Newsline: Church of the Brethren membership declines in 2009

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl

Brumbaugh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

>CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCES

>DECLINE IN 2009

(Aug. 30, 2010) Elgin, IL -- The Church of the Brethren denomination's

membership declined by almost 1,600 people in 2009, according to data

from the "Church of the Brethren Yearbook," and continues a decades-

long trend of declining membership since the 1960s.

The denomination's total membership stood at 122,810 in 2009, 
declining

from the 124,408 members reported by congregations in 2008. The

denomination reported a total average weekly worship attendance of

58,830 for the year, also a decline from the previous year's 59,084.

Yearbook figures are based on data provided by congregations that turn

in statistical reports. In 2009, 686 or 65.5 percent of Church of the

Brethren congregations turned in a statistical report--a number 
consistent

with most recent years providing a consistent means for comparing

statistics. About 66 percent reported in 2008.

Atlantic Northeast continues as the largest district in the 
denomination,

with 14,336 members in 2009, and also is the leading district in 
terms of

membership decline having lost 335 members. The second largest 
district

is Shenandoah District with 14,189 members in 2009, representing a 
gain

of 33 people over 2008. The third largest is Virlina District with 
10,947

members, a decline of 69. Mid-Atlantic District gained the most 
members,

37, to arrive at a total membership of 9,694 for 2009.

The total number of congregations in the denomination, which includes

the United States and Puerto Rico, also declined by five to 994 in 
2009,

down from 999 in 2008. There were 53 fellowships and projects in 2009,

>an increase of three from the previous year.

The number of baptisms reported by congregations, 1,394, posted a 
sharp

decline from the previous year's 1,714, but was higher than the 1,380

>reported in 2007.

Giving to general ministries of the denomination--which totaled

$3,519,737 in 2009--fell by more than $91,000 from 2008's total of

$3,611,474. Giving to special purpose funds such as the Emergency 
Disaster

Fund or other specially designated gifts to the work of the 
denomination,

came to $1,401,454 in 2009, a drop of almost $354,000 from the 
previous

year's total of $1,755,359. Such giving, especially to the EDF, often 
is

determined by the nature and scope of disasters or other events that 
occurred

>during that period.

Giving to the other two Annual Conference agencies that receive 
financial

support from congregations also dropped in 2009, with Bethany 
Theological

Seminary seeing a decline of more than $22,000, and On Earth Peace 
seeing

a decline of more than $52,000. In 2009, Bethany reported actual 
giving of

>$414,988 and On Earth Peace reported $51,878.

The 2010 Yearbook will be available this fall in a new digital format 
on CD

for the price of $21.50, contact Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to

continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out 
its faith

in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist 
faith

traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It 
celebrated its 300th

anniversary in 2008. It counts some 123,000 members across the United 
States

and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, 
Brazil, the

>Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

>Director of News Services

>Church of the Brethren

>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120

>800-323-8039 ext. 260

>cobnews@brethren.org