Alexei Krindatch ([email protected] Krindatch ([email protected]))Ten Facts about US Eastern Orthodox Ten Facts about US Eastern Orthodox
Churches from the FACT studyChurches from the FACT study
FACT Survey of US Eastern Orthodox ChurchesFACT Survey of US Eastern Orthodox Churches US total: about 1,900 Eastern Orthodox parishes
(congregations) with 817,000 adherents. They belong to 15 national Orthodox Church bodies (“denominations”)
45% of all adherents of US Eastern Orthodox Churches live in 5 states: NY (14%), CA (10%), IL (8%), PA (6.5%), MA (6%
Three major Orthodox Church bodies participated in FACT survey: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese (AOCA)
GOA, OCA and AOCA account for 70% of all US Orthodox parishes and for 80% of all US Orthodox Church adherents
FACT surveys were sent to all GOA, OCA, AOCA parishes 370 parishes completed questionnaires – 30% return rate
Fact 1Fact 1 Orthodox parishes are much more Orthodox parishes are much more “urban” than Roman Catholic parishes and “urban” than Roman Catholic parishes and Protestant congregationsProtestant congregations “How would you
describe the location of your church building?”
26%
38%
18%
13%
12%
23%
8%
41%
13%
15%
6%
53%
16%
22%
8%
40%
Rural area or village or townunder 10,000
Town or city 10,000-50,000
Downtown or old residentialarea in city over 50,000
Suburbs around city over50,000
EasternOrthodoxChurchesRoman CatholicChurch
OldlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
Fact 2Fact 2 Other than English languages are Other than English languages are still much more present in Eastern still much more present in Eastern
Orthodox than in Roman Catholic and Orthodox than in Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches Protestant Churches
% congregations which hold worship services in other than English language or have bilingual services
46%
25%
5%
8%
Eastern Orthodox Churches
Roman Catholic Church
Oldline Protestant denominations
Evangelical Protestant denominations
Fact 3Fact 3 Compared to Protestant Compared to Protestant congregations and Roman Catholic congregations and Roman Catholic parishes, demography of Eastern parishes, demography of Eastern Orthodox parishes is different:Orthodox parishes is different:Members of Orthodox churches are better educated (%
of persons with college degree) Members of Orthodox churches spend longer time
commuting to their churchesEastern Orthodox parishes are less “female” than
Roman Catholic parishes or Protestant congregationsThere are fewer senior (65+) members among
Orthodox parishioners than among Roman Catholics or Oldline Protestants
Surprisingly high % of converts from other religions
“Of your total regular participants estimate the percent who are…” (median
%)Category of members East
. Orth.
Rom.Cath.
Oldln.Prot.
Evng.Prot.
Senior adults, age 65 and older 20 25 34 17
Female 55 60 60 60College graduates 60 40 40 25Living within 15 minutes of parish’s church building
40 83 85 60
Live-long members of denomination 70 80 50 40
Fact 4Fact 4 Theologically Orthodox Theologically Orthodox
Christians are much more conservative Christians are much more conservative than Roman Catholics or Oldline than Roman Catholics or Oldline
ProtestantsProtestants “How would you describe theological outlook of
the majority of your regularly participating adults?”
74% 21% 5%
47% 34% 17%
50% 41% 9%
70% 26% 4%
Evangelical Protestants
Oldline Protestants
Roman Catholics
Eastern Orthodox
Conservative (somewhat or very) ModerateLiberal (somewhat or very)
Fact 5Fact 5 Being theologically Being theologically conservative, Eastern Orthodox conservative, Eastern Orthodox
parishes are “technologically” – at parishes are “technologically” – at least - as advanced as their Western least - as advanced as their Western
Christian counterparts.Christian counterparts.
“Which of the following technologies does your
congregation use on a regular basis?” (%)
8%
31%
7%
87%
91%
3%
22%
4%
76%
91%
7%
35%
9%
69%
91%
14%
45%
14%
69%
90%
Website
Blogs
Podcasts
EasternOrthodoxChurchesRomanCatholicChurchMainlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
Fact 6Fact 6 The Eastern Orthodox The Eastern Orthodox Christians do not communicate much Christians do not communicate much with religiously “others:” the level of with religiously “others:” the level of ecumenical involvement of Eastern ecumenical involvement of Eastern Orthodox parishes is significantly Orthodox parishes is significantly lower than among Roman Catholic lower than among Roman Catholic
parishes or Protestant congregations parishes or Protestant congregations
“During past 12 months, has your parish / congregation been involved in any of the
following ecumenical or interfaith activities?” % reporting "No"
41%
66%
59%
72%
26%
53%
47%
47%
20%
35%
35%
23%
38%
48%
48%
45%
Worship services
,Joint celebrations, fairscultural events
Educational or fellowshipactivities
Community service activities
EasternOrthodoxChurchesRomanCatholicChurchMainlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
Fact 7Fact 7 Reportedly, worship in Eastern Reportedly, worship in Eastern Orthodox parishes is more “powerful” Orthodox parishes is more “powerful”
than in Roman Catholic and Protestant than in Roman Catholic and Protestant churcheschurches
% of parishes / congregations reporting that following describe their week-end worship
service “very well”
39%
42%
43%
70%
22%
22%
31%
28%
29%
26%
31%
24%
37%
33%
39%
27%
Worship is reverent
Worship is joyful
Worship is inspirational
Worship is thought provoking
EasternOrthodoxChurchesRomanCatholicChurchMainlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
Fact 8Fact 8 In their worship services Eastern In their worship services Eastern Orthodox parishes sing a lot, but they Orthodox parishes sing a lot, but they don’t use musical instrumentsdon’t use musical instruments or “video or “video
effects”effects” % of parishes / congregations reporting that
following is “often” or “always” a part of their regular worship services
1%
0%
1%
29%
90%
6%
25%
17%
74%
78%
30%
20%
22%
71%
66%
55%
40%
49%
50%
42%
Choir
Organ
Drums, percussioninstruments
Electric guitar, bass
Visual projection
EasternOrthodoxChurchesRomanCatholicChurchMainlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
Fact 9Fact 9 Financial health of Orthodox Parishes is Financial health of Orthodox Parishes is worse compared to Catholic parishes and worse compared to Catholic parishes and
Protestant CongregationsProtestant Congregations “How would you describe current (2010) “How would you describe current (2010)
financial health of your parish / congregation?” financial health of your parish / congregation?”
31%
45%
24%
40%
40%
20%
37%
40%
23%
44%
40%
16%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
EasternOrthodoxparishes
RomanCatholicparishes
MainlineProtestant
congregations
EvangelicalProtestant
congregations
% of parishes / congregations reporting:
In difficulty
Tight, butwe manageGood orexcellent
Fact 10Fact 10 Good news to conclude: Eastern Good news to conclude: Eastern Orthodox parishes grow in attendance Orthodox parishes grow in attendance
more rapidly than Evangelical Protestant more rapidly than Evangelical Protestant congregationscongregations
Change (%) in median average attendance: 2005-2010
18%
-2%
-1%
12%
-30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30%EasternOrthodoxChurchesRomanCatholicChurchMainlineProtestantChurchesEvangelicalProtestantChurches
New Source of Information on US New Source of Information on US Orthodox Churches (available on Orthodox Churches (available on
Amazon.com)Amazon.com)
Look for more information on Orthodox Church life in US at:
www.orthodoxreality.orgwww.orthodoxreality.org
or write me to [email protected] Now is time for difficult questions: please, ask!
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