Religious Information

Census of Religious Groups in the U.S.

Source: 1987 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches

The 1987 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reported a total of 142,926,363 members of religious groups in the U.S.—59.3 percent of the population; membership fell half a percent from the previous year.

Comparisons of membership statistics from group to group are not necessarily meaningful. Membership definitions vary e.g., Roman Catholics count members from infancy, but some Protestant groups count only "adult" members, usually 13 years or older; some groups compile data carefully, but others estimate; not all groups report annually.

The number of churches appear in parenthess. Asterisk (*) indicates church declines to publish membership figures; (**) indicates figures date from 1977 or earlier.

Group Members

Adventist Christian Ch. (368) ..................... 28,830

Primitive Advent Christian Ch. (10) ........... 546

Seventh-day Adventists (4,009) .............. 651,954

American Rescue Workers (20) .................. 2,700

Anglican Orthodox Church (40) ................... 6,000

Baha'l Faith (1650) ....................................... 100,000

Baptist churches:

Amer. Baptist Assn. (1,641) ........................ 225,000

Amer. Baptist Chs. in U.S.A. (5,814) ........ 1,559,683

Baptist General Conference (753) ........... 132,546

Baptist Missionary Assn. of America (1,367) . 227,720
Conservative Baptist Assn. of America

(1,140) ...................................................... 225,000

Duck River (and Kindred) Assn. of Baptists

(85) ............................................................. **8,632

Free Will Baptists (2,548) .......................... 217, 838

Gen. Assn. of Regular Baptist Chs. (1,571) .. 300,839
Natl. Baptist Convention of America

(11,398) .................................................... "2,668,799

Natl. Baptist Convention, U.S.A. (26,000) "5,500.000

Natl. Primitive Baptist Convention (606).... "250,000

No. Amer. Baptist Conference (258) ........ 42,863

Seventh Day Baptist General

Conference (60) ....................................... 5,008

Southern Baptist Convention (36,898) ..... 14,477,364

Brethren (German Baptists):

Brethren Ch. (Ashland, Ohio) (122) ........ 14,229

Christian Congregation (la Follette, IN)

(1,441) ...................................................... 103,990

Fellowship of Grace Brethren (301) ................... 41,733

Old German Baptist Brethren (52) ........... 5,254

Brethren, River:

Brethren in Christ Ch. (185) .................................. 16,783

Buddhist Churches of America (100) ........... 100,000

Christadelphians (850) ................................ "15,800

The Christian and Missionary Alliance

(1,646) ......................................................... 227,846

Christian Catholic Church (4) ....................... 2,500

Christian Churches and Churches of Christ

(5,487) ......................................................... 1,051,469

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (2,340) .. 718,922

Christian Nation Church U.S.A. (5) ............... 226

Christian Union (114) .................................. 6000

Churches of Christ (13,150) .......................... 1,604,000

Churches of Christ in Christian Union (260) 11,400

Churches of God:

Chs. of God. General Conference (353) . 34,870

Ch. of God (Anderson, Ind.) (2,291).......... 185,593

Ch. of God (Seventh Day), Denver, Col.

(135)........................................................... 5,830

Church of Christ, Scientist (3,000)

Church of God by Faith (105)........................ "4,500

Church of the Nazarene (4,989) .................. 522,082

Conservative Congregational Christian

Conference (163) ........................................ 28,624

Group Members

Eastern Orthodox churches;

Albanian Orth. Diocese of America (10) .. 5,250

American Carpatho-Russian Orth Greek

Catholic Ch. (70) ................................... "100,000

Antiochian Orth Christian Archdiocese of No.

Amer. (120) ............................................... 280,000

Diocese of the Armenian Ch. of

America (66) ............................................. "450,000

Bulgarian Eastern Orth. Ch. (13) ............... "86,000

Coptic Orthodox Ch. (28) .......................... 115,000

Greek Orth. Archdiocese of N. and S.

America (535)............................................ 1,950,000

Orthodox Ch. in America (440) ............... 1,000,000

Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orth. Ch.

in the U.S.A. (38).................................................... 9,780

Romanian Orth. Episcopate of America (34) . 60,000

Serbian Eastern Orth. Ch. (78) ............................ 97,123

Syrian Orth. Ch. of Antioch (Archdiocese of

the U.S.A. and Canada) (22) ............................. 30,000

Ukrainian Orth. Ch. of America (Ecumenical

Patriarchate) (28) ................................................ 25,000

Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A.

