Overview

Over 1,300 congregations responded to an email from the Pew Internet & American Life Project and filled out an online survey that asked how they built and use their Web sites, how congregations and leaders use email, and whether their use of Internet tools has helped the spiritual and everyday life of their members. This is not a representative sample of all the congregations in the United States. However, the wide-ranging and extensive responses of congregations to this survey suggest that the Internet has become a vital force in many faith communities. Most of the respondents are eager to use their Web sites to increase their presence and visibility in their local communities and explain their beliefs. They are much more likely to use the Web for one-way communication features such as posting sermons or basic information, than they are to have two-way communications features or interactive features such as spiritual discussions, online prayer, or fundraising.