United Methodists across the United States rejoiced to see old friends and celebrated their shared faith at annual conference gatherings this spring and summer. But when the time came for reports on membership and attendance, the news was often sobering. The pews at many churches are emptier this year.

In statistical reports from 39 U.S. conferences, most disclosed declines in membership, worship attendance or church-school participation in 2009. Twenty-six conferences reported losses in all three categories. Thirteen reported membership drops of more than 2 percent. Four conferences gained members.

Steady losses

The United Methodist Church is growing worldwide. In the decade between 1998 and 2008, for example, overall membership grew by 14 percent for those who come into membership by profession of faith and 27 percent for baptized members. At the end of 2008, the church had approximately 11 million professing members and an additional 2.5 million baptized members in Africa, Europe, the United States and the Philippines.

However, U.S.membership has declined every year since The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 and dropped by nearly 590,000 between 1998 and 2008, according to the 2010 State of the Church Report commissioned by the Connectional Table. Earlier this year, the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration reported U.S. membership dropped 1.01 percent to 7,774,420 in 2008. It was the largest percentage decline since 1974. Thirty-nine of 62 U.S. conferences reported membership figures for 2009. Because of mergers in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, the total number of conferences has since dropped from 62 to 59. These statistical reports reflect information from some conferences that were part of the merger. Many conferences reported sharp declines.
The Indiana Annual (regional) Conference recorded the most dramatic decline — a 5.15 percent decrease in membership. Church leaders attributed the declines in large part to a more thorough cleansing of the church rolls of  people who no longer have any United Methodist affiliation.

Addressing the Problem

The United Methodist Church long has looked for ways to reverse the trend of dwindling numbers in the United States.   The Call to Action Steering Team — a group of clergy and laity appointed to address system-wide problems in the church — released a report on “Congregational Vitality.”

The assessment, based on an analysis of data from more than 32,000 United Methodist churches in North America, identified four main “drivers” of church growth, attendance, giving and professions of faith. These drivers are: a mix of both traditional and contemporary worship services, small groups including programs for children and youth, inspirational preaching and lay leadership. Some U.S. conferences used their yearly gatherings to address the issue of empty pews.

“Anytime you can get the name United Methodist out there, it’s a good thing,” said Cathy Bruce, the Kentucky conference’s director of communications. “That’s the first step of getting people through the doors. They have to know you’re there.” Missouri Bishop Robert Schnase, the author of “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” visited a number of conferences to share the lessons of his new book.
“Fruitfulness involves more than keeping everybody we have happy.” “United Methodists,” he said, “need to practice what their faith teaches.” 

News media contact: Heather Hahn, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.