In the last chapter we looked at the ways we had lost members over a six-year period of time. In this chapter, we are looking at the ways we gained members from 2007 to 2012. While there doesn't seem to be much difference in the percentages from year to year, when we compare 2007 to 2012 it appears that the percentage of members gained by profession of faith has been inching upward. In 2007, 44% of membership gains came through professions of faith, and in 2012, 49% of membership gains came through professions of faith. While the total number of gains has decreased each year, the number of professions of faith actually increased between 2011 and 2012.
Here are a few comparisons to help get a sense of how many people have made professions of faith in a United Methodist Church in the past few years.
• If we started a new city made up of every person who made a profession of faith in a year, each year we would be adding a city about the size of Clarksville.
• If all of the people who made a profession of faith in one year worshipped together, you would have more than 18 times the number of people that worship at Church of the Resurrection on an average Sunday.
• If all the people who had made a profession of faith between 2007 and 2012 lived in one city, with no one else, it would be the 18th largest city in the U.S.
• The total number of people who have made a profession of faith between 2007 and 2012 is slightly more than 10% of the entire U.S. membership in The United Methodist Church.
These statistics made me wonder:
• How many of those people who made a profession of faith in 2007 are more mature disciples today?
• How many of those people who made a profession of faith in 2007 are no longer part of a faith community today?
• How do we as a church nurture people in the first few years after they make a profession of faith to help them grow in their discipleship?
• If making a profession of faith is a critical event in a person's faith development, regardless of his or her age, what resources do we provide at that point to equip people to live as disciples in the world?
I hope the numbers below prompt questions for you and the work you do. All figures are based on congregations of at least five people.
Of all reported membership gains in 2007
44% were professions of faith (140,199)
28% were received from other United Methodist Churches (87,539)
20% were received from other denominations (64,016)
8% were restored members (25,970)
Total Number of people: 317,724
Of all reported membership gains in 2008
45% were professions of faith (135,748)
27% were received from other United Methodist Churches (80,333)
20% were received from other denominations (60,756)
8% were restored members (24,942)
Total Number of people: 301779 (5% fewer than 2007)
Of all reported membership gains in 2009
46% were professions of faith (134,987)
30% were received from other United Methodist Churches (86,393)
19% were received from other denominations (56,470)
5% were restored members (13,382)
Total Number of people: 291,232 (3.5% fewer than 2008)
Of all reported membership gains in 2010
47% were professions of faith (128,454)
30% were received from other United Methodist Churches (81,271)
19% were received from other denominations (51,053)
4% were restored members (11,728)
Total Number of people: 272,506 (6.4% fewer than 2009)
Of all reported membership gains in 2011
48% were professions of faith (123,960)
28% were received from other United Methodist Churches (72,762)
20% were received from other denominations (50,773)
5% were restored members (12,350)
Total Number of people: 259,485 (4.8% fewer than 2010)
Of all reported membership gains in 2012
49% were professions of faith (124,598)
27% were received from other United Methodist Churches (69,051)
20% were received from other denominations (50,023)
5% were restored members (12,443)
Total Number of people: 256115 (1.3% fewer than 2011)
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
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