The chart above shows the average worship attendance in your congregation for each year since 1998. The average (mean) worship attendance for all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations is 111 persons. This number is typical for American Protestant congregations, most of which average between 60 and 120 worshipers each Sunday. While membership in the PC(USA) has declined in the last ten years, the average worship attendance has remained relatively stable.
Smaller-membership churches tend to have a higher percentage of their members attending worship services than larger-membership churches. Low relative worship attendance -- defined as average attendance that is less than 52% of the congregation's total membership -- is about twice as common in larger-membership congregations (more than 250 members) as in smaller-membership congregations.
Key Questions:
- Is your congregation's worship attendance increasing or decreasing?
- What is the ratio of your worship attendance to your membership (i.e., is it above or below the current average of 52%)?
- How would you describe the people who regularly attend worship services?
- Is your worship style effective with younger generations (persons born after 1955), with new immigrant populations, or with other specific populations in your area?
