Our Beginnings
The idea of a directory representing Churches of Christ began in the 1950s with Where the Saints Meet. Today, the Churches of Christ in the United States, published by 21st Century Christian since 1997, is the most comprehensive directory of congregations representing the various branches of the churches of Christ.
In 2024, a group of ministries, institutions, and individuals representing a broad spectrum of Churches of Christ formed the Church Research Council (CRC). The CRC’s purpose is to collect, preserve, and provide the most extensive and accurate congregational information possible–and to make that information available through the internet.
Who is the Church Research Council?
Stanley Granberg, PhD
Project Director
CRC/Heritage 21
Stanley Granberg is the President/Project Director for the Church Research Council. He has experience in missions, church planting, and church research, including the founding of Kairos: Church Planting and Heritage21. His research focuses on the development, health, and future of Churches of Christ in the United States. His recent book is Empty Church: Why People Don’t Come and What to do About It.
Carl Royster
Editor
21st Century Christian
Carl Royster is the Editor of Churches of Christ in the United States, a comprehensive directory he has led since 2006. Carl has been with 21st Century Christian since 1989 and now serves as president. He brings decades of experience in communication, research, and congregational data collection to the Church Research Council.
Suzie Macaluso, PhD Research Analyst
Siburt Institute
Suzie Macaluso is a sociologist of religion and research analyst with the Church Research Council and taught at Abilene Christian University. She earned her PhD in sociology from Purdue University and now serves as Research Director for the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry. Her work focuses on congregational research, church health assessment, and the future of Churches of Christ.
Jim H. Barton
Software Architect
Church Research Council
Jim Barton serves as the Software Architect for the Church Research Council. He designs and maintains the technical systems that support the CRC website, interactive map, and research databases, helping ensure that CRC’s congregational information is secure, accessible, and useful for churches, researchers, and ministry partners.
Project Team
The following people comprise the team that is coordinating this survey project.
Edward Robinson, PhD
North Tenneha, TX
Lamont Ross
Marsalis Ave., TX
David Langford
Quaker Ave., TX
Javier Leon
Avanza Lider, TX
Jim Barton
IT Specialist, AR
Chris Buxton, DMin
Ulife Consulting, AR
Caleb Borchers
The Feast Church, RI
Partners
