Rostered Ministers Gathering
Beyond the Narrative: What ELCA Data Actually Tells Us About Congregations
Adam DeHoek, Ph.D.
Across the ELCA, conversations about congregational life are often shaped by broad narratives that frequently emphasize decline. While these narratives certainly contain elements of truth, they rarely capture the full picture. Drawing on data from the Annual Congregation Report, this session offers a more nuanced view of trends within ELCA congregations.
Participants will explore patterns related to worship attendance, congregation size and financial giving, including changes in giving per member over time. The session will also highlight differences across ministry contexts and the varied trajectories congregations are experiencing.
Rather than presenting a single storyline, this session invites participants to engage a more complex reality, one that includes both ongoing challenges and signs of vitality and resilience. The presentation will surface common assumptions about ELCA congregations and examine how they align (or do not align) with available data.
Designed for pastors, deacons and synod staff, this session will equip participants with a clearer understanding of churchwide trends and a more informed lens for interpreting the contexts in which they serve.
1 hour