The National Council of Churches’ Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches has just released its 75th edition, which reports the largest 25 denominations/communions in the U.S. (noting an increase or decrease in membership since the 2006 Yearbook reports).
The yearbook, actually a 439 page paperback book is:
Widely considered the nation’s oldest and most reliable sources of church membership and growth trends, the 2007 edition reports on a record number of 224 national church bodies. The reports include brief histories, leadership and headquarters information, and ranks the 25 largest churches by membership.
The (LDS) Church, is ranked 4th in overall membership, with an increase of 1.63 percent in membership. The top 25 include:
1. The Catholic Church, 69,135,254 members, reporting an increase of 1.94 percent.
2. The Southern Baptist Convention, 16,270,315 members, reporting a increase of .02 percent.
3. The United Methodist Church, 8,075,010 members, reporting a decrease of 1.36 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5,690,672 members, reporting an increase of 1.63 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no increase or decrease reported.
6. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., 5,000,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,850,776, reporting a decrease of 1.62 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America, 3,500,000, no increase or decrease reported.
9. Presbyterian Church (USA), 3,098,842 members, reporting a decrease of 2.84 percent.
10. Assemblies of God, 2,830,861 members, reporting an increase of 1.86 percent.
11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
12. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
13. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., 2,500,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
14. The Lutheran Church ? Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,440,864, reporting a decrease or .93 percent.
15. Episcopal Church, 2,247,819, reporting a decrease of 1.59 percent.
16. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, reporting an increase of 9.30 percent (This increase reports the church’s growth since its last reported figures in 1999.)
17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1,500,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
18. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., 1,500,000 members, no increase or decrease reported.
19. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 1,440,405 members, reporting an increase of .53 percent.
20. American Baptist Churches in the USA, 1,396,700, reporting a decrease of 1.97 percent.
21. United Church of Christ, 1,224,297, reporting a decrease of 3.28 percent.
22. Baptist Bible Fellowship International, 1,200,000, no increase or decrease reported.
23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, 1,071,615 members, no increase or decrease reported.
24. The Orthodox Church in America, 1,064,000 members, reporting an increase of 6.40 percent.
25. Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1,046,006 members, reporting a decrease of 1.56 percent.
I’m assuming these numbers are the official numbers reported by the Church, but don’t know that for certain. It appears the Church of Christ reported the largest increase at 9.3 percent.
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March 5, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Church of Christ was reporting growth since 1999, an average of 1.32% per year, so not really that great.
March 5, 2007 at 3:40 pm
cantinflas: Good point!
March 5, 2007 at 4:27 pm
If that will be the number reported next month, it will be the lowest since stats have been published in Ensign. I’m waiting to see if ward and stake growth will pick up.
March 5, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Yeah but this study only shows growth of the Church in the US, not worldwide which is how the stats are reported in Conference, right?
I shouldn’t snicker when I see the JW’s decreasing by 1.56 % (but I sorta do). Very surprised by the number of churches reporting decreases overall.
March 5, 2007 at 4:57 pm
It needs to be pointed out that these are stats for the US and Canada – not the worldwide church.
I was surprised that the SBC only grew at a %.53. Catholics probably grew more through immigration that any other means. Taking the Church of God composite, Catholic growth through immigration, we added the most percentage of any faith. Woo-hoo?
March 5, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Whoops – I failed to see the AOG – they have us beat.
March 5, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Interesting numbers. I’m just happy we’re still in the increasing category.
March 5, 2007 at 6:57 pm
These appear to be US membership numbers. I suspect that the final report for the global church will be around double that (same is likely true for the evangelical churches).
March 5, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I wonder what the JW’s think about the decreasing numbers. I know that they place a lot of emphasis on their numbers, more than we do.
March 6, 2007 at 7:16 am
For whatever reason, the ones that round to the nearest half million, and don’t remember what their last count was, make me smile.
March 6, 2007 at 11:04 am
This is good. I hope that talk of our church being “fringe” or “outside the mainstream” will cease (but I highly doubt it). We’re the fourth largest denomination in the United States. In just a few years we will be third only to Baptists and Catholics.
The growth if the church looks pretty good, but of course, when placed next to the growth of the church worldwide, America is not doing so well. The church is certainly growing fastest outside our country.
March 6, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I always thought their were more Jehovah’s Witnesses than that. It seems that in places where I’ve lived there have been several JW chapels inside one ward’s boundaries.
March 6, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Hi,
Couple of things.
1. Where are the 7th day adventists on this list? They are not in the top 25?
2. I think the Catholic numbers should be higher. Millions of catholic immigrants have poured across the border in the last decade. I bet that the growth rate and actual membership is much higher but that stats are being reported slow due to the nature of illegal immigration
3. Lets examine the LDS Numbers. Comes out to roughly 40K COR births and 40K baptisms? What do y’all think? I lean towards 60K COR births and 20K baptisms or an even higher number of COR births based on anecdotal exp across the country. The source of most member growth in the wards I have lived in (excluding move-ins) comes from births not convert baptisms.
