Congregational age also makes a difference. Older congregations have more established patterns, and seem less willing or able to make changes, while more recently organized congregations appear more responsive to change. Change happens when congregations receive new members. All groups report an acceptance of these new members. But Historically Black churches report more acceptance than other Christian groups.
Location makes a major difference as well.
Congregations in suburbs are more likely to be growing, while those in rural areas are apt to be losing members, regardless of their openness to change or willingness to accept new members. Congregations most committed to increasing diversity are in the centers of metropolitan areas, while faith communities least committed to increasing their racial-ethnic diversity are located in rural areas, villages and towns, where the opportunities are fewer. By denomination, the Catholics report the highest level of effort to increase the inclusiveness of their congregations. Changes in congregational worship, like growth, are associated with size and location, apparently as congregations respond to changing community and cultural conditions. Congregations are more likely to have changed their worship in the past five years if they are larger, older and located in metropolitan areas.