Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline

Church Central ^ | March 19, 2004

[NYer]

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The newest edition of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, a publication of the National Council of Churches, ranks the three largest U.S. churches as the Roman Catholic Church (66.4 million members), the Southern Baptist Convention (16.2 million) and the United Methodist Church (8.3 million), according to PCUSA News.

Four of the top 25 denominations now are Pentecostal. The yearbook editor, Rev. Eileen Lindner, the National Council deputy general secretary for research and planning, says that "reflects the continuing increase in numbers of adherents to Pentecostal traditions.

The four top Pentecostal denominations are the Church of God in Christ, the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and the Church of God. Seven of the largest 25 denominations are predominantly African-American churches.

The major U.S. churches that recorded growth between 2001 and 2002 included the Catholic Church (No. 1), the Southern Baptist Convention (2), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (5), the Assemblies of God (10), the American Baptist Churches in the USA (19), Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (23) the Jehovah’s Witnesses (24) and the Church of God, new on the list at No. 25.

Six of the top 25 churches reported membership losses: the PC (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the United Church of Christ.

The fastest-growing Protestant church was the American Baptist Church, whose membership increased by 2.87 percent.

Also reported in the 2004 yearbook, despite a well-documented clergy shortage, the number of students enrolled in theological institutions continues to grow.

Also increasing, is per capita giving, by an average of 5.6 percent, within churches.

[NYer]

Laetare Sunday Ping!

[B Knotts]

Six of the top 25 churches reported membership losses: the PC (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the United Church of Christ.

Interesting. I'd say that these all tend to be fairly liberal communities (at least in the leadership), save one. I wonder why LCMS is shrinking.

Who was it that said something like "who needs a Church that simply embraces his own sinful behavior?" I wish I could remember the exact wording; it was a brilliant observation.

[sinkspur]

The major U.S. churches that recorded growth between 2001 and 2002 included the Catholic Church (No. 1),

How can this be? I'm told, on a daily basis right on this forum, that the Catholic Church is shrinking like a slug on a salt lick.

Perhaps somebody doesn't know what he's talking about?

[St.Chuck]

Perhaps somebody doesn't know what he's talking about?

I think you are on to something.

[RFT1]

The growth of the Catholic church comes completely from immigration, both legal and illegal, also the Catholic church does not purge its membership files, even if someone has not sat in a pew in years.

[Between the Lines]

The way most churches pad their attendance and membership rolls, this data is useless.

[redgolum]

There is a big fight brewing between two factions in the LCMS. One focuses on the sole leadership of ordained pastors, the other on more of a lay ministry focus. I doubt the two sides will remain together very long, as the Yankee Stadium issue with Pastor Beneke illustrates.

Also, remember the LCMS was founded as an American Lutheran church for those of German descent, mainly in rural areas. As the population demographics change, so has the church memberships. There is a LOT of growth in some congregations, my own is looking at planting another church her in Lincoln because we can't hold enough services to get every one.

[Desdemona]

What good are granaries filled with chaff?

What good is served by judging people.

[ultima ratio]

How can this be? Easy--Mexican immigration.

[Tantumergo]

How's your RCIA class going this year in terms of numbers?

Any idea of how many will be coming into the Church in the US at Easter? I understand it was about 120,000 last year.

I think a certain movie might help those figures escalate over the next couple of years.

[sinkspur]

We've got 18 coming into the Church at Easter; 10 are Christian converts, and 8 will be newly baptized.

Our new inquiry class, beginning right after Easter, already has 18 enrolled, and another ten who've indicated they'd like to attend but just haven't signed up.

[Desdemona]

It all bothers me, but at the same time I recognize that it's also almost all outside my control. I don't let it rule my life. I take care of myself and do the best I can at living as Christ would have me do, set an example if you will.

That's all any of us can do other than pray for the "chaf".

[walking in truth]

Truth judges!

I think Mother Angelica said this once on her EWTN show.
Our own Bishops at their last meeting said 95 per cent of Catholics contracept. Most Catholics in the U.S. are Catholics in name only.

[dangus]

Actually, the growth in the last two years was more than can be explained by immigration. And the Church *does* regularly purge its membership files. The reason some estimates of the number of Catholics are too high is because they often ask in surveys, "what religion are you," and former Catholics will frequently answer Catholic long after they have left the faith, or taken up a new one (as in Presybterian Wesley Clark, New Age freak Dennis Kucinich or apostate John Kerry.)

Mind you, this survey does not measure church *attendance,* only membership. I do suppose attendance has dropped; it dropped drastically, for instance, in the 1970s. But it is still noteworthy if the Catholic Church is gaining members faster than she loses them even in the present crisis; it means that there are people out there reaping a harvest!

Likewise, one can be misled reading that seminary enrollment is at an all-time high, but it is nonetheless a positive sign that the long, devestating collapse in vocations has finally turned around.

[tiki]

I beg to differ. There is not one immigrant in our OCIA class and it has 14 people in it and there has not been one immigrant in it since I have attended this Catholic Church.

I work in the office and the files are purged constantly. If anyone received any of the Sacraments at our church it is on file and will remain on file but our membership contains only those who have filled out a membership form in our parish. It doesn't contain those who left the church, left town, or died and if anyone asked what our membership was it would be correct within 1 to 2 percent either way.

I would imagine that most parishes are operated this way.