A recurring issue in the urban literature is the degree to which individuals and institutions are influenced by their immediate environments. Church growth in Seattle-area churches is correlated with characteristics of the nearby area, such as spatial location, population composition, and social ties. Consistent with previous research, the "life cycle" stage of the surrounding neighborhood is an important predictor of growth but the social ties of the church to the nearby area also are important, including the church's duration at location and the localization of membership. The effects of the urban environment on growth are nearly as strong as church internal organizational characteristics.
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