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The four recorded ways that local congregations gain professing members are through professions of faith, transfer of membership from another United Methodist Church, joining from another denomination, and restored members. This chapter looks at the statistics related to these four areas over the past several years. As in other posts, these numbers are based on churches with at least five members. The figures in parentheses () indicate the raw numbers for the year, and the figures in brackets {} are a percentage comparison to the previous year.
Things I Noticed
• As a percentage of membership gains, professions of faith have been nudging up over the past seven years while those we receive from other congregations, either UMC or other denominations, have been nudging down. Each year from 2007 to 2010, we received more professing members through transfer than we did by profession of faith, in 2011 the numbers were nearly equal, and in each of 2012 and 2013 there were several thousand more professions of faith than transfers.
• The number of people whose membership was restored took a huge drop between 2008 and 2009.
• While there was a bit of an uptick in professions of faith from 2011 to 2012, from 2012 and 2013 was the highest percentage decrease of professions of faith in the past seven years.
• If everyone who became a professing member from 2007 to 2013 were still a member, they would make up over 12% of membership.
• If everyone who became a professing member from 2007 to 2013 were a weekly worship attender, they would make up over 31% of the worshippers each Sunday.
Things I Wonder About
• I wonder if we are being intentional about welcoming United Methodists and other Christians who move into our communities? When people move do they find another church home, or do they join the ranks of those who have no faith community?
• I wonder what it means for worship planning and for faith formation experiences that an increasing percentage of our new members are also new Christians?
Of all reported membership gains in 2013
49% were professions of faith (118,079) {5.2% fewer than 2012}
27% were received from other United Methodist Churches (66,012) {4.4% fewer than 2012}
19% were received from other denominations (46,920) {6.2% fewer than 2012}
5% were restored members (11,553) {7.1% fewer than 2012}
Total Number of people: (242,564) {5.3% fewer than 2012}
Of all reported membership gains in 2012
49% were professions of faith (124,598) {.5% more than 2011}
27% were received from other United Methodist Churches (69,051) {5.1% fewer than 2011}
20% were received from other denominations (50,023) {1.5% fewer than 2011}
5% were restored members (12,443) {.75% more than 2011}
Total Number of people: (256,115) {1.3% fewer than 2011}
Of all reported membership gains in 2011
48% were professions of faith (123,960) {3.5% fewer than 2010}
28% were received from other United Methodist Churches (72,762) {10.5% fewer than 2010}
20% were received from other denominations (50,773) {.5% fewer than 2010}
5% were restored members (12,350) {5.3% more than 2010}
Total Number of people: (259,485) {4.8% fewer than 2010)
Of all reported membership gains in 2010
47% were professions of faith (128,454) {4.8% fewer than 2009}
30% were received from other United Methodist Churches (81,271) {5.9% fewer than 2009}
19% were received from other denominations (51,053) {9.6% fewer than 2009}
4% were restored members (11,728) {12.4% fewer than 2009} {.6% fewer than 2009}
Total Number of people: (272,506) {6.4% fewer than 2009}
Of all reported membership gains in 2009
46% were professions of faith (134,987) {.6% fewer than 2008}
30% were received from other United Methodist Churches (86,393) {7.5% more than 2008}
19% were received from other denominations (56,470) {7.1% fewer than 2008}
5% were restored members (13,382) {46.3% fewer than 2008}
Total Number of people: (291,232) {3.5% fewer than 2008}
Of all reported membership gains in 2008
45% were professions of faith (135,748) {3.2% fewer than 2007}
27% were received from other United Methodist Churches (80,333) {8.2% fewer than 2007}
20% were received from other denominations (60,756) {5.1% fewer than 2007}
8% were restored members (24,942) {4.0% fewer than 2007}
Total Number of people: (301,779) {5% fewer than 2007}
Of all reported membership gains in 2007
44% were professions of faith (140,199)
28% were received from other United Methodist Churches (87,539)
20% were received from other denominations (64,016)
8% were restored members (25,970)
Total Number of people: (317,724)
The statistical data included herein were provided at no charge by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church (GCFA) and may be obtained directly from GCFA, PO Box 340020, Nashville, TN 37203-0029. This data is proprietary and is owned by GCFA and may not be used in any commercial or exploitative way, to make a financial profit, or in a manner that defames the United Methodist denomination or its agencies or organizations. GCFA does not endorse any particular use of the data or accept responsibility for its interpretation or analysis by another.
The Rev. Deb Smith is a deacon in the Tennessee Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She previously served as the director of best practices for the General Board of Discipleship (Discipleship Ministries).