March 6, 2007 at 5:53 pm
The membership figure does come from the Church. Note that it represents the approximate number of U.S. members as of December 31, 2005.
March 6, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Re the Seventh-Day Adventists, their 2005 membership for the U.S. and Canada was about 1,024,000. Canada has approximately 57,000 members, which leaves U.S. membership at about 967,000.
March 6, 2007 at 6:43 pm
More precisely, the 2005 report lists 1,024,035 members in the U.S. and Canada, of which 55,431 are in Canada. That leaves U.S. membership for 2005 at 968,604.
March 6, 2007 at 9:59 pm
jose: I don’t think it will be the number reported next month. That number, I believe reflects total Church growth or members, not just U.S. As several have already commented, these numbers only reflect U.S. and Canada membership numbers.
lxxluthor: It is interesting to see how many have either decreased or declined to report an increase. I’ll not snicker with you.
Gilgamesh: Yes you are right . . they are not worldwide numbers.
DKL: Yes, upward is better than the alternative.
smb: You’re probably right about the worldwide numbers vs. U.S. numbers. We’ll see next month.
Onelowerlight: I’m certain they’re concerned about the decrease, as would we if we had a decrease of any amount.
John Mansfield: Smile indeed😉
Daniel:I agree. This fringe talk is nonsense . . .but promulgated by those with a specific agenda against the Church. And, I don’t think it’s too surprising the Church is growing fastest outside the U.S. We’re way too busy over here obsessing over who’s the daddy to Ana Nicole’s little baby.
John Scherer: In our small central coast community there is a JW chapel within a mile of our home; but, our LDS Chapel is one city and 12 miles to the north. Go figure.
bbell: Justin to our rescue on our Seventh Day Brethren. But, like you I would have thought there would have been more.
You may have a point on the withholding of membership numbers. Do you think our Church does something similar?
Justin: Thanks for your timely updates. I swear at times I think you have some kind of direct Internet access to the First Presidency Vault, with some of the information you are able to come up with. 😉
March 7, 2007 at 9:09 am
Hi Guy,
I guess what I am saying regarding the Catholics is I doubt that every immigrant family that shows up for Mass is given a membership number and added to the total at the Archdiocese level. Illegal and legal immigration count for 30-40MM people in the country right now. Most of them Catholics. So I would add another few million to the Catholic total and I bet that growth rate is very undeveloped. The US is getting much much more Catholic over time. Look at the decreases in the Mainline Protestant churches. I am also seeing lots of Catholic LDS converts as well here in TX.
March 7, 2007 at 11:19 am
Actually, Guy, it’s direct access to the latest edition of the Church Almanac.
March 8, 2007 at 2:41 pm
It seems like there are a few comments trying to rationalize or grapple with the idea that the LDS Church is not “the fastest growing church in the world”, as the insider’s common lore goes.
Some seem to be saying, “Well, that doesn’t count the numbers for the world” or something similar. What are you trying to say, perhaps you could clarify? Are you saying the LDS Church is the fastest growing, but these numbers are not reflecting what you believe to be true?
These and a few other wisps of thought mentioned here drive in one direction: that those who are struggling with this concept have yet to leave the common UTOPIA found in Mormon dogma. Do you really believe it is the fastest growing? Have you ever really investigated that ‘statement’ or have you just believed it?
Near fact: Missionary work in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries is practically stagnant and has been for a few decades. There is growth in a number of Third World countries, but little in educated nations. The numbers the Church reports is baptisms, not converts. Also, more than half of those baptized go inactive afterward. Fact: LDS growth is lower than reported. So please tell me, is the Church the fastest growing the World?
I challenge you to read a book review of a book on Mormonism in Europe that made this claim. It is cited as:
Type: Article
Author: Decoo, Wilfried.
Title: ISSUES IN WRITING EUROPEAN HISTORY AND IN BUILDING THE CHURCH IN EUROPE.
Citation: Journal of Mormon History 1997 23(1): 139-176.
ISSN: 0094-7342
Abstract: Reviews Bruce A. Van Orden’s Building Zion: The Latter-Day Saints in Europe (1996), which purports to tell the story of the growth of the Mormon church in Europe. The book is flawed by many inaccurate factual details and interpretations. Stereotypes and generalizations are freely used, denying the diversity of European culture. A lack of intercultural understanding leads to insensitivity toward European religious belief. A lack of knowledge of European immigration policy leads to charges of racial intolerance in European wards and branches. Generally, the book reflects preconceived notions of Mormon progress in Europe supported by secondary sources designed to promote optimism, rather than a carefully researched report.
Thank you for your time and I hope I didn’t burst any ‘bubbles’.
Zach
March 9, 2007 at 6:03 am
Zach: ‘There is growth in a number of Third World countries, but little in educated nations.’
From your ‘bubble-bursting’ abstract: ‘Stereotypes and generalizations are freely used, denying the diversity of…culture.’
Hmm.
