Minister Support in Rural and Small Town Churches of Christ: Findings from the 2025 Ministers’ Salary Survey
This study explores the current state of minister support within Churches of Christ, particularly in rural and small-town settings. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of pastors surveyed by the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) study considered leaving their congregations. Despite some improvements in clergy well-being, declining church attendance and financial strain persist. Using data from the 2025 Ministers’ Salary Survey, we examine differences in compensation by location, gender, education, and age.
Are Rural and Small-Town Churches Really That Different? Findings from the Church Research Council National Survey of Churches of Christ
While churches, especially in rural communities, often serve as centers of civic life, there is very little recent data on these congregations, particularly those within the Churches of Christ tradition. This study fills the knowledge gap by providing an overview of the demographic, structural, and ministry-related characteristics of Churches of Christ across the United States, with a specific focus on differences between rural and small-town areas and those in urban and suburban settings.
Using data from a 2024 Church Research Council (CRC) survey—the largest ever conducted on Churches of Christ—this report analyzed responses from 2,029 congregations across 47 states. The sample was nearly evenly split between participants from rural and small-town areas and those from urban and suburban communities. The analysis revealed that notable structural and cultural differences emerged between the two groups.