Post by M. Hawbaker on Aug 27, 2019 19:15:46 GMT
The Disciples of Christ is on track to lose about half their membership within a decade, according to a report from the Institute on Religion and Democracy. The report says the Disciples of Christ, also known as the Christian Church, had a membership decline by 7 percent. The church had 411,000 members in 2017. In 2018, that number dropped to 382,000.
“At the current rate, the denomination will shrink by another 50 percent within a decade,” said Jeff Walton, author of the group’s report. “This annual rate of decline exceeds that of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which reported a nearly 5 percent membership drop for the year 2018 and held the distinction of ‘fastest declining’ for much of the decade.”
“The denomination is aging out, shown in a steep decline in baptisms,” he added. “A universalist theology appears to be sapping the evangelistic vigor of clergy.”
“The denomination is aging out, shown in a steep decline in baptisms,” he added. “A universalist theology appears to be sapping the evangelistic vigor of clergy.”
