Majority of congregations
report no growth in ’05

Only 46 percent of Southwest Texas congregations reported net membership gains for 2005, an analysis of preliminary statistics shows.
Of the 346 congregations reporting last year, 188—or 54 percent—registered no membership change or a loss. That factor contributed to the third straight year of net membership decline for the Southwest Texas Conference after 10 years of growth.
The preliminary 2005 total, issued Jan. 31, showed 561 fewer United Methodists on the conference rolls Dec. 31 than at the end of 2004. That’s a 0.5 percent decrease from 120,080 to 119,519.
Statistician David A. Seilheimer is to report official totals during the June 7-10 Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi.
The 2005 number of no-growth congregations was lower than in 2004, when 197 recorded no change or losses. But the 2005 figures continued a trend that began in 2002 and that mirrors recent membership declines.
Since 1996, in most years when the Southwest Texas Conference tallied net membership gains, more than half the congregations reported growth. Exceptions were 1999 and 2002.
In 1999 only 46 percent of 357 congregations reported net membership gains. Nevertheless, the total conference population grew by 2 percent primarily because of additions associated with six new congregations.
In 2002 only 49 percent of 349 congregations recorded net membership gains. The total conference census went up by 52 to 120,915. That equaled a 0.04 percent change. The 2002 report showed the first decline in average worship attendance in eight years.
Starting in 2003, Southwest Texas began recording annual net membership declines.
“These statistics show that not all our congregations are intentionally offering Christ to all,” said the Rev. Harry G. Kahl, congregational growth director. “The demographic reality of our area is that there is a change in who the ‘all’ is around us.”
Latinos make up more than half the population in the Southwest Texas Conference area, he said. But 2004 membership reports showed only 4 percent of Southwest Texas United Methodists were Hispanic. Ninety-one percent were white.
Furthermore, Kahl noted, the region’s general population is much younger than the United Methodist population. Recent surveys showed the average age of Southwest Texas United Methodists was 64.
Worship experiences in many congregations are designed for people born before 1964, Kahl said. “That doesn’t seem to speak to our children and grandchildren,” he said.
Here’s the preliminary count by district of congregations reporting membership and worship-attendance increases for 2005:
> Austin: 39 of 64 congregations grew; 32 increased average worship attendance. Total membership went up 152 to 28,618. Average weekly worship attendance went down 121 to 12,359.
> Corpus Christi: 13 of 44 congregations grew; 19 increased average worship attendance. Total membership went down 366 to 11,617. Average weekly worship attendance fell 108 to 5,048.
> Kerrville: 29 of 51 congregations grew; 27 increased average worship attendance. Total membership increased by 245 to 16,414. Average weekly worship attendance went down 117 to 6,808.
> McAllen: 17 of 35 congregations grew; 15 increased average weekly worship attendance. Total membership went up 125 to 8,704. Average weekly worship attendance slipped by 4 to 4,329.
> San Angelo: 15 of 38 congregations grew; 11 increased average weekly worship attendance. Total membership went down 28 to 8,245. Average weekly worship attendance slipped 22 to 3,002.
> San Antonio: 28 of 62 congregations grew; 25 increased average weekly worship attendance. Total membership dropped by 600 to 36,045. Average weekly worship attendance fell by 355 to 15,217.
> Victoria: 17 of 52 congregations grew; 15 increased average weekly worship attendance. Total membership declined 89 to 9,876. Average weekly worship attendance went down 188 to 3,369.




The number of congregations with 1,000 or more members remained at 28. Lake Travis UMC, Lakeway, rejoined the list. Colonial Hills UMC, San Antonio, dropped off.
The 28 largest congregations account for 42 percent of the total conference membership.