Liberals Lose Members, Conservatives Gain

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Vol. V, No. 1, March 1992

The 1991 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reports that in 1989 with few exceptions the Protestant denominations posting membership gains were the more evangelical, conservative ones, while those recording losses were more liberal. The two largest denominations gained: Roman Catholics to 57 million, up 3.83% and Southern Baptists up to 14.9 million, up 0.64%. Other gaining denominations include Presbyterian Church in America 4.3%, Free Methodist church of North America 3.0%, and Jehovah's Witnesses 2.6%. Losing denominations include Disciples of Christ 1.94%, Presbyterian Church (USA) 1.47%, United Methodists 0.84%, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 0.24%. [RNS as in The Baptist Messenger]