Southern Baptists continue to post bare numerical growth –
while Louisiana Baptists reported a largely down year.
Total membership in Southern Baptist churches reached a record
16,247,736 in 2002, an increase of 194,816 persons (1.2 percent) from the previous
year.
Southern Baptists continue to post bare numerical growth –
while Louisiana Baptists reported a largely down year.
Total membership in Southern Baptist churches reached a record
16,247,736 in 2002, an increase of 194,816 persons (1.2 percent) from the previous
year.
At the same time, total membership in Louisiana Baptist churches
fell from 592,288 in the 2001 LBC Annual to 585,600 in the 2002 LBC Annual.
That translates to a loss of 6,688 persons (1.1 percent).
Numbers for both conventions are based on annual church profiles
filed each year by local congregations. Figures for Louisiana Baptist churches
are compiled in state convention offices. Figures for Southern Baptist churches
are compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
As for Southern Baptists:
The total number of churches grew to 42,775 in
2002, an increase of 441 (1 percent) from the previous year. At the same time,
church-type missions operated by churches grew to a total of 5,439, an increase
of 506 (10.3 percent).
Baptisms declined to 394,893, a drop of 1,037 (0.3
percent). The baptism and total membership figures translate to a ratio of one
baptism for every 41 members.
Other additions totaled 432,037, a decline of 10,343
(2.3 percent).
Sunday morning average worship attendance grew
to 5,839,945, an increase of 108,965 (1.9 percent).
Music ministry enrollment/participation totaled
1,658,310, a decrease of 51,009 (3 percent).
Sunday School enrollment totaled 8,174,493, a decline
of 8,251 (0.10 percent).
Discipleship training enrollment/participation
totaled 2,100,752, an increase of 30,038 (1.5 percent).
Womans Missionary Union enrollment and men/boys
mission education enrollment both showed increases. WMU enrollment totaled 963,114,
an increase of 105,434 (12.3 percent). Men/boys mission education enrollment
totaled 435,646, an increase of 13,009 (3.1 percent).
Even without data reported from South Carolina,
total mission expenditures totaled $1,028,650,682, an increase of $48,426,439
(4.9 percent).
Giving categories were up – total tithes,
offerings and special gifts by 4.4 percent, undesignated receipts by 5.3 percent
and total receipts by 6.4 percent. For the year, total Southern Baptist receipts
reached $9,508,442,327 in 2002, the first time it has surpassed the $9 billion
mark.
As for Louisiana Baptists:
The number of churches remained unchanged at 1,424.
The number of missions totaled 190, a drop of nine
(4.5 percent).
Baptisms totaled 13,425, an increase of 811 (6.4
percent). The baptisms and total membership figures reported in the LBC Annual
translate to a ratio of one baptism for every 43.6 members.
Other additions totaled 15,497, an increase of
88 (0.6 percent) for the year.
Resident membership totaled 395,205, a decline
of 4,322 (1.1 percent).
Sunday School enrollment totaled 281,080, a drop
of 5,953 (2.1 percent).
Vacation Bible School enrollment totaled 127,335,
down 829 (0.6 percent).
Discipleship Training enrollment totaled 65,625,
down 21,620 (24.8 percent).
Church music enrollment totaled 53,710, a drop
of 1,923 (3.5 percent).
Womans Missionary Union enrollment totaled
23,754, a drop of 437 (1.8 percent).
Mens Ministry enrollment totaled 12,709,
an increase of 243 (1.9 percent).
Total mission expenditures totaled $16,594,863,
a decline of $582,507 (3.4 percent) from the previous year.
Undesignated receipts totaled $224.9 million, up
$11.5 million (5.4 percent).
Total receipts fell just shy of $320 million, up almost $15 million
(4.9 percent).