(107)........... :............................................. "87,745

The Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. (7,274) __ 2,739,422

American Ethical Union (Ethical Culture

Movement) (23) ............................................. 3,500

Evangelical Church of North America (138) ______ 12,591

Evangelical Congregational Church of America

(566).............................................................. 85,150

Evangelical Free Church of America (880) . 95,722

Evangelical associations:

Apostolic Christian Chs. of America (80).. 16,916

Apostolic Christian Ch. (Nazarean) (48) . 2,799

Christian Congregation (1,441) ................. 103,990

Friends:

Evangelical Friends Alliance (217) ............... 24,095

Friends General Conference (505) ........... 31,600

Friends United Meeting (536) .................. 57,443

Grace Gospel Fellowship (52) ...................... 4,400

Independent Fundamental Churches of

America (1,019) ............................................. 120,446

Jehovah's Witnesses (8,220)......................... 730,441

Jewish organizations:

Union of Amer Hebrew Congregations

(Reform) (804) ........................................ 1,300,000

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of

America (1,700) ....................................... 1,000,000

United Synagogue of America (Conservative)

(800)........................................................... 1,250,000

Latter-day Saints:

Ch. of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) (53) ....... 2,654

Ch. of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

(Mormon) (8,396) ..................................... 3,860,000

Reorganized Ch. of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (1,101) .......................................... 192,082

RELIGION 207

Group Members

Lutheran churches:

American Lutheran Ch. (4,940) .................. 2,332,316

Ch. of the Lutheran Brethren of America

(108)........................................................... 11,374

Ch. of the Lutheran Confession (67).......... 8,910

Assn. of Evangelical Lutheran Chs. (272) 110,934

Evangelical Lutheran Synod (116) .......... 19,850

Assn. of Free Lutheran Congregations (156) . 18,205
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of

America (59) ............................................. 13,576

Lutheran Ch. in America (5,817) ................ 2,898,202

Lutheran Ch.-Missouri Synod (5,876)........ 2,638,164

Protestant Conference (Lutheran) (9)........ 959

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

(1,179) ...................................................... 415,389

Mennonite churches:

Beachy Amish Mennonite Chs. (83) ....................... 5,862

Evangelical Mennonite Ch. (25) ............................. 3813

General Conference of Mennonite Brethren

Chs. (128) ................................................ 16,942

Hutterian Brethren (77) ............................... 3,988

Mennonite Ch. (989) ............................................. 91,167

Old Order Amish Ch. (598) .................................. 34,000

Old Order (Wister) Mennonite Ch (38) ..... 9,731

Methodist churches:

African Methodist Episcopal Ch. (6,200) .. 2,210,000

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Ch.

(6,057) ...................................................... 1,202,229

Evangelical Methodist Ch. (126) ............... 9,040

Free Methodist Ch. of North America (1,048) . 72,223

Fundamental Methodist Ch. (14)................ 700

Primitive Methodist Ch., U.S.A. (87) .......... 9,978

Reformed Methodist Union Episcopal Ch. 3,800

(18) ............................................................

Southern Methodist Ch. (150) ................................. 7,231

United Methodist Ch. (37,990) ........................ 9,266,853

Moravian churches:

Moravian Ch. (Unitas Fratrum), Northern

Province (fOO) .......................................... 32,415

Moravian Ch. in America (Unitas Fratrum).

Southern Province (56) .............................. 21,714

Unity of the Brethren (27) .......................... 3,006

Moslems ........................................................ 2,000,000 +

New Apostollic Church of North America (457) .. 33,068

North American Old Roman Catholic Church

(130)........................................................... 62,380

Old Catholic churches:

Christ Catholic Ch. (6)................................. 1,269

Mariavite Old Cath. Ch. Province of North

America (166) ........................................... 357,927

No. Amer. Old Roman Cath. Ch. (Schweikert)

(130)........................................................... 62,380

Group Members

Pentecostal churches:

Apostolic Faith (Portland, Ore.) (54) ......... 4,100

Assemblies of God (10,761) ............................ 2,082,878

Bible Church of Christ (6) ........................... 4,350

Bible Way Church of our Lord Jesus Christ

World Wide (350) .................................... "30,000

Church of God (Cleveland. Tenn.) (5,346) ... 505,775

Church of God of Prophecy (2,051) ..................... 73,952

Congregational Holiness Ch. (174) ...................... 8,347

Gen. Council. Christian Ch. of No. Amer.

