What Churches Are Growing and Why

There have been significant declines in the membership and attendance of several Christian denominations in the United States over the last 30 years, including:

1. Mainline Protestant denominations: Mainline Protestant denominations, such as the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Episcopal Church, have experienced significant declines in membership and attendance over the past few decades. For example, the United Methodist Church has seen a decline of over 2 million members since the 1970s.
2. Catholic Church: The Catholic Church in the United States has also seen a decline in membership and attendance over the past few decades. According to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of Americans who identify as Catholic has declined from 23.9% in 2007 to 20.8% in 2014.
3. Some Evangelical Churches: While many evangelical churches have remained relatively stable or even grown over the past few decades, some evangelical churches have also experienced declines. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, has seen a decline in membership and attendance since the 2000s.

On the other hand, some churches have seen growth or have remained stable over the past few decades, including:

1. Non-denominational churches: Non-denominational churches, which often offer contemporary worship services and focus on community-building, have grown significantly over the past few decades.
2. Some Evangelical Churches: As mentioned earlier, many evangelical churches have remained stable or have grown over the past few decades. For example, the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination, has seen a steady increase in membership since the 1970s.
3. Some Orthodox Churches: Some Orthodox Christian denominations, such as the Orthodox Church in America, have seen an increase in membership and attendance over the past few decades.

It’s important to note that the trends vary depending on the specific denomination and region, and that there are many factors that can contribute to changes in church membership and attendance over time.