Free Republic

In a 2003 report on membership, ministers and finances, the research arm of the Presbyterian Church USA said the denomination continues to lose membership. The church has lost 42.4 percent of its membership since 1965. That accumulated loss of more than 1.8 million has resulted in an increase in the number of churches with small congregations. There were 4,171 congregations of fewer than 100 members in 1984, but 5,004 in 2002. The median contributions of those small congregations was $44,678. Older Americans are dropping out of organized religious activity in significant numbers, a research firm that tracks church trends said....