In 1968 there were 10.9 million members in the UM church; in 2005 there were 7.9 million (a loss of 27.5%).
In 1968 there were 4 million worshipers on average each week in UM churches; in 2003 there were 3.4 million (a 15% decrease).
In 1940 the average member age of UM's was 30 years old; in 2000, the average age was 60 (an increase of 50%).
There has been a dramatic drop in the number and percentage of United Methodist ordained elders under the age of 35 in the last 20 years. The number of elders under 35 declined from 3,219 in 1985 to 850 in 2005 ( a loss of 73.6%).
John Wesley: "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power." "Thoughts on Methodism" 1786
Haitian AWA has increased 81% since 2000 in Florida.
Haitian AWA has increased from an ethnic total of 1069 to 1943 in 2006.
Haitian AWA has increased from 152 for each of 7 congregations in 2000 to 150 for each of 13 congregations in 2006.
Haitian AWA has increased from .68% of Conference total to 1.26%.
In 2006 9 congregations had an AWA over 100, 5 over 200 and 2 over 300.
Hispanic AWA has increased 40% since 2000 in Florida (20.3% of Floridians are Hispanic; 1.6% of Florida's UM weekly worshipers are Hispanic.)
Hispanic AWA has increased from an ethnic total of 1762 to 2473 in 2006.
Hispanic AWA has increased from 24 congregations averaging 73 persons to 27 congregations averaging 92 persons weekly.
Hispanic AWA has increased from 1.12% to 1.60% of the Conference total.
In 2006, 9 Hispanic AWA congregations averaged over 100 weekly; 1 congregation averaged over 200.
The total Florida Conference Weekly Worship Attendance increased until 2001. Since then, it has declined 9.3% in 5 years.
Only 36% of congregations reported an attendance gain between 2000 and 2006.
Since 2000 in Florida, 20% of congregations have no POF, 41% have 3 or fewer, 51% have 5 or fewer.
Since a high point in 1997, the number of people coming to Christ each year in our connection has declined by 27%!
A 9.3% decline since 2001 means that there are now 15,566 fewer persons worshiping in our congregations each weekend than in 2001. |
