Title: ELCA Membership Remained Stable in 1996
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 10, 1997

MEMBERSHIP REMAINED STABLE IN ELCA
97-23-066-LA*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- With a total of 5,180,910 baptized members in
10,936 congregations, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
remained largely stable in membership for 1996, according to the Rev.
Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary.  The membership figure represented a
slight decrease of 9,517 from 5,190,427 in 1995.  The decrease was less
than two-tenths of 1 percent.
     The number of congregations decreased by 19 from 10,955 in 1995
largely as a result of consolidations and mergers of congregations, said
Almen.
     Confirmed membership in 1996 for ELCA congregations remained steady
at 3,838,750, down 6,255 from 1995.
     Communing and contributing membership -- an indicator of active
participation -- declined to 2,538,197 in 1996 compared with 2,560,427 in
1995.
     The average number of people at worship on Sundays -- another
indicator of participation by members in the life of congregations --
remained almost the same in 1996 as in 1995.  About 1.6 million or 30.3
percent of all baptized members attend worship each week.  Since 1988,
average worship attendance has fluctuated slightly between 30 and 31
percent.
     Baptism of children has been in a slight but steady decline for the
past seven years.  From 1995 to 1996 the decrease was 1,353 -- down from
85,152 in 1995 to 83,799 in 1996.  The decline in baptisms of children
reflects the slowed birth rate in the population in general, Almen said.
     Congregations also reported a decrease in baptisms of people 16 years
of age and older -- down 167 people from 8,270 in 1995 to 8,103 in 1996.
     For the second consecutive year, the number of members received
through affirmations of faith increased by 3,163 -- up from 61,850 in 1995
to 65,013 in 1996.
     The number of youth confirmed in 1996 increased -- up 736 or 1.25
percent from 58,515 in 1995 -- for the seventh year in a row.
     "Losses attributable to roll cleaning by congregations were down
again in 1996 as in 1995 and 1994," Almen noted.  In 1996, congregations of
the ELCA reported 4,401 fewer losses -- a decrease from 170,077 to 165,676
-- for reasons other than deaths and transfers.
     Losses due to deaths was down slightly in 1996 -- down 594 from
50,967 in 1995 to 50,373 in 1996.
     The number of unconfirmed children partaking of the sacrament of Holy
Communion increased by 3.46 percent from 239,498 in 1995 to 247,787 in
1996.
     The average number of baptized members per congregation was 477, and
the average confirmed membership was 354.  In 1996, the average number for
communing and contributing members per congregation was 234.
     For 1996, 2.14 percent of ELCA baptized members were African
American, Black, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native people.
For 1995, that percentage of total ELCA membership was 2.09.
     Hispanic membership increased the most with 1,306 members added to
the baptized rolls of congregations last year.  The actual numbers for 1996
were:  African American or Black membership, 49,707, up 248; Asian and
Pacific Islander membership, 21,898, down 109; Hispanic membership, 29,424,
up 1,306; and American Indian and Alaska Native people membership, 7,005,
up 93.  Some 4,805 members declared their race or ethnic heritage as
"other."
     In 1988, the year of its birth, the ELCA counted 98,166 African
American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American members.  By 1996, that
number increased 14.5 percent to 112,839 persons.
     There were 9,308 congregations that reported having Sunday Schools
with 875,789 pupils and 140,804 leaders.  A total of 7,277 congregations
reported holding vacation Bible schools in 1996.
     "In this age of instant communication, people throughout this church
use new technologies to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ and
the ministries of our church," said Almen.  "For instance, we now know that
762 congregations or 7 percent have an e-mail address and 2,181 pastors --
22 percent of ELCA pastors serving congregations -- use e-mail in their
ministries."
     Ninety-one percent of ELCA congregations returned completed reports
for 1996, according to the Office of the Secretary.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html