<div dir="ltr">Sorry to bother you again, but I have a backlog of email, and this, too, might interest some of you. I (or someone) filled out a non-denominal church survey last year, and we requested access to the results. Here they are.... --dawn<br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:scott@hartfordinstitute.ccsend.com">scott@hartfordinstitute.ccsend.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Apr 28, 2026 at 5:20\u202fPM<br>Subject: New Congregational Survey Report - Thank you for your assistance!<br>To: <<a href="mailto:fuusm.office@gmail.com">fuusm.office@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div class="msg4997930273416693665"><u></u>
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<p style="margin:0"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:13px">Dear Religious Leader, </span></p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0">Thank you again for participating in our national Congregation Survey last fall. We are grateful for your contribution and the insights your faith community provided. As requested, we are pleased to share the survey results with you.</p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0">The national summary report\u2014released just a few days ago\u2014draws on responses from nearly 7,500 congregations across the country, including yours. It offers a comprehensive look at congregational life today and how it has changed since the pandemic. <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:13px">This overview report is available at </span><a href="https://8yslzbdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zBGmXdLx68NBkrM4YLPe35gifkjK1fpxY1tvKA7_0Ixx4naXFdnVTFTbQsS_sSGbKyv0a6sN0PkrK8R1SZjMESO5wygeT_3YPThVWeBZxPEdnthGxJG55CK99hwi1nD3BaM_wKidotpWOp55tp2RPPSlt7M8FcmxL8vWSVLoHDPEqt_AgopaUVVv5PntKYrM90EukAafg3MtjvUT-coxcLeP41-uRrJZIkeKj6WHpTpLoE6CknBPO5mC9RQxOCBzAxGy_aU3tNGwXdmMkwcVFA76DmWT4NKnzeWtc5MA9fpvbEYMprh27F86bttvYy-v5QElLvJUmeY=&c=77CqsDZe9AEwmdhTNoUHSzm8L1Ez0i-RI7FCeCpC2p1B_Dceq1gkfA==&ch=qEduBzK-LlyQRrOnC9W8Ua_4dC5FsYynsGqQYDliG_XGA3ji5jezIw==" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-weight:bold;font-size:13px;color:#09a3ba;text-decoration:underline;font-style:normal" target="_blank">the 2025 survey report page</a><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:13px">.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0"><span style="color:black;font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif">Titled, "</span><a href="https://8yslzbdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zBGmXdLx68NBkrM4YLPe35gifkjK1fpxY1tvKA7_0Ixx4naXFdnVTNYUzN1Hv-sWWU0LdhcgbrTR_3hg2foBWybBVjSpSA7TcIhvUUk4R0047hnqL6sZlgPzYOOcJq7PSDb_8ZdXpxLiPOLEJ77n3qP1ESFFSrxSyF7makcfqtC4HPnSaShoKlVEKIMXRoHknOx2kslUgn_qd7SFkX4Pfg5TONx27bV7xRortmknIxsk2Glb2-mcdg7aoszPihmFy6WXNE3lNWyC9ytjwgkZS63X2lc8ehpBV5Otx6ylh2fWIgMFmmOGcfrZGYaSwiG2b3QdRuybUVM=&c=77CqsDZe9AEwmdhTNoUHSzm8L1Ez0i-RI7FCeCpC2p1B_Dceq1gkfA==&ch=qEduBzK-LlyQRrOnC9W8Ua_4dC5FsYynsGqQYDliG_XGA3ji5jezIw==" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#09a3ba;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;font-style:normal" target="_blank">Signs of Rebound Amid Uneven Recovery: The Changing Congregational Landscape</a><span style="font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black">," this report is the latest installment of the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) project.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0"><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p style="margin:0">Among the key findings: median in-person worship attendance has risen to 70\u2014surpassing pre-pandemic levels and marking the first increase in 25 years. Median congregational income has reached $205,000, outpacing inflation. Volunteer participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels, and clergy report improved physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.</p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0">At the same time, the report cautions against interpreting these gains as a broad revival. Nearly half of congregations continue to decline, and much of the growth reflects people switching congregations rather than new participation. Mainline Protestant congregations, and especially those with 50 or fewer attenders, remain particularly vulnerable. Even so, many congregations, even those struggling, report renewed optimism and energy.</p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0">Overall, these findings point to a period of \u201creinvigoration\u201d\u2014this break in long-term decline is marked by resilience, adaptation, and a cautious hopefulness.</p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0"><span style="color:black;font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif">Read the full report at </span><a href="https://8yslzbdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zBGmXdLx68NBkrM4YLPe35gifkjK1fpxY1tvKA7_0Ixx4naXFdnVTNYUzN1Hv-sWWU0LdhcgbrTR_3hg2foBWybBVjSpSA7TcIhvUUk4R0047hnqL6sZlgPzYOOcJq7PSDb_8ZdXpxLiPOLEJ77n3qP1ESFFSrxSyF7makcfqtC4HPnSaShoKlVEKIMXRoHknOx2kslUgn_qd7SFkX4Pfg5TONx27bV7xRortmknIxsk2Glb2-mcdg7aoszPihmFy6WXNE3lNWyC9ytjwgkZS63X2lc8ehpBV5Otx6ylh2fWIgMFmmOGcf39hcSm3gGLZSduIq9WWUQ=&c=77CqsDZe9AEwmdhTNoUHSzm8L1Ez0i-RI7FCeCpC2p1B_Dceq1gkfA==&ch=qEduBzK-LlyQRrOnC9W8Ua_4dC5FsYynsGqQYDliG_XGA3ji5jezIw==" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#09a3ba;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;font-style:normal" target="_blank">covidreligionresearch.org</a><span style="font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black">.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0">Thank you again for your participation. We trust these findings are helpful in your ministry and leadership.</p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0"><span style="font-size:13px">Warm regards,</span></p>
<p style="margin:0"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0"><span style="font-size:13px">EPIC Research Team </span></p>
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</div></div><div><br clear="all"></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Dawn Hewitt</div><div>Office assistant</div><div>First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta</div><div>232 Third St.</div><div>Marietta, OH 45750</div><div>(740)373-1238</div><div>Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10 a.m.--2 p.m. <br></div></div></div></div>