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Southern Baptists Experiencing Accelerating Decline in Membership
Christian Post ^ | 06/13/2012 | Lillian Kwon

Posted on 06/14/2012 8:42:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Membership in the Southern Baptist Convention dropped again over the last year, according to a new report. The largest Protestant denomination in the country now counts less than 16 million members.

This marks the fifth straight year the SBC has lost members. Primary worship attendance has also dropped by 0.65 percent to around 6.16 million.

One Southern Baptist and researcher lamented that the denomination is not only experiencing decline but an acceleration of decline.

Compared to a 0.15 percent drop from 2009 to 2010, membership fell by 0.98 percent from 2010 to 2011.

"Based on the trend of annual percent change in SBC total membership, we are catching up with the Methodists, and will match their decline rate consistently by 2018," said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, in his blog. "This trend points to a future of more and faster decline -- and it is a 60-year trend."

The Annual Church Profile, compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources, was released Tuesday ahead of the SBC's annual meeting in New Orleans. Thousands of SBC messengers, or delegates, will be converging on June 19 to fellowship, discuss resolutions, and elect new leaders. Perhaps the most anticipated event of the two-day meeting will be the likely election of an African-American as president for the first time in SBC history.

After decades of continuous growth, the SBC, established in 1845, began to see its membership plateau around 2004 as baptisms were on a slow decline. The denomination reported a drop in membership for the first time in many years in 2007. At that time, some predicted the decline would continue.

After reporting its lowest number of baptisms in decades in 2010, the SBC saw an increase in baptisms in 2011.

According to the report, baptisms increased by 0.70 percent to 333,341.

Celebrating the higher number of baptisms, Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay, said in a statement, "God's Word is being proclaimed and God's Spirit is continuing to move in the hearts of people, drawing them to repentance. This is something that should excite us as Christians who care about the Great Commission."

The SBC also added 37 more churches and now counts 45,764 churches. Still, the increase in churches is small compared to previous years, Rainer pointed out.

Despite a little uptick in a few areas, looking at the math, Stetzer says the trend is clear and the SBC needs to "stare reality in the face and fight for our future" rather than merely manage decline like many of the other Protestant denominations.


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: baptist; southernbaptist
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To: cuban leaf

Love God, and
Love your neighbor as yourself.

Given that our neighbors are made in His image, I wouldn’t put the “love your neighbor” very far into the distance. Besides, the relationship with your fellow man is where the rubber hits the road. The hard part of maintaining your relationship with the Creator is playing nicely with His other children.


41 posted on 06/14/2012 11:01:50 AM PDT by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: OrangeHoof
This is my fear. That Christ's work of redemption is no longer preached regularly and too many just want to hear pop music then have their ears tickled.

Ann Barnhardt refers to this as "Superfun Rockband Church".

42 posted on 06/14/2012 11:04:14 AM PDT by Marathoner (If the choice was Obama vs. Satan I'd have to flip a coin.)
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To: fellowgeek
There is also the issue of pastors are not talking about the issues of today. About gender selection abortions, the lack of morals in Government leadership, spending this country into oblivion, etc.

I think that's a big part of the problem. If the leadership of the church is willing to temper the message of the church in the interest of being noncontroversial and seeker sensitive the leadership needs to read more of the New Testament particularly a certain bit about being lukewarm.

As for the SBC I wonder if the loss of Adrian Rogers could have been the start of the slide.

43 posted on 06/14/2012 11:04:30 AM PDT by Cowman (How can the IRS seize property without a warrant if the 4th amendment still stands?)
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To: dangus
Sometimes Dr. Land comes across that way, and I have called him on it personally. His ansewers satisfied me.
44 posted on 06/14/2012 11:19:01 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
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To: married21

I actually believe the bible is about only two things: Man’s relationship with God and man’s relationship with his fellow man, who is made in God’s image.


45 posted on 06/14/2012 11:27:48 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: cuban leaf

The Southern Baptist churches are segregated by race. Is this falling away from the white churches, the black churches or both/


46 posted on 06/14/2012 12:14:43 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Biggirl
Could it be that many of those former Baptists decided to “swim the Tiber” to join the ORIGINAL mega church, the RC Church?

Not if they were genuinely saved.
47 posted on 06/14/2012 1:10:37 PM PDT by crosshairs
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To: HeadOn
Many times, people would rather go to a “feel good” church where sin is not preached, and God’s love is the only part of his character ever mentioned. Yes, He is a loving God, but also, He is a JUST God, and hates sin.

Yep. 'Zactly.
48 posted on 06/14/2012 1:14:03 PM PDT by crosshairs
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To: SaraJohnson

Where do you live, Sara? I’m here in Tennessee, and I don’t see that “Southern Baptists” are segregated by race, at least not by design - I hope you didn’t mean that as an insult...

Our church has several black members, and some hispanic ones. There is no ethnic entrance requirement. But, you are correct, most Southern Baptist churches I know of are predominantly white.