(104)....................................................................... 13,500

Intl. Ch. of the Foursquare Gospel (1,185) ... 177,787

Open Bible Standard Chs (290) .............. 46,351

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (560) ... "4,500

Pentecostal Church of God (1,142) ........ 89,506

United Pentecostal Ch. Intl. (3,408) ........ 500,000

Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Ch. (130) 10,700

Plymouth Brethren (1,150) ............................. 98,000

Polish Natl. Catholic Church of America (162) .. "282,411
Presbyterian churches:
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Ch. (Gen

Synod) (172)......................................................... 36,543

Cumberland Presbyterian Ch. (818)....................... 98,037

Evangelical Presbyterian Ch. (100) ......... 27,000

Orthodox Presbyterian Ch. (171) ............ 18,502

Presbyterian Ch. in America (878) ........... 177,917

Presbyterian Ch. (U.S.A.) (11,572) ............ 3,092,151

Reformed Presbyterian Ch. of No. Amer (71) . 5,146
Reformed churches:

Christian Reformed Ch. in N. America (650) 219,988

Hungarian Reformed Ch. in America (31) 11,000

Protestant Reformed Chs. in America (21) ... 4,544

Reformed Ch. in America (926)............................ 342,275

Reformed Ch. in the U.S. (34) .................. 3,778

The Roman Catholic Church (24,251) ........ 52,654,908

The Salvation Army (1,088) .................................... 427,825

The Schwenkfelder Church (5) ................................... 2,881

Social Brethren (40)..................................................... "1,784

Natl. Spiritualist Assn. of Churches (142) .. 5,558

Gen. Convention, The Swedenborgian Church

(49) .............................................................. 2,245

Unitarian Universalist Assn. (948)................. 171,838

United Brethren:

Ch. of the United Brethren in Christ (256) ... 26,869

United Christian Ch. (11) ........................................... 421

United Church of Christ (6,408) .................... 1,683,777

Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan

Community Chs. (230) .......................... 34,000

Vedanta Society (13) .................................................... 1,500

Volunteers of America (607) ......................... 36,634

The Wesleyan Church (1,714) ....................... 109,541

208 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

Major Christian Denominations: How Do They Differ?

Italics indicate that area which, generally speaking, most distinguishes that denomination from any other.

Denom­ination

Origins

Organization

Authority

Special rites

Bap­tists

In radical Reformation objections to infant baptism, demands for church-state separation; John Smyth, English Separatist in 1609; Roger Williams, 1638, Providence, R. I

Congregational, I.e., each local church is autonomous.

Scripture; some Baptists, particularly in South, interpret the Bible literally.

Baptism, after about age 12, by total immersion; Lord's Supper.

ChurchAmong evangelical Presbyterians

of in Ky. (1804) and Penn. (1809), in

Christdistress over Protestant

(Dis-factionalism and decline of fervor.

ciples)Organized 1832.

Congregational.

"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak: where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent"

Adult baptism, Lord's Supper

(weekly)

Epis-Henry VIII separated English copal-Catholic Church from Rome, ians1534, for political reasons.

Protestant Episcopal Church in

U.S. founded 1789.

Bishops in apostolic succession, are elected by diocesan representatives: part of Anglican Communion, symbolically headed by Archbishop of Canterbury.

Scripture as interpreted by tradition; esp, 39 Articles (1563); not dogmatic. Tri-annual convention of bishops, priests, and laymen.

Infant baptism, Holy Communion, others, Sacrament is symbolic, but has real spiritual effect.

Luth-Martin Luther in Wittenberg.

eransGermany, 1517, objected to

Catholic doctrine of salvation by merit and sale of indulgences; break complete by 1519.

Varies from congregational to episcopal: in U.S. a combination of regional synods and congregational polities is most common.

