Parochial Reports

*C9.12(b). The pastor of this congregation: shall submit a summary of such statistics annually to the synod.

The annual congregation report (more commonly called known as "the parochial report") is not merely an exercise in number crunching. The data collected assists the congregation, the synod, and the national church. "How?" you might ask. Let's take them one by one.

• The congregation benefits from periodic self-evaluation. Demographics, financials, and other narrative information can be an important part of self-evaluation. Even something as apparently mundane as having correct contact information is important; e.g., the contact information for your congregation is part of the congregation lookup system that people do use to locate potential new church homes when they relocate. The information gathered can also be very important in the call process as both your call committee and potential candidates will want those numbers. N.B., candidates have turned down invitations to interview because the congregations presented did not have parochial reports for several years in a row. Lastly, a congregation that conscientiously completes its report every year has access to the automated trends report, information that may be useful in congregational planning.
  
• The synod benefits not only in its call process work but also in its budget development and subsequent mission support formula. Old data, especially when it reports larger membership or stronger financial health, usually hurts a congregation because the synod sets mission support based upon those numbers. Accurate data is also important in the development of cooperative agreements, grant applications, and the proactive delivery of services. Allocation of voting members to Churchwide Assembly is also based upon reported demographics.
  
• The national church benefits from accurate data in the same way that the synod does.

Parochial Report for 2024

There are several changes to the Annual Congregation Report process to note for 2024 (as communicated by the Office for Research & Evaluation):

• Congregations will only receive a letter mailed in mid-January. The letter will contain details on how to access the online reporting system, including their congregation ID and password. Congregations will not receive any printed resources through the mail. All resources will be posted online at elca.org/reportinstructions. The letter will direct congregations to these resources.
• A new online platform will launch in mid-January for the Annual Congregation Report. This platform will display data from congregations’ most recent Form A submission and will include embedded definitions and instructions.
• While a customized copy of Form A will not be mailed to congregations as it has been in years past, this form is available upon request. Congregations may contact the synod office to will need to email us at research@elca.org to receive a copy. We will also email you a copy of the customized versions of Form A for all your congregations, so you have them should the need arise.
• The online system for 2024 Form A reporting will open in mid-January. It will be accessible at elca.org/congregationreport.

On Thursday, December 12, the ELCA churchwide organization sent an email to all congregations, SAWCs, and new starts, describing the Annual Congregation Report process and key dates for the new data year. The email will also provide a link to elca.org/reportinstructions, which includes a generic version of Form A, so congregations that wish to begin compiling their data can do so. (Currently, the webpage reflects information for the 2023 Annual Congregation Report. It will be updated for the 2024 Annual Congregation Report next week. The videos will be updated in January before the system opens.) This email will not contain the password for the online system.

N.B., if you did not receive an email, it is likely that the email on file with the ELCA is out of date. Check you spam folder first. If it is not there, contact the synod office.

Congregation Pulse Surveys

As explained by the Office of the Secretary of the ELCA:

The ELCA Congregation Pulse Surveys are an experimental effort to allow ELCA congregations and worshiping communities to communicate their perspectives, strengths, and development needs to synods and the churchwide organization.

Historically, the Annual Congregation Report Form C was a way for congregations and worshiping communities to communicate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices on a wide variety of topics to synods and the churchwide organization.

As time went by, the Office of the Secretary determined that Form C was no longer a helpful information-gathering tool. There was no common theme to the questions, so they frequently appeared unorganized. Given limited space on the form, only one question about a given topic could be included. Finally, the entire process took too long; questions solicited in the summer of one year were not answered until the fall of the next year.

With those concerns in mind, we are trying a new way to collect data. Instead of soliciting information from all congregations and worshiping communities simultaneously through Form C, we will be conducting quarterly Congregation Pulse Surveys. The Pulse Surveys seek to address some of the same topics covered by Form C; however, they provide an opportunity to dig a bit deeper to better understand the perceptions and actions of congregations and worshiping communities. Additionally, with quicker turnaround of reporting results, synods and the churchwide organization will be able to begin conversations based on responses, make adjustments to better serve the needs of congregations and worshiping communities, and gain insight into the impact of those changes.

Over the next year each ELCA congregation and worshiping community will receive one Pulse Survey, in either April, July, October, or January 2025. Surveys will be distributed to the email address on file for the congregation or worshiping community with the churchwide organization.

For congregations or worshiping communities who do not have a specific email address on file, the survey will be sent to the rostered minister, administrative assistant, or Council President.
The surveys are designed to be completed in five minutes or less and without any research. Each survey will remain open for three weeks. At that point, the data will be summarized and shared.

To learn more about the thought and design of the Congregation Pulse Surveys, click here.