Giving Stats

Total contributions to the church declined in 2002 as a percent of income versus 2001. Members gave an average of 2.62% compared to 2.63% the previous year. This is down from 3.11% in 1968 which is a decline in real dollars of 16%.

Mainline protestant churches have decreased as a percent of the American population by 47% since 1968.  Evangelical Christian groups have grown by 48% during this time frame, but they have also been in decline since 1986, losing some 6% of their population compared to U.S. growth. The Roman Catholic Church lost 3% of its population in relationship to America’s growth. Bottom line: Christianity is losing market share every year and thus is becoming a side line influence on the country