Scripture and tradition as spelled out in Augsburg Confession (1530) and other creeds. These confessions of faith are binding although interpretations vary.

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper. Christ's true body and blood present "in, with, and under the bread and wine."

Metho-Rev. John Wesley began

distsmovement, 1738, within Church of

England. First U.S. denomination

Baltimore, 1784.

Conference and superintendent system. In United Methodist Church, general superintendents are bishops—not a priestly order, only an office — who are elected for life.

Scripture as interpreted by tradition, reason, and experience.

Baptism of infants or adults, Lord's Supper commanded. Other rites, inc. marriage, ordination, solemnize personal commitments

Мог-In visions of the Angel Moroni by monsJoseph Smith 1827, in New York, in which he received a new revelation on golden tablets: The Book of Mormon

Theocratic; all male adults are in priesthood which culminates in Council of 12 Apostles and 1st Presidency (1st President, 2 counselors).

The Bible, Book of Mormon and other revelations to Smith, and certain pronouncements of the 1st Presidency.

Adult baptism, laying on of hands (which confers the gift of the Holy Spirit), Lord's Supper. Temple rites; baptism for the dead, marriage for eternity, others.

Ortho-Original Christian proselytizing in dox1st century; broke with Rome,

1054, after centuries of doctrinal disputes and diverging traditions.

Synods of bishops in autonomous, usually national, churches elect a patriarch, archbishop or metropolitan. These men, as a group, are the heads of the church.

Scripture tradition, and the first 7 church councils up to Nicaea II in 787. Bishops in council have authority in doctrine and policy.

Seven sacraments: infant baptisrr-and anointing, Eucharist (both bread and wine), ordination, penance, anointing of the sick, marriage.

Pente-In Topeka, Kansas (1901), and costalLos Angeles (1906) in reaction to

loss of evangelical fervor among

Methodists and other

denominations.

Originally a movement, not a formal organization, Pentecostalism now has a variety of organized forms and continues also as a movement.

Scripture, individual charismatic leaders, the teachings of the Holy Spirit.

Spirit baptism, esp, as shown in "speaking in tongues": healing and sometimes exorcism: adult baptism. Lord's Supper.

Pres-In Calvinist Reformation in 1500s; byter-differed with Lutherans over ianssacraments, church government. John Knox founded Scotch Presbyterian church about 1560.

Highly structured representational system of ministers and laypersons (presbyters) in local, regional and national bodies (synods).

Scripture

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper; bread and wine symbolize Christ's spiritual presence.

RomanTraditionally, by Jesus who Catho-named St. Peter the 1st Vicar; lieshistorically, in early Christian

proselytizing and the conversion of imperial Rome in the 4th century.

Hierarchy with supreme power vested in Pope elected by cardinals. Councils of Bishops advise on matters of doctrine and policy.

The Pope when speaking for the whole church in matters of faith and morals, and tradition, which is partly recorded in scripture and expressed in church councils.

Seven sacraments: baptism, contrition and penance, confirmation, Eucharist, marriage, ordination, and anointing of the sick (unction).

UnitedBy ecumenical union. 1957, of
ChurchCongregationalists and
of Evangelical & Reformed

Christrepresenting both Calvinist and Lutheran traditions.

Congregational; a General Synod, representative of all congregations, sets general policy.

Scripture.

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper.

RELIGION 209

Practice

Ethics

Doctrine

Other

Denom­ination

Worship style varies from staid to evangelistic. Extensive missionary activity.

Usually opposed to alcohol and tobacco; sometimes tends towards a perfectionist ethical standard.

Wo creed; true church is of believers only, who are all equal.

Since no authority can stand Baptistsbetween the believer and God, the Baptists are strong supporters of church-state separation.

Tries to avoid any rite or doctrine not explicitly part of the 1st century church. Some congregations may reject instrumental music.

Some tendency toward perfectonism; increasing action programs.

Simple New Testament faith; avoids any elaboration not firmly based on Scripture.

Highly tolerant in doctrinal and Church
religious matters; strongly of

supportive of scholarly education. Christ

(Dis­ciples)

Formal, based on Book ol Common Prayer (1549); services range from austerely simple to highly elaborate.

Tolerant; sometimes permissive; some social action programs.

