Comparative Statistics 1997
Research Services

Table 1
PCUSA Congregations and Membership 1987- 1997

1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
Number of Congregations 11,295 11,328 11,361 11,399 11,416 11,456 11,468 11,501 11,537 11,573 11,593
Reported Membership 2,609,191 2,631,466 2,665,276 2,698,262 2,742,192 2,780,406 2,814,8211 2,856,713 2,895,706 2,938,830 2,976,937
Mean Number of Members Per Congregation  
231		  
232		  
235		  
237		  
240		  
243		  
245		  
248		  
251		  
254		  
257
Median Number of Members Per Congregation  
124		  
126		  
128		  
130		  
132		  
134		  
135		  
137		  
139		  
141		  
143
Net Change in Membership -22,275 -33,810 -32,986 -43,930 -38,214 -34,415 -41,892 -38,993 -43,124 -38,107 -39,551
Percent Change in Membership  
-0.85		  
-1.3		  
-1.2		  
-1.6		  
-1.4		  
-1.3		  
-1.5		  
-1.4		  
-1.5		  
-1.3		  
-1.3
Churches Organized 32 30 28 41 21 35 41 32 33 51 53
Churches Merged 8 26 30 26 12 29 35 29 23 28 12
Churches Resulting from Mergers  
4		  
13		  
16		  
14		  
6		  
14		  
18		  
14		  
12		  
14		  
6
Churches Dissolved 61 50 51 43 49 32 41 40 47 49 44
Churches Dismissed 2 0 1 3 6 0 16 13 11 5 8
New Church Developments2 23 17 23 25 28 45 - - - - -

1 Revised.

2 No data were available prior to 1992.

Go to: Comparative Statistics 1997 Table 2
Distribution of PCUSA Congregations by Church Membership Size and Synod

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How can I order Comparative Statistics?

The 1997Comparative Statistics report ($5) can be ordered from Presbyterian Distribution Service. Call PDS at (800) 524-2612 and ask for PDS # 70-360-98-021 for 1997 data and 70-360-97-020 for 1996 data.

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