Institute on Religion & Democracy Press Release
June 5, 2018
Contact: Chelsen Vicari, Cell: 540-239-2170, E-mail: cvicari@TheIRD.org
Washington, DC—The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whose General Assembly convenes June 16-23 in St. Louis, is struggling with steep, undeterred membership decline. The latest membership statistics show a net loss of nearly five percent (67,714) in 2017, following declines of 5.7 percent each of the two previous years. While deaths accounted for a decline of 25,565 and 20,162 members departed via certificate last year, 74,129 simply vanished and are listed as “other.”
Nearly two out of five Presbyterians have disappeared in the past decade. Membership is now down to 1,415,053 from 2,313,662 active members in 2005, signifying a problematic doctrinal path. In 2010, the PCUSA voted to remove a clause requiring pastors to practice fidelity to traditional marriage and chastity in singleness, provoking a mass exodus of traditional Presbyterians from the denomination.
At this year’s upcoming General Assembly, Presbyterians will consider overtures skeptical of religious liberty claims, among other left-leaning policy proposals. The PCUSA Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy will ask the General Assembly to oppose state religious freedom legislation and consider filing amicus curiae or “friend of the court” briefs against cases citing the First Amendment as a supposed pretext for discrimination.
Jeffrey Walton, IRD’s Communications Director, commented:
“For all the talk of inclusion and ‘drawing the welcome circle wider’ in the PCUSA, the denomination includes fewer worshipers each year and is relegating itself to status as a niche boutique church catering to older white liberals.
“Presbyterians are struggling to broaden their niche footprint of older, white congregants. The denomination is 91 percent white, not reflective of a diversifying U.S. population. In 2012, the PCUSA reported that it was 89.9 percent white, indicating that the denomination has somehow become both numerically smaller and less diverse in the same period of time that the U.S. population grew in size and became more diverse.
“While there are several causes contributing to PCUSA membership decline, one major factor is the denomination’s decision to redefine Christian marriage as between any two persons. PCUSA membership was in a state of gradual decline in the early 2000s, then accelerated downhill with disputes about scriptural authority and sexuality, with no interruption in attendance and membership drops descent since.
“Overtures under consideration at General Assembly are decidedly left-leaning, uniquely critical of Israel, tout statist government solutions and demanding disarmament of the U.S. and its allies.”
Comment by Patrick98 on June 7, 2018 at 9:08 am
The goal is to get down to one million members by the year 2020 so that Houston Hodge’s prediction (made in 1998) will come true.
Comment by Keith Neb on June 11, 2018 at 2:55 pm
“Membership is now down to 1,415,053 from 2,313,662 active members in 2005, signifying a problematic doctrinal path. In 2010, the PCUSA voted to remove a clause requiring pastors to practice fidelity to traditional marriage and chastity in singleness, provoking a mass exodus of traditional Presbyterians from the denomination.” I gather the direct connection you draw is based on some surveys, statistical analysis, etc. Can you direct me to some sources? Thanks.
Comment by L. lee on June 25, 2018 at 3:01 pm
The gracious separation policy is all about money and not about allowing people to follow conscience in theological matters.
There are some churches in negotiations with their Presbytery over property issues
and there is nothing gracious about it. They are being held captive to money. Question: what happened at the General Assembly that makes it harder for churches to leave. Were there any measures taken at the GA 2018 to penalize pastors and/or churches who are in opisition to the liberal direction or are trying to leave with property ?
Comment by Ruth (Wheeler) Shelton on October 17, 2018 at 1:58 pm
I have found a REFORMED Baptist Church;I am visiting it and attending prayer and study groups. I was raised in a Southern Presbyterian Church. There is no church that teaches Calvinistic Theology. I never thought I would join a Baptist Church until now!
Comment by rpsabq on December 10, 2018 at 3:00 am
Statist government solutions? Like what? Healthcare for all? Food and shelter for the homeless? Yes, the government should absolutely be in charge of these things. Don’t like that the government pays for other people’s needs and not your own? As a Christian, you should want the church to be relieved of the responsibility of providing basic needs to people in crisis and charge the government to use our money to keep people off the street. It’s not only human it will make our cities cleaner and safer. And these same people should be provided basic healthcare as well. Not all of us turn out to be so blessed, so lucky. The government’s job should be to take care of its citizens who are struggling. it’s a part of life and we should not be willing to keep walking over the homeless everyday on our way to and fro.
Comment by BKPmax on December 21, 2018 at 11:35 am
Heath care for all? You’re awfully virtuous with other people hard work and income. The average American household already pays 25% of their income in taxes! This does NOT include sale tax. In reality a 1/3 or more of your working hours, your sweat & effort are confiscated by the government. Washington is full of government employees that have better pay and benefits and can’t be fired (Deep State). …and you want this to grow? People like you love Venezuela’s Chavez. You sound just like him! Well, please learn from him too. What a disaster that’s unfolded before our eyes.