Statewide UM membership falls in 2005

The number of United Methodists in Texas fell by 1.2 percent during 2005.
The total count of United Methodists stood at 842,007 at the end of last year, based on unofficial statistics reported from the state’s seven annual conference sessions in May and June. That total was down 10,127 from the 2004 year-end figure.
Losses in six of the seven conferences wiped out the statewide membership increase reported during 2004 and returned to a pattern begun in 2003. Before that the Texas United Methodist population had gone up for seven straight years.
Despite last year’s membership declines, Texas is still home to more United Methodists than any other state.
Unofficial 2005 membership totals for all 63 U.S. annual conferences should be available later this month.
United Methodist membership in the United States slipped below 8 million in 2004, the General Council on Finance and Administration reported June 21.
The United Methodist Church has reported net membership losses in the United States every year since the denomination was formed in 1968. The number of United Methodists overseas has been growing in recent years. That growth has outpaced U.S. losses.
Average weekly worship attendance in Texas slipped 1.6 percent during 2005 to 314,251. Texas worship crowds have been shrinking each year since 2001.
Only the Fort Worth-based Central Texas Conference reported a net membership increase last year. Central Texas moved past the Dallas-based North Texas Conference to become the second largest conference in the state, with 160,119 members.
Southwest Texas saw membership fall by 403 (0.3 percent) to 119,677 during 2005. That was the third straight annual loss.
Central Texas and the San Antonio-based Rio Grande Conference were the only United Methodist judicatories in Texas to record average worship attendance increases last year. The Rio Grande Conference includes nearly 100 Spanish-speaking congregations in Texas and New Mexico.
In Southwest Texas average weekly worship attendance dropped by 760 (1.5 percent) to 50,202. Southwest Texas worship attendance has fallen for four years.
The Albuquerque-based New Mexico Conference, which covers West Texas from Odessa to El Paso, showed the highest percentage of worshipers compared to members in 2005. Worship attendance averaged 43.6 percent of total membership.
Total worship attendance for the seven conferences in Texas averaged 38.5 percent of membership during 2005. That was about the same as the 38.7 percent in 2004.
Southwest Texas registered the second-highest participation percentage last year. Average worship attendance was 41.9 percent of membership. That percentage is down from 42.3 in 2004.