wfn.org | ELCA Reports 4.6 Million Members, Offerings $2.7 Billion in 2008

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: ELCA Reports 4.6 Million Members, Offerings $2.7 Billion in 2008
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>August 7, 2009  

ELCA Reports 4.6 Million Members, Offerings $2.7 Billion in 2008
09-178-FI

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
reported a baptized membership of 4,633,887 in 10,396 congregations in
2008. The ELCA Office of the Secretary analyzed membership and income
data obtained from reports that ELCA congregations submit each year.

David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary, said the data indicated a
decline in membership of 76,069 and a loss of 52 congregations from 2007.
The membership decline was slightly higher than in 2007 but less than in
2006, he said.

Total receipts for ELCA congregations exceeded $2.7 billion for
2008, dipping 2.64 percent from 2007. Average giving per baptized member
increased slightly in 2008, continuing an upward trend since 2000. Total
assets of ELCA congregations remained constant in 2008 at $20.6 billion.

"Despite the challenging economic times that began in 2008, ELCA
members continue to be faithful stewards of the resources that God has
provided," Swartling said.  "Our challenge in these turbulent times is to
find innovative ways to translate the asset wealth of our congregation
into enhanced ministry," he said.

The average number of people in worship in ELCA congregations
declined slightly from the previous year. An average 1,330,709 people, or
28.71 percent of baptized ELCA members, attended weekly worship in 2008.
That compares to 1,362,120, or 28.92 percent of baptized members, who
attended weekly worship in 2007.

"Increasing diversity in membership remains a strong commitment of
this church," Swartling said.

For 2008, 3.35 percent of ELCA baptized members were identified as
people of color or whose primary language is not English, a slight
increase from 3.20 percent in 2007.

"It is also worth noting that the number of congregations reporting
more than 5 percent multicultural membership has increased by almost 40
percent since 2000," Swartling said. "More and more congregations are
coming to appreciate their calling to be more intentionally inclusive."
-- -- --

Information about the Office of the Secretary is at
http://www.ELCA.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-
Organization/Office-of-the-Secretary.aspx on the ELCA Web site.

A table summarizing annual membership data is at
http://www.ELCA.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-
Organization/Communication-Services/News/Resources/Stats.aspx on the ELCA
Web site.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog