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National Congregations Study: Cumulative File, 1998, 2006-2007, 2012, 2018-2019, [United States] (ICPSR 3471)

Released/updated on: 2025-06-03

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1998-01-01--1998-12-31, 2006-01-01--2006-12-31, 2012-01-01--2012-12-31, 2018-01-01--2019-12-31

The National Congregations Study (NCS) is a national survey effort to gather information about America's congregations. The first wave of the NCS took place in 1998, and the study was repeated in 2006-07, 2012, and 2018-19. The NCS tracks continuity and change among American congregations, and each NCS wave also explores new subjects.

With information from 5,333 congregations collected over a span of more than 20 years, the NCS helps us better understand many aspects of congregational life in the United States, and how congregations are changing in the 21st century. The NCS contributes to knowledge about American religion by collecting information about a wide range of congregations' characteristics and activities at different points in time.

In all four waves, the NCS was conducted in conjunction with the General Social Survey (GSS). The 1998, 2006, 2012, and 2018 waves of the GSS asked respondents who attend religious services to name their congregation, thus generating a nationally representative sample of religious congregations. Researchers then located these congregations. In 2006, the sample included re-interviews of a subset of congregations that participated in 1998, and in 2018-19, the sample included re-interviews of a subset of congregations that participated in 2012.

A key informant at each congregation - a minister, priest, rabbi, or other staff person or leader - provided each congregation's information via a one-hour interview conducted either over the phone or in-person. The survey gathered information on many topics, including the congregation's leadership, social composition, structure, activities, and programming. The NCS gathers information about worship, programs, staffing, community activities, demographics, funding, and many other characteristics of American congregations. Respondents of the NCS survey were asked to describe the worship service and programs sponsored by the congregation other than the main worship services, including religious education classes, musical groups, and recreational programs. Informants described the type of building in which the congregation met, whether it belonged to the congregation, and whether visitors came just to view the building's architecture or artwork. Congregations were geocoded, and selected census variables are included in this study.

External data

National Congregations Study (NCS), [United States] (ICPSR 38472)

Released/updated on: 2022-05-23

Time period: 1998-01-01--1998-12-31, 2006-01-01--2007-12-31, 2012-01-01--2012-12-31, 2018-01-01--2019-12-31

The National Congregations Study (NCS) surveys a representative sample of America's churches, synagogues, mosques, and other local places of worship. Users can download and analyze the NCS survey data online on the study website. The NCS is based on in-depth interviews with congregational leaders and gathers information about worship, programs, staffing, community activities, demographics, funding, and many other characteristics of American congregations. Respondents of the NCS survey were asked to describe the worship service and programs sponsored by the congregation other than the main worship services, including religious education classes, musical groups, and recreational programs. Informants described the type of building in which the congregation met, whether it belonged to the congregation, and whether visitors came just to view the building's architecture or artwork.

Curated

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Easter Season Poll, 1986 (ICPSR 8584)

Released/updated on: 2011-05-03

Geographic coverage: New York City, United States, New York (state)

Time period: 1986-02-01--1986-02-28

This survey of New York City residents focuses primarily on religion. Respondents were questioned about religious upbringing and education, current participation, specific beliefs, and religion's influence on their personal values. Other topics include sex education, abortion, the death penalty, and prayer in public schools. Demographic characteristics were also recorded.

Curated

United States National Church Shooting Database, 1980-2005 (ICPSR 25561)

Released/updated on: 2010-03-30

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1980-01-01--2005-12-31

Founded in 1999, the Center for Homicide Research has made it its mission to increase case solvability and decrease the occurrence of homicide incidents. In working toward this goal, the Center has put together various databases of national homicide incidents. The Church Shooting Database uses online newspaper archive articles to document all cases of shootings on church property within the United States from 1980-2005. While extensive studies have been done exploring the details of other public shootings such as school campuses and workplaces, the phenomenon of shootings in churches has been left relatively untouched. Taking into account variables about the offenders, victims, and circumstances of each shooting, the database attempts to describe each incident as well as explore how the church context may play a role in the shooting.

Curated

Political Power in Boston, Massachusetts and Charleston, South Carolina, 1828-1843 (ICPSR 8653)

Released/updated on: 2006-01-18

Geographic coverage: Charleston (South Carolina), United States, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Boston

Time period: 1828-01-01--1843-12-31

This study examined public records from two major port cities on the east coast of the United States in order to understand how urban centers functioned in antebellum America. The history, culture, and inhabitants of both cities were examined to compare the mechanisms of urban decision-making as they related to national economic and political circumstances. Demographic information was collected on a broad spectrum of individuals from both cities to gather as complete a picture as possible of those who wielded influence or power in the decisions undertaken in Boston and Charleston in response to the economic conditions of the period from 1828 to 1843. Variables in the dataset include the names of individuals, their gender, marital status, occupation, residence, location of business, birth and death dates, place of birth and nationality, political affiliation, church membership, fire and militia company association, professional, religious and/or philanthropic interests, business and corporate affiliations, property holdings, educational experiences, and political offices served.

Curated

Michigan Religious Data, 1950 and 1960 (ICPSR 21)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: United States, Michigan

This data collection contains county-level information on churches and church membership by denomination in Michigan for 1950 and 1960. Information is given on the names of the county, presbytery, and church. Other variables provide information on the number of churches and church members for each denomination. Additional variables give the number and percentage of the state population who were 14 years and older in each county in 1950 and in 1960, the percentage of this age group who attended churches in 1950 and in 1960, and the percentage of the change in membership in each denomination between 1950 and 1960.

Curated

WABC-TV/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Poll, December 1984 (ICPSR 8554)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: New York City, United States, New York (state)

Time period: 1984-12-01--1984-12-31

This survey focuses on the 1985 New York City mayoral race and the Roman Catholic church. Respondents were asked who they would like to see win the 1985 race, how they would rate Ed Koch as mayor, and whether they preferred Koch to other mayoral candidates. Respondents also were asked whether they agreed with a series of statements relating to abortion, birth control, homosexuality, and the Roman Catholic church. Items pertaining to the Catholic church included the respondent's opinions on priests being allowed to marry, women being allowed to become priests, priests, bishops and cardinals staying out of politics, a tax credit for parents who send their children to parochial schools, and Bishop John O'Connor's performance as head of the New York Archdiocese. Demographic characteristics also were recorded.