Selected members receive survey on beliefs, faith, and practices of the Brethren.

A study of members of the Church of the Brethren congregations in the US is being carried out by means of a survey form that was received by 3,000 individual members of the church in February.

The "CMP 2006: Church Member Profile" also is surveying other Anabaptist groups in the US, and is being conducted by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. The senior project director is the Young Center's Donald Kraybill, a professor at Elizabethtown and a member of Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The Brethren project director for the study is Carl D. Bowman, professor of sociology at Bridgewater (Va.) College.

The study focuses on the beliefs, faith, and practices of church members from all walks of life. "It is a way of taking the pulse of our church today," said a cover letter that was mailed with the survey form.

The project is supported by the Annual Conference agencies. Funding also is being provided by other denominations being studied including Mennonites and Brethren in Christ. Results of the study "will help pastors, church leaders, and scholars to better understand the heartfelt concerns of members," the letter said. "It will also help members better understand who the Brethren are as we prepare for the 300th anniversary of our church in 2008."

Individual members of the denomination were randomly selected to receive the survey form "by a scientific process that assures that all voices and views across the church are heard," the cover letter said. "Participants were selected from 115 congregations to represent the entire membership of the church." The letter noted that it will take participants about an hour to answer the questions in the survey. Names of participants will not be connected with their answers.

For questions or comments call 717-361-1199 or e-mail cmp@etown.edu.

Source: 3/1/2006 Newsline
top