In 2001, several groups that study religious communities joined together to fund and conduct the first wave of the U.S. Congregations survey. In 2008-09, Wave 2 was conducted and used to determine how U.S. congregations have changed over time. (You can learn more about the survey, its sponsors and methodology, here.)

There are a plethora of valuable insights that have come from the study, which I will draw out over time. Some key findings include the following discoveries about congregations that go “beyond the ordinary”:

Congregations that go Beyond the Ordinary excel in the following areas:

1. Growing Spiritually — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help worshipers grow in their faith. [Read more]
2. Meaningful Worship — Beyond the Ordinary congregations provide worship services that meet the needs of worshipers. [Read more]
3. Participating in the Congregation — Beyond the Ordinary congregations are places where worshipers are involved in many of the activities of the congregation. [Read more]
4. Having a Sense of Belonging — Beyond the Ordinary congregations provide people with a sense of fellowship with others. [Read more]
5. Caring for Young People — Beyond the Ordinary congregations ensure that the children and youth in the congregation are nurtured in the faith. [Read more]
6. Focusing on the Community — Beyond the Ordinary congregations reach out to and serve those outside their doors. [Read more]
7. Sharing Faith — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help their worshipers feel comfortable sharing their faith with others.
8. Welcoming New People — Beyond the Ordinary congregations ensure that new people become part of their faith community. [Read more]
9. Empowering Leadership — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help worshipers to share in the leadership of the congregation. [Read more]
10. Looking to the Future — Beyond the Ordinary congregations focus on a positive future. [Read more]

Leadership is a key element in congregational excellence, and Duke University Divinity School’s Pulpit and Pew project has focused attention on the characteristics of congregational leaders who – with their congregations – embody “a more excellent way.” The Divinity School’s Dean, L. Gregory Jones, has co-written an insightful book that develops a theology of leadership excellence and offers vignettes of past and present church leaders who embody excellence, in Resurrecting Excellence: Shaping Faithful Christian Ministry.