The African American Church represents the heartbeat of family, community and civic development in the black community. Through both the historically black denominations and "majority white mainline" denominations, African American congregations have been a voice and living force for positive community and national development for centuries. The African American Church is represented by some eight major black denominations and within more than ten mainline denominations. As a faith community, the African American Church is diverse, dynamic and growing.Through their worship services, media outreach and ministry outreach programs, the conveners and participants of the SDPC touch the lives of ten million people weekly.

TRENDS AND DATA: AFRICAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY POPULATION

• African Americans represent 13% of the U.S. population.
• The population approximates 36 million.
• 19.3% of the African American population has an earned bachelor's degree or higher.

CHURCH CHARACTERISTICS

• There are approximately 46,000 predominantly African American Christian congregations.
• 86% of African American Christians belong to historically Black denominations.
• 8% of African American Christians belong to mainline "majority" white denominations.
• 43% of African Americans attend church on a given Sunday.
• The average African American congregation has an average attendance that is 50% greater than that of the average white church.
• 63% of African American parishioners believe the pastor is the most important leader in the African American community.

SOCIAL AND CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS

• 91% of African American congregations offer one or more social outreach programs.
• 75% of philanthropic dollars in the African American community are funneled through religious institutions.
• Two-thirds of African American clergy have worked with voter registration drives in the last decade.

PURCHASING POWER

• The 2002 purchasing power of the African American community was $646 billion (greater than all of Canada).
• African Americans wield the strongest buying power of any US "minority."
• Two out of every three dollars spent by a defined "minority" are from the African American community.
• Hundreds of millions are reported to be deposited every Monday morning from African American church giving.

*Data compiled from Princeton; Center for the Study of Philanthropy; Barna Research; Center for Progressive Christianity; Ethnic