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The etowah project

The etowah project. An examination of church trends in a typical county that mirrors the national issues of church attendance and the decline of the local church. background. 6 year project geared to find solutions to the most common problem of church attendance in the Etowah County area

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The etowah project

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  1. The etowah project An examination of church trends in a typical county that mirrors the national issues of church attendance and the decline of the local church

  2. background • 6 year project geared to find solutions to the most common problem of church attendance in the Etowah County area • 50 years of data was collected from yearly reports presented to the state of Alabama association (alsbom.org) • Attendance, membership and age were examined in a comprehensive manner meant to determine the state of churches 50 years ago as compared to the current day

  3. purpose • To provide a micro-examination of the macro-universe problem of limited or extinguished church growth seen paradoxically in data provided through national surveys and determine the demographic makeup of the overall church • All the necessary data was available in a centralized location for easy access

  4. the specifics • Demographic population as compared against Small Group Sunday School Attendance • Analysis of Baptisms and Other Forms of Church Membership • Overall Total Membership, Worship Attendance (Limited Period because of data) and Percentages as they Applied

  5. the data

  6. small group attavg

  7. baptisms

  8. baptisms data Baptisms represent the manner of noting a new believer has been added Baptisms have fallen from 1961 to Present by 40% With one exception year (2007) baptisms have noteclipsed 1000 since 1982.

  9. other additions

  10. other additions Other additions represent moves made byestablished Christians (Not New Believers) Other additions have fallen by almost 50% from 1961 the Present Overall the decline has been consistent with onlysmall breaks in the decline The numbers do not differentiate movement within the associational churches

  11. baptisms and other additions

  12. baptism and other additions Generally both Baptisms and Other Additionshave moved together – generally down At only three (3) points in 50 years has Baptismsbeen more than Other Additions Baptisms are generally those that are under age 18

  13. birth to 5

  14. 6 to 11 years

  15. 12 to 17 years

  16. 18 to 24 years

  17. 25 to 34 years

  18. 34 to 54 years

  19. 55 and up

  20. attendance by age

  21. attendance by age In 1961, the largest age group was 6 to 11 years; in 2010, the largest is 55 and Up The smallest group over the entire period was18 to 24 Year Old All ages have been in decline since 1993, except 55 and Up Since 1961, not only has the total number of peoplein small group declined, but it has aged by 44 Years over a 50 year time period

  22. highlights by age Since 1961, Small Group Average Attendance hasdropped from 12029 to 7193 in 2010 – a decreaseof 41% (almost 1 in 2 people) Since 1961, Total Sunday School Attendance hasdeclined from 20, 326 to 13,744 in 2010 – a decreaseof 31% (or 1 in 3 people)

  23. highlights by age In 1961, 59% of church membersattended Small Group; In 2010, 29% of church membersattend Small Group At the same time period, Resident Membershas increased from 20,574 in 1961 to 24,064 members in 2010

  24. highlights by age In 1961, 59% of church membersattended Small Group; In 2010, 29% of church membersattend Small Group At the same time period, Resident Membershas increased from 20,574 in 1961 to 24,064 members in 2010

  25. highlights by age 11. Census numbers (each 10 years) show that the population of the county has increase from 96,980 in 1961 to 103,645 in 2010 an increase ofalmost 7,000 people over a 50 year period

  26. age conclusions Over the past 50 years, the church populationhas not only declined by almost 1 in 3, but has significantly aged without replication As the age gets older, the potential for newbornspopulating the church decreases because of a depletion of child bearing ages Multiple churches will be lost as the age gap continuesand death begins to further erodethe attendance numbers

  27. age conclusions At the current rate of decline, Small Groups will disappear in 26 years (assuminga consistent decline to zero) 18 to 24 Year Olds have been declining at a rate ofwill be completely gone in 3 to 5 years (assuminga consistent decline to zero)

  28. age conclusions

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