Apostles Creed is basic; otherwise, considerable variation ranges rom rationalist and liberal to acceptance of most Roman Catholic dogma.

Strongly ecumenical, holding talks Epis-
with all other branches of copal-

Christendom, ians

Relatively simple formal liturgy ,vith emphasis on the sermon.

Generally, conservative in personal and social ethics; doctrine of "2 kingdoms" (worldly and holy) supports conservatism in secular affairs.

Salvation by faith alone through grace. Lutheranism has made major contributions to Protestant theology.

Though still somewhat divided along ethnic lines (German, Swede, etc.), main divisions are between fundamentalists and liberals.

Luth­erans

Worship style varies widely by denomination, local church, geography.

Originally pietist and perfectionist; always strong social activist elements.

No distinctive theological development; 25 Articles abriged from Church of England's 39 not binding.

In 1968, United Methodist Church Metho-
joined pioneer English- and dists

German-speaking groups. UMs leaders in ecumenical movement.

Staid service with hymns, sermon. Secret temple ceremonies may be more elaborate. Strong missionary activity.

Temperance; strict tithing. Combine a strong work ethic with communal self-reliance.

God is a material being; he created the universe out of pre­existing matter; all persons can be saved and many will become divine. Most other beliefs are traditionally Christian.

Mormons regard mainline churches as apostate, corrupt. Reorganized Church (founded 1860) rejects most Mormon doctrine and practice except Book of Mormon.

Mor­mons

Elaborate liturgy, usually in the vernacular, though extremely traditional. The liturgy is the essence of Orthodoxy. Veneration of icons.

Tolerant: very little social action; divorce, remarriage permitted in some cases. Priests need not be celibate; bishops are.

Emphasis on Christ's re­surrection, rather than crucifixion; the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father only.

Orthodox Church in America, orginally under Patriarch of Moscow, was granted autonomy in 1970. Greek Orthodox do not recognize this autonomy.

Ortho­dox

Loosely structured service with rousing hymns and sermons, culminating in spirit baptism.

Usually, emphasis on perfectionism with varying degrees of tolerance.

Simple traditional beliefs, usually Protestant, with emphasis on the immediate presence of God in the Holy Spirit

Once confined to lower-class Pente-

"holy rollers," Pentecostalism now costalappears in mainline churches and has established middle-class congregations.

A simple, sober service in which the sermon is central.

Traditionally, a tendency toward strictness with firm church- and self-discipline; otherwise tolerant.

Emphasizes the sovereignty and justice of God; no longer doctrinaire.

While traces of belief in predestination (that God had foreordained salvation for the "elect") remain, this idea is no longer a central element in Presbyterianism.

Pres­byte­rians

Relatively elaborate ritual; wide variety of public and private rites, e.g., rosary recitation, processions, novenas.

Theoretically very strict; tolerant in practice on most issues. Divorce and remarriage not accepted. Celibate clergy, except in Eastern rite.

Highly elaborated. Salvation by merit gained through faith. Unusual development of doctrines surrounding Mary. Dogmatic.

Roman Catholicism is presently in Roman

a period of relatively rapid change Cath-

as a result of Vatican Councils I olics
and II.

Usually simple services with emphasis on the sermon.

Tolerant: some social action emphasis.

Standard Protestant; Statement of Faith (1959) is not binding.

The 2 main churches in the 1957 United

union represented earlier unions Church

with small groups of almost every of

Protestant denomination. Christ

210 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

THREE MAJOR FAITHS

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Religion in America today is built primarily on the structure of Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism. Within each of these groups there is great diversity. Among Protestants alone, there are 186 different organizations. Besides the three major groupings of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, there are about 1,500 major and minor sectarian churches. Among these sects are established groups such as the Quakers and Mormons. There are also bizarre groups such as the Holiness Church, which is a snake-handling cult.

The degree of religious diversity in America becomes evident when one compares the religious composition of American society with that of its neigh­bors. Mexico's population is 96 percent Catholic. Canada's three largest de­nominations, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and the United Church of Canada, account for 86 percent of total membership. To account for 86 percent of America's total church membership, it is necessary to add together 19 separate denominations. The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits an estab­lished national religion and protects the individual's right to practice the religion of his or her choice.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 885