Chapter Five - 2010 Statistics

In Chapter Three we looked at congregations that reported multiple markers of vitality. There were 793 congregations that reported  an increase in worship attendance; at least  one profession of faith; children, youth, young adults, and other adults in Christian formation; at least five people in covenant groups; at least ten VBS participants; at least one community outreach ministry; sent at least one person on a mission team; and paid 100% or more of apportionments.

In this chapter, I thought we would take a look at congregations on the other end of the continuum. I queried all congregations of at least five members and with at least one person in worship that had a decrease in worship attendance; no professions of faith; nobody in Christian formation, VBS, or covenant groups; had no community outreach ministries; sent no one on a mission team; and paid less than 100% of apportionments.

There were a total of 405 congregations in this group comprising 1.2% of congregations and .28% of membership  (note the decimal point, this is considerably less than 1%).  These churches ranged in average worship attendance from 445 to 2. The median average worship attendance was 15 (half the churches had an average worship attendance of greater than 15 and half less). The mean for worship attendance was 21. (Total worship attendance divided by number of churches.) These churches combined for a 5.8% decrease in members and a 20.8%  decrease in worship attendance. 

Geographically these churches represented

9 Churches from the Western Jurisdiction (.52% of congregations)

172 Churches from the Southeastern Jurisdiction (1.5% of congregations)

100 Churches from the North Central Jurisdiction (1.4% of congregations)

91  Churches from the Northeastern Jurisdiction (1.3% of congregations)

33 Churches from the South Central Jurisdiction (.58% of congregations)

Had these churches paid 100% of their apportionments, it would have added $1,071,736 to apportionment giving.

The combined market value of all church-owned land, buildings, equipment, and other assets of these congregations is $234,233,159. This comes to an average of $10,920 in assets per member and represents .39% of the total value of local UMC assets in the U.S. (The 793 churches from Chapter Three have an average of $6,646 in assets per member and represent 8.4% of the total value of local church assets in the U.S.)

I think it is interesting to note that relatively few United Methodists worship in congregations that are reporting negative numbers on all the markers of vitality. I wonder if we aren't sometimes guilty of taking one marker and trying to give it more meaning than is really valid? On the other hand, when we look at these 405 congregations, I also wonder what sort of witness might be made if the nearly quarter of a billion dollars in assets held by these congregations was directed in a different manner?

The statistical data included herein were provided at no charge by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church (GCFA) and may be obtained directly from GCFA, PO Box 340020, Nashville, TN 37203-0029. This data is proprietary and is owned by GCFA and may not be used in any commercial or exploitative way, to make a financial profit, or in a manner that defames the United Methodist denomination or its agencies or organizations. GCFA does not endorse any particular use of the data or accept responsibility for its interpretation or analysis by another.