Church Membership, Attendance Down Fourth Straight Year
10/30/07

Membership in The Episcopal Church declined by 50,804 and average Sunday attendance decreased by 21,945 during 2006, the fourth straight year in which both membership and attendance have decreased, according to figures compiled by the congregational development department at the Episcopal Church Center.

Membership declined by 2 percent in 2006, the same percentage as the previous year, whereas the decline in average attendance increased from 2 percent in 2005 to 3 percent in 2006. Roughly half of the decline in average attendance was attributed to three dioceses: Dallas, Florida and Virginia. All three recorded departures and/or splits at some of the largest Episcopal churches in the U.S.

Kirk Hadaway, director of research and development in the Congregational Development office, attributed the decline to a variety of factors, including fallout from the 2003 General Convention. Mr. Hadaway said demographics and cultural changes are also factors.
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