Percent of Churches by Church Size
Average Attendance 100 or fewer 101-250 more than 250
as % of Membership members members members
Less than 50% 20.0% 40.0% 66.6%
50% to 74% 47.6% 47.9% 28.4%
75% to 99% 20.6% 8.8% 3.9%
100% or more 11.9% 3.2% 1.0%
Relative to their membership sizes, smaller-membership congregations do a better job of attracting
worshippers than do larger-membership congregations. Overall, 6% of congregations have an
average attendance at Sunday worship that is equal to or greater than the number of active members.
However, in small-membership congregations (100 or fewer members) that proportion is 12%, while in
large-membership congregations (more than 250 members) it is just 1%. Similarly, low relative
attendance--defined as an average attendance that is less than 50% of the total membership--is found in
40% of all PCUSA congregations for 1994, but is about twice as common in large churches (67% of
congregations with more than 250 members have an average attendance that is less than 50% of total
membership) than in small churches (20% of congregations with 100 or fewer members have average
worship attendance that is less than 50%).
For information about Comparative Statistics, send email to: Ida Smith-Williams
The 1994 report (and those for previous years) can also be ordered from Research
Services by e-mail to: Charlene
Briggs.
Comparative Statistics (please specify which report you want) or snail mail
to:
Research Services