I personally don’t care which is the fastest growing church in the world, but I don’t care for insinuation that baptisms in some countries are more valuable than in others.
March 9, 2007 at 9:24 am
Forgive me, but I didn’t imply that baptisms or people in one country were more ‘valuable’ than others in any way. I simply stated that Church growth is slower in ‘industrialized’ nations. If you are offended that Church growth is greater in ‘poorer’ nations, I can do little about that. Simply put, I’m not making a value call, but rather stating something reflected in numbers. Sorry, but I don’t see how I made a judgment call by stating such. Why did you feel I made a judgment call on the value of people? My language was abstract and uncluttered with value judgments, or are you reading into my words in attempt to misconstrue them? Are you sidestepping and trying to re-circle my argument?
As for the abstract you quoted, sorry but I didn’t write it–(and if you read the article you would understand the meaning of that statement is different than your interpretation). Importantly, I copied and pasted that abstract from the national Historical Abstracts Database. But perhaps you are right that I generalized by saying ‘Third-World countries’ and ‘educated nations,’ it is a rather Euro-centric statement on my part, forgive me. Thanks for ensuring that we are all being Politically Correct…. However, there is little doubt you understood the meaning, perhaps like a Corahor you are trying to twist my words like a lawyer? In sum, although you didn’t address my argument, your anger that I spoke something that was not ‘faith-promoting’ was evident in your tone. The bubble rippled!
But, after I wrote my bit yesterday I went home thinking that I should just let bygones by bygones. Ignorance is bliss for some, perhaps I wish I still had some of it. (FYI: when I say ‘some’ I don’t mean everyone that commented on this blog) If anything, my main thrust in writing such a blog yesterday was to get people thinking and perhaps realize that Church growth is not as high as we would like to see it. That may mean rethinking our missionary program and approaches. Something the author of the article cited does a very good job detailing—better than I could. So sorry if I offended you (don’t quit the Church, JK). I was just working to stop what Joseph Smith called ‘levity’.
Z
March 9, 2007 at 10:02 am
On a different note, I just noticed that someone published (this month) a book entitled “A Mormon in the White House” in regards to Mitt Romney. What will they think of next. It can be pulled up by ISBN 159698502X
or
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159698502X?ie=UTF8&tag=mormonicity-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=159698502X
March 10, 2007 at 7:31 am
Zach,
Relax there brother. No one but you on this entire thread has said anything about the Church being the “fastest” growing church in the U.S., or anywhere else for that matter. I don’t know whether the growth is high enough, too high, just right, or too low. All I know is that these are the numbers most recently reported by this particular organization. Furthermore, they only reflect North American numbers, not worldwide.
The facts in these numbers seem to suggest that of the top 25 North America denominations of those reporting an increase, only two were higher than our Church. I think that places the Church, at least in terms of North American growth, amongst the fastest growing of those who are reporting increases. That’s it.
March 10, 2007 at 11:48 am
Sorry, you’re right.
March 11, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Any idea if this yearly report is based on all denominations (Christian, Muslim, Jewish?)I see only Christian. Curious how the number of LDS compare to Jewish population in N. America
March 12, 2007 at 9:04 am
Yes, Guy, you are correct. All these figures are self-reported. Therefore, comparisons are problematic because different religious organizations have different concepts of membership.
However, you can use that kind of data for longitudinal studies of each religion since one can reasonably assume that the reporting of each organization will be consistent over time.
I have recently plugged the figures of the Statistical Reports in General Conference from 1973 until 2005. It turns out that the numbers do not add up.
Calculating exit rates (this year’s members minus (last year’s members + new children of record + converts), there were four years that yielded negative figures.
That means that members must have resurrected for the numbers to add up. It is also pretty clear that the stats do not include resignations.
It seems that the LDS Church does not have the capacity to generate quality counts. I called the National Council of Churches to find out if they had better numbers and was told that researchers of affiliated churches had observed the same problem.
I intend to publish a research note about this, probably on one of the blogs, so stay tuned.
March 18, 2007 at 9:09 pm
The numbers for the Mormon church don’t really mean a lot because they never remove someone’s name unless they request it in writing, wheras many other churches remove them after a certain period of inactivity. Careful studies have shown that the Mormon church has had zero growth in the U.S. over the past decade. There has also been a “statistical” collapse in Latin America, but this was due more to too many rushed baptisms than true believers falling away. But in the U.S., the LDS church is essentially treading water.
March 19, 2007 at 7:12 am
Kirk, As I said earlier, I don’t know whether they mean much or not. I don’t even know if we are as you suggest at a zero growth rate. I would not be surprised that world wide growth may very well exceed U.S. growth, perhaps by significant amounts. Still, it’s interesting to see what is reported and compiled by other denominations as well as the Church.
April 12, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I don’t know why you got Jehovah’s Witnesses at a 1.56% decrease. Because they had a increase from last year by 1.56&. You got it backwords. Just check out there site.
July 11, 2011 at 1:20 pm
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