Churches & Religious Groups Industry Profile

Churches and religious groups in the US include about 340,000 establishments with about 160 million members, according to the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Large churches include Catholic, Southern Baptist, United Methodist, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The size of individual congregations varies significantly.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by consumers' desire for spiritual growth, guidance, inspiration, and by demographics -- older Americans are more likely to attend church than younger ones. The profitability of a church depends primarily on the congregation's ability to attract members who can provide financial support. Large congregations have advantages in their ability to offer more programs and activities. Small congregations can compete effectively by maintaining stronger connections with members. About 40 percent of Americans say they attend services once a week or more, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Religious congregations are similar to charitable organizations, in that they solicit money in various ways to fund charitable and educational programs, often called missions or ministries. These programs most often benefit congregation members or members of the community in which the church is located. Some churches may also have programs aimed at communities elsewhere in the US or overseas.

Most programs funded by churches are labor- rather than materials-intensive. Personnel costs for clergy, educational staff, and clerical employees are the largest expense for most churches. Programs are primarily educational (religious study ...