wfn.org | Disciples record minimal membership decline in 1995

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

August 2, 1996
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Cliff_Willis.parti@ecunet.org
     
96b-66    
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- At the end of 1995, the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) had 933,011 members in 4,070
congregations in the United States and Canada. Membership
statistics are among those published in the recently
released 1996 Year Book and Directory of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ).

     The number of  members is an .8 percent drop over the
past year. The drop is one of the smallest in recent years.
In comparison, membership declined 2.1 percent from 1994 to
1995. The number of participating members in 1995 also
dropped, from 607,905 to 603,235, about .8 percent as well. 
     Eight of the church's 36 regions, or geographical
areas, showed gains in both total and participating members.
They are: Arkansas, the Capital Area (includes Delaware,
District of Columbia and Maryland), Georgia, Michigan,
Northeastern (includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Jersey and New York), South Carolina, Tennessee and
Canada.

     A longer perspective, looking back over the past 10
years, shows a 16 percent drop in the church's total
membership since 1985.

     The total number of Disciples congregations is 4,070.
The number includes 50 congregations in formation, or new
congregations, in 21 regions. 

     Overall, average worship attendance in 1995 fell from
303,020 to 300,398 persons. The number of baptisms remained
almost the same, a number that rose in 18, or half, of the
regions.

     Giving for all causes rose, totaling $348,288,922.
Giving to total Disciples causes declined, while giving to
Basic Mission Finance, the denomination's shared mission
fund, rose slightly in 1995.

     General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm said,
"Of course, we would like to see growth in all categories.
Nevertheless, in a time of extreme transition, the relative
stability of the numbers shown in the 1996 yearbook is good
news for Disciples as we seek to find our way into a future
of faithfulness."

     The 1996 Year Book and Directory is now being
distributed. The 808-page book includes listings of all
ministers and congregations, reports from general units,
business items from General Assembly and a new feature, a
map of the church's regions. To order, contact Christian
Board of Publication, P.O. Box 179, St. Louis, MO 63166-0179; or phone
800-366-3383.

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