Document Type
Research
Publication Date
5-2026
Abstract
This dataset contains survey responses examining communication practices among Christian churches in the United States. Data were collected between November 2025 and May 2026 from individuals directly involved in church communication, including ministers, communication and media staff, administrative staff, volunteers, creatives, and other church leaders. The dataset includes responses from 78 congregations representing a range of church sizes, geographic settings, and denominational traditions, with a substantial representation of autonomous Churches of Christ. Survey items address communication structures and strategies, digital and social media use, organizational oversight and gatekeeping, evaluation and feedback practices, branding and identity, training and resources, and the role of theological considerations in communication decision-making. The survey employed a mixed-methods design incorporating demographic questions, closed-ended and Likert-style items, multiple-response questions, and open-ended qualitative responses. The dataset is intended to support research on church communication, organizational communication, strategic communication, mediatization, and the relationship between communication practices and religious institutions.
Recommended Citation
Shirley, Adam Trey, "2026 Church Communications Survey" (2026). Art and Design. 5.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/art_design/5
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.