NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Membership in Southern Baptist churches set an all-time record in 2001 with a total of 16,052,920 persons, an increase of 92,612 over the previous year.
Total number of churches grew to 42,334, a 1.79 percent increase, or 746 churches more than the 2000 total of 41,588. At the same time, church-type missions operated by churches declined by 5.91 percent or 310 to a total of 4,933.
LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention compiles the Annual Church Profile from church reports routed through local Baptist associations and state conventions.
While membership grew — though the increase of 0.58 percent was less than the gain of 108,552 or 0.68 percent in 2000 — baptisms declined by 18,727 or 4.52 percent to a total of 395,930. The decline ends four years of baptisms totals above 400,000.
Music ministry enrollment/participation increased 3.29 percent or 54,442 to a total of 1,709,319. This followed a year of decline by 0.72 percent in 2000.
Sunday morning average worship attendance grew by 3.36 percent or 186,541 to 5,730,980.
[1]Other increases were reported in total tithes, offerings and special gifts to $8,314,899,294 (6.68 percent above 2000), as well as undesignated receipts of $6,445,430,643 (7.77 percent above 2000). Total receipts increased by 5.90 percent to $8,935,013,659.
Sunday School enrollment declined 3,671 or 0.04 percent to a total of 8,182,744, following an increase of 0.48 percent in 2000.
Discipleship training enrollment/participation declined 6.24 percent, or 137,713 to a total of 2,070,714, following an 11.75 percent increase in 2000.
Other declines were registered in Woman’s Missionary Union enrollment and Men/Boys Mission Education Enrollment. WMU enrollment declined 34,477 or 3.86 percent to a total of 857,680. Men/Boys Mission Education Enrollment dropped 13.29 percent or 64,773 to 422,637.
Total value of church property grew 13.83 percent to $28,686,588,811. This increase is due, in part, to reporting from more states in 2001 than those reporting in 2000.
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(BP) chart posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: 2001 ANNUAL CHURCH PROFILE.