PCUSA loses 43,175 members during 2004; 2nd highest since reunion (Liberal Presbyterians)

Layman Online ^ | June 21, 2005 | John H. Adams

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The Presbyterian Church (USA) lost 43,175 members in 2004, the third straight year that more than 40,000 people have left the denomination.

The 2004 loss was both the second highest numerically and as a percentage of membership since the Southern and Northern streams of mainline Presbyterians merged in 1983 to form the PCUSA.

The 43,175 departing members represented 1.79 percent of the 2003 membership. The loss in 2003 was the highest – 46,658, or 1.9 percent of the 2002 membership.

The ongoing declines have reduced the membership of the PCUSA by 401,869 since the mainline Presbyterian merger – down from 3,131.229 in 1983 to 2,362,136 at the beginning of 2005. The loss since the predecessor denominations of the PCUSA reached their peak membership of 4,254,597 in 1965 has been 1,892,461, or 44.5 percent of the membership.

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Good news - liberal mainline denomination continues to lose members.

Table at the link shows year-to-year losses since 1965. 44.5% in 40 years.