Women outnumber