If you do not count it, it does not count: a pilot study of valuing urban congregations

Abstract

The value of urban congregations to local economies has been widely recognized but insufficiently measured. This study attempts to formulate and test a methodology for measuring this value. By applying different methods of valuation to a variety of factors, we achieve the first systematic measurement of the yearly contribution that an urban congregation makes to its city’s economy. The limitations and possibilities of our methodology are discussed, managerial implications are outlined, and further research and testing is suggested.