SBC tops 16 million

                                                                                                                                                                           Vol. XV, No. 5, May 2002

Membership in SBC churches set an all-time record in 2001 with a total of 16,052,920 persons, an increase of 92,612 over 2000. Total number of churches grew to 42,334, a 1.79% increase, or 746 churches more than the 2000 total of 41,588. At the same time, church-type missions operated by churches declined by 5.91% or 310 to a total of 4,933. While membership grew -- though the increase of 0.58 percent was less than the gain of 108,552 or 0.68% in 2000 -- baptisms declined by 18,727 or 4.52% to a total of 395,930. The decline ends four years of baptisms totals above 400,000. Sunday morning average worship attendance grew by 3.36% or 186,541 to 5,730,980. Other increases were reported in total tithes, offerings and special gifts to $8,314,899,294 (6.68% above 2000), as well as undesignated receipts of $6,445,430,643 (7.77% above 2000). [BP]