>From personal experience I know that a couple of churches that showed the biggest decline are likely to show even more dramatic drops when updated data are available. They are
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 4.6 million, down 1.62 percent. 10. Presbyterian Church (USA): 2.8 million, down 3.3 percent. The primary reason for the drop in these churches is the liberalization of doctrine that many feel isn't consistent with biblical teachings. More conservative members of these denominations feel that the national organizations are establishing policies that stray from the Bible. Probably the most divisive issue is the ordination and installation into the pulpit of practicing homosexuals. Those who don't agree with the decisions of the (7) ELCA or (10) PCUSA are leaving in droves. This doesn't mean that they are abandoning Christianity; they are migrating to more conservative denominations. PCUSA churches and church members are switching to Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), ELCA churches are switching to Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) or Missouri Synod. Chris _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 10:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [RC] Christian Statistics RELIGION NEWS SERVICE / 2008 data --latest available figures just reelased TOP 10 CHURCH BODIES The 10 largest Christian bodies reported in the 2010 Yearbook: 1. The Catholic Church: 68.1 million, up 1.49 percent. 2. Southern Baptist Convention: 16.2 million, down 0.24 percent. 3. The United Methodist Church: 7.8 million (U.S.), down 0.98 percent. 4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 5.9 million (U.S.), up 1.71 percent. 5. The Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million, no change. 6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc: 5 million, no change. 7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 4.6 million, down 1.62 percent. 8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.: 3.5 million, no change. 9. Assemblies of God: 2.9 million, up 1.27 percent. 10. Presbyterian Church (USA): 2.8 million, down 3.3 percent.
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