Those belonging to Protestant churches described in the United States as "mainline" are dwindling in numbers while the rolls of Pentecostal churches, and some with mostly African American adherents and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) are growing, new figures show.
The 2005 "Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches" published by the U.S. National Council of Churches (NCC), also reports growth in a number of U.S. Orthodox churches, including the Orthodox Church in America, which, with 1 million members, is now listed in the top 25 denominations in the United States.
A notable growth for the 2005 listings was in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a reported membership of 5.5 million members, making it now the fourth largest denomination in the United States, up from fifth in the 2004 rankings. It experienced a growth rate of 1.71 per cent, the yearbook reported.
In all, three of the largest 25 churches in the United States are now Pentecostal, the NCC reported, while six are churches with predominantly African American members.
In releasing the latest numbers, the NCC said it was clear that mainline Protestants no longer dominate the list of the largest U.S. churches. However, the Episcopal (Anglican) Church -- which has been battered by internal debate over issues related to sexuality -- did show a slight increase in membership, with 2.32 million members and a growth rate of 0.57 per cent.
Though the U.S. remains a predominately Protestant country, the largest single denomination in the country remains the Roman Catholic Church, with 67.26 million members and a reported growth of 1.28 per cent, the NCC said.
The Southern Baptist Convention, the second-largest Christian denomination in the country and the largest single Protestant body in the United States, has 16.44 million members and a growth rate of 1.18 per cent, the yearbook reported.
The third largest denomination is the United Methodist Church, with a reported membership of 8.25 million members and a growth rate of 0.002 per cent.
Other U.S. denominations in the top 25 listings for 2005 by membership and growth rates included the Assemblies of God, 2.73 million members (1.57 per cent); the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, a predominately African American denomination, 1.4 million members (0.14 per cent); and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1.04 million members (1.82 per cent), the NCC reported.
