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Posted on 02/21/2011 10:52:36 AM PST by Titanites
The 2010 Yearbook from the National Council of Church USA is out and the news continues to be good for Catholics.
The Catholic Church, the nation's largest at more than 68 million members, reported a slight membership loss in 2009 (for the year 2007) but rebounded . . . with a robust growth of 1.49 percent in 2008.
Other groups that posted significant gains were the Mormon Church (Latter Day Saints) which grew 1.71 percent to 5,873,408 members and the Assemblies of God grew 1.27 percent to 2,863,265 members.
The big losers: mainline Protestants continue their slide
Presbyterian Church (USA), down 3.28 percent to 2,941,412; American Baptist Churches in the USA, down 2 percent to 1,358,351; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, down 1.92 percent to 4,709,956 members.
The 10 largest churches were
1. The Catholic Church, 68,115,001 members, up 1.49 percent.
2. Southern Baptist Convention,16,228,438 members, down 0.24percent.
3. The United Methodist Church, 7,853,987 members, down 0.98 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5,974,041 members, up 1.71 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no membership updates reported.
6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no membership updates reported.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,633,887 members, down1.62 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.
9. Assemblies of God (ranked 10 last year), 2,899,702 members, up 1.27 percent.
10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 1(ranked 9 last year), 2,844,952 members, down 3.28 percent.
(Note that the LDS Church is #4 and growing.)
FYI: The Episcopalian Church is #15 and the Greek Orthodox Church is #17 with 1,500,000 members on the books (although I've been told by insiders that actual attendance at Divine Liturgy is a small fraction of the official number)
Not surprisingly, congregational giving was down:
"The financial reporting in the 2010 Yearbook is based on the financial income reports of the 64 churches reporting. The almost 45 million members of these churches contributed almost $36 billion, showing a decrease in the total income to the churches of $26 million."
Yea they keep 2 separate lists.
I have been told here on FR ONCE A CATHOLIC ALWAYS A CATHOLIC ,that BAPTISM but an indelible mark on my soul ...LOL
Is it your belief that baptized infants are not counted as members BECAUSE THEY DO NOT PUT AN ENVELOPE IN ??? LOL
Baptism happens not only to the individual, but also to Christ's body, the Church. That's why the rite insists that we celebrate Baptism in the Christian assembly, with the community present and actively participating. It is the community, after all, who is welcoming the new members, journeying with them, providing models for them, supporting and nourishing them. Baptism begins with God's love and care revealed to us through Christ. It continues with us, the Church, living and enacting God's love and care through Christ to the world. That's a serious commitment.
http://www.americancatholic.org/UpdateYourFaith/answers.asp?QC0389a
When my youngest child was baptized the pastor suggested when he asked "what do you desire for this child" I should answer "membership in the church" ...
You were wrong about envelope counting in protestant church too
There IS a difference b/t being an official member of the church (with your name in the church’s computer database), and being an official member who is also a regular, pledging attendee. The problem is that many of these churches rarely purge those rolls, so oftentimes the numbers are in fact wildly inaccurate. This is true not only in Catholicism, but in several of the Protestant denoms as well.
Your expected response is a reason for me posting the article. Anti-catholics are quick to endorse any article indicating a decline in Catholicism but are equally quick to negatively spin any article indicating a growth in Catholicism. Don’t look now but your agenda is showing.
On that thought, and with equal relevance, more people are becoming conservatives too :) :o :) :o
I’m sorry that you have no clue how a parish works and assume that you are still a member of your ex-parish. Maybe God is working through them to bring you home. Miracles happen every day!
>>You were wrong about envelope counting in protestant church too<<
So you say, so you do not prove.
Hey, all I said was, “Unnngh!”
>>The problem is that many of these churches rarely purge those rolls<<
Catholic churches have a great incentive to do this.
The Bishop of a diocese takes a tax for his pet projects. The parishes pay an amount equal to an amount per parishioner.
We just had a purge. We have a mailing list for “all” people. If we have an address on you, you’re on the mailing list. However, the number of parishioners registered with the Diocese is ONLY those who are active members. That way we are only taxed on active parishioners.
Oh, and I got mailings from the Presbyterian church that I attended for years, eventhough I personally spoke with the Pastor and told him why I left.
LOL!
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
All-purpose response.
I’d say!
Our report wasn’t so rosy. I don’t have it here, but as I remember:
Parish about 2500 families — up
Upwardly mobile parish
About 800 are “elderly”
Young parish
Only 11 marriages last year (very poor showing and bodes ill for the future)
Can’t remember all the other stats, but the dearth of marriages is of great concern. That means that young people are not bothering to get married, or that they are marrying outside the church.
You’ll have to handle the gripy people today - we have colds. Help yourself to a Guinness to keep your strength up!
When my mother was sixteen, she had to have one of her ovaries removed. The doctor told her that she would have difficulty conceiving and would probably only have one or two children.
She was pregnant 9 times and has 7 children.
We always laughed when thinking what could have happened had she had both ovaries.
As for me, I was not a practicing Catholic and had a tubal after the birth of my second. I had my boy and my girl and I was done.
I returned to the Church after child bearing age, but I have since wished that I had more than just the two, though they are the lights of my life.
Please enlighten me as to the conceit shown. What was addressed is a serious challenge to devout Catholics, rash judgment to those who do not have as many children as others think they should. None of us are party to the crosses and medical challenges of our fellow pew members.
I have learned much from netmilsmom, she is an embarassment of riches, that's for sure.
>>I have learned much from netmilsmom, she is an embarassment of riches, that’s for sure<<
Goodness!
Thank you so much!
>>She was pregnant 9 times and has 7 children.<<
She is in heaven for sure!
My grandmother had 12 children.
My mom had eight pregnancies and 3 children.
I got only two pregnancies. I am blessed to have two live children.
I’m hoping to get at least one nun!
2. Rate of mass attendance please.
Yea she sure is with 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and more on the way!
Well, I pray that your daughter becomes a nun if that is truly her calling. What a blessing!
I’m not sure where you got the impression that I work for you.
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