion and Spirituality In Society, 7(2).
  • Kim Shockley, et al. (2012). Toward Vitality Research Project. Nashville, TN: United Methodist Church.

Secondary Sources for Congregational Vitality

  • George Barna. (2008). Americans Describe Their Moral and Social Concerns. Ventura, CA: Barna Research Group.
  • George Barna. (2004). Profile of American Churches Shows Them to be Conservative, Evangelical, Seeker-Sensitive – and Losing Ground. Ventura, CA: Barna Research Group.
  • George Barna. (2000). Grow Your Church from the Outside In: Understanding the Unchurched and How to Reach Them. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.
  • George Barna. (1999). The Habits of Highly Effective Churches: How to Have a Ministry That Transforms Lives. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.
  • George Barna. (1993). Turn-Around Churches: How to Overcome Barriers to Growth and Bring New Life to an Established Church. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.
  • Deborah A. Bruce. (2002). Comparing Personal Religious Practices Across the Generations. Hartford, CT: Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
  • Diana Butler Bass. (2006). Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith. San Francisco: Harper Collins.
  • Charles Crow & Kenneth Crow. (2003). “The Church Growth Movement and the American Dream,” in Grow Magazine. Bethany, OK: Church of the Nazarene.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway. (2015). New Facts on Episcopal Church Growth and Decline. New York: The Episcopal Church.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway. (2010). Facts on Church Growth. Hartford: Faith Communities Today.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway. (2007). Facts on Episcopal Church Growth. New York: Episcopal Church Center.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway. (2002). Congregation Size and Church Growth in the Episcopal Church. New York: Episcopal Church Center.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway. (2002). A Report on Episcopal Churches in the United States. New York: Episcopal Church Center.
  • C. Kirk Hadaway & Penny L. Marler. (2001). New Church Development: A Research Report. New York: Episcopal Church Center.
  • Celia Hahn. (1990). What Makes Churches Grow: The Best of Action Information. Washington, DC: The Alban Institute.
  • John Hayward. (2000). “Mathematical Modeling of Church Growth,” in Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 255-292.
  • Kenneth W. Howard. (2003). Mission Canons Evaluation Workgroup Report to Diocesan Council. Washington, DC: Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
  • Philip Hughes. (1998). Report on Congregational Health and Vitality. Melbourne, Australia: Anglican Archdiocese of Melbourne.
  • Lifeway Research (2008). What Adults Search for When Switching Churches. Nashville, TN: Lifeway Christian Resources.
  • Dennis D. Powell. (2000). Church Planting Programs of Similar Sized Denominations in the United States (Doctoral Dissertation). Wilmore, KY: Asbury Theological Seminary.
  • Ridley, C. (2000). “13 Qualities of an Effective Church Planter: An Assessment” in Evaluating and Reporting. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University. (click here for summary)
  • David A. Roozen. (2008). American Churches 2008. Hartford: Faith Communities Today.
  • David A. Roozen. (2004). Old Line Protestantism: Pockets of Vitality Within a Continuing Stream of Decline. Hartford, CT: Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
  • Arlin Rothledge. (1990). Sizing Up a Congregation for New Member Ministry. New York: Episcopal Church Center.
  • Robert J. Rowley. (2005). Successfully Coaching Church Planters (Doctoral Dissertation). Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary.
  • Edward J. Stetzer. (2003). The Impact of the Church Planting Process and Other Selected Factors on the Attendance of Southern Baptist Church Plants. Louisville, KY: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
  • Edward J. Stetzer. (2003). Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
  • Edward J. Stetzer & Phillip Conner. (2007). Church Plant Survivability and Health Study. Alpharetta, GA. Center for Missional Research (North American Mission Board).
  • Christian A. Schwarz. (1996). Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches. Carol Stream, IL: Church Smart Resources
  • James Slack. (1998). “Strategies for Church Planting.” Missiology. Eds. John Mark Terry, Ebbie Smith and Justin Anderson. Nashville, TN.: Broadman and Holman.
  • Scott Thuma & Dave Travis. (2007). Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America’s Largest Churches. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass.
  • Scott Thuma, et al. (2006). Megachurches Today 2005. Hartford, CT: Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
  • Albert L. Winseman. (2007). Growing an Engaged Church (Based on the Gallop 2004 Congregational Engagement Index). Omaha, NE: Gallup Press.