And, I will agree that Sunday is probably the most segregated day of the week. But it’s not because I’m not welcome at their church, or they at mine. There are some doctrinal and traditional differences in how we worship, and we all choose to go where we believe like the other congregants. Most of the black churches in this area are not Southern Baptist, but many are other types of Baptists. Missionary Baptist (M.B.) churches in this area are common and are quite often predominantly black.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is welcome to attend our Southern Baptist church. And we would LOVE to have those who don’t believe that to attend as well, so they can learn... :^)


49 posted on 06/14/2012 2:19:37 PM PDT by HeadOn (With my last breath, I will pull the lever against the liberals. NEVER GIVE UP.)
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To: Graybeard58

I think you are correct. There’s been a general movement that Sunday is family day, not God’s day. That and five plus generations of government schooling training kids that God is wrong.


50 posted on 06/14/2012 5:49:32 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: HeadOn

I live in Texas, but have lived all around the US. I did not mean it as an insult.

At the time of integration/desegregation, Black ministers did not want to change their church communities and maintained ‘black’ churches. That does not mean they don’t let people of other races in, but it means they have kept exclusive black Christian traditions of worship, music and racial causes going.

Maybe that is different now in some places. Not in Texas. We still have black churches and people will travel a ways to get to them rather than go to a white/hispanic church nearby. I’m shocked you don’t have black churches there!


51 posted on 06/14/2012 9:23:30 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: WKB

“Despite a little uptick in a few areas, looking at the math, Stetzer says the trend is clear and the SBC needs to “stare reality in the face and fight for our future” rather than merely manage decline like many of the other Protestant denominations.”

What does he mean by that?

BTW, I know I still have a story to tell you, and I will...just as soon as I get over this last trip.


52 posted on 06/14/2012 11:46:01 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (This hobbit is looking for her pitchfork...God help the GOP if I find it.)
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To: SaraJohnson; HeadOn

Did you ever stop to think that blacks churches exist because they want them?

After all, whites weren’t the only ones forced to integrate.

I remember desegregation. Blacks didn’t like to be forced, at all.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t believe it should happen.

I mean that it can’t be forced.


53 posted on 06/15/2012 12:00:43 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (This hobbit is looking for her pitchfork...God help the GOP if I find it.)
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To: WKB
“Despite a little uptick in a few areas, looking at the math, Stetzer says the trend is clear and the SBC needs to “stare reality in the face and fight for our future” rather than merely manage decline like many of the other Protestant denominations.”

Upon further reflection...;o)

54 posted on 06/15/2012 12:27:14 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (This hobbit is looking for her pitchfork...God help the GOP if I find it.)
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To: SeekAndFind

All this means is that fewer Baptist churches are joining the SBC. The SBC is not a denomination, its merely an organization independant Baptist churches can join. The number of Baptist churches is actually increasing. The SBC’s liberal drift and hostililty to reformed Baptists has clearly had an impact.


55 posted on 06/15/2012 1:48:32 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: SeekAndFind

“The largest Protestant denomination in the country”

First, Baptists are not “protestants”. Anabaptists (Baptists) existed prior to the Reformation when the “protestant” movement began.

Second... if the SBC wants to stay strong, they need to get back to their fundamental roots. Most of us don’t appreciate the contemporary path they’re taking. For example, last summer, their VBS program was hip-hop/rap. Maybe this year it’ll be “Disco VBS” or “Lambada VBS”. It’s a far cry from when the programs were respectful, Biblical and pithy.


56 posted on 06/15/2012 3:53:39 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: dixiechick2000

That is exactly what i said in reply to my first post. Blacks did not want to lose their churchs and traditional way of worship after desegregation.


57 posted on 06/15/2012 8:15:31 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: HeadOn
there is a tried and true practice of NEVER purging the rolls...

My church instituted 'Active' and 'Inactive' church rolls. That way, no one is dropped, but they also aren't counted on for participation in anything. I don't know which is the 'official' membership. I was on the 'Inactive' roll until we began attending regularly again last year, at which time my Presbyterian-raised wife joined and was dunked. Our Church is quite conservative in its doctrine, but not in things other than doctrine (we realize that instruments are not limited to piano and organ). The church also has a growing private school. However, even our attendance, which has grown for years, has leveled off, if not declined in the last year. Receipts are definitely down. Now, that may be a matter of economy rather than attendance, but times, they are a-changing.

58 posted on 06/15/2012 8:44:46 AM PDT by tnlibertarian
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To: cuban leaf

I agree Christianity is not about numbers, but it IS about your relationship with your fellow man, (1 John 4:20).

The modern world thinks this means being a patsy to those who are evil, not judging them, or maybe giving money to your favorite charity. But we are saved by grace: But if God has given us so much, we who are filled with his love spontaneously give it to others.


59 posted on 06/15/2012 4:30:24 PM PDT by LadyDoc
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To: EverRight

“Could be because of their actions!
One example...a mother/member volunteered for nursery duty; no children showed except her 3 year old. So she took her child to the sanctuary to be with her husband and older children. When the 3 yo made a noise (not a very loud noise!), they were asked to leave. Keep in mind this was a Christian family of 5 and members of the church!
Just saying...”

Hey, send them over to the Catholic Church. We love hearing the children!

Even our very oldest priest (he’s been a priest for over 60 years) loves the sound of the babies and children at Mass and so do I. Makes me smile every time. 8-0)


60 posted on 06/15/2012 8:57:58 PM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore (If Obama were twice as smart as he is, he would be a wit)
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