By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The average Southern Baptist church calls the South home, but the only region of the country where those congregations are growing is the Northeast. Churches are baptizing more people, but most churches remain small and fewer attendees are involved in small groups. Lifeway Research analysis of the 2023 Annual Church Profile (ACP) reveals … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists decline in membership, grow in attendance, baptisms
By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — For the second straight year, baptisms and giving increased among Southern Baptist congregations. In-person worship service and small group attendance also rebounded, but total membership and the number of congregations slid. The Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists experience historic drop in membership
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A growing number of Southern Baptist churches are home to a shrinking number of Southern Baptists. Total membership in the Southern Baptist Convention fell almost 2% to 14,525,579 from 2018 to 2019, according to the Annual Church Profile compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. The decline of … [Read more...]
Worship attendance rises, while baptisms decline in SBC congregations
By Lisa Cannon Green NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention expanded by more than 270 churches in 2017. More people showed up for weekly worship services, and congregations gave more generously in a strengthening economy. However, reported baptisms and membership declined as fewer churches participated in the SBC’s Annual Church Profile (ACP). Long-standing … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists report more churches in 2016; baptisms, membership decline
By Carol Pipes NASHVILLE -- Southern Baptists experienced growth in the number of churches that cooperate with their convention in 2016, according to the latest Annual Church Profile report (ACP). However, other key measures declined in 2016, including membership, baptisms, average worship attendance and total giving, according to the ACP compiled by Lifeway Christian … [Read more...]
