At first glance the racial profile of congregations seems to reinforce this myth. Seventy-six percent of congregations report that most or all of their regularly participating adults are white. Specifically, congregations participants represent a mirror image of the racial composition of the zip codes in which their congregations are located. That congregational participants reflect the demographic characteristics of their congregation s location is consistent with the traditional development of geographic parishes. Not surprisingly, the survey found that parishioners generally have a short commute to worship one that is considerably less than a typical commute to work.
Congregational participants are more likely to be female and older than the general population.
The fact that congregational participants are more likely to be married and to be in households with children than the general population offers support for those who have noted the close connection between organized religious involvement and traditional notions of family. Among congregations organized since 1990, there is a higher proportion of participants who commute more than 15 minutes to worship. Religious community is increasingly less equal to residential community. Size of congregation matters when it comes to gender the larger the congregation, the more males it has. This differential is found for both Protestants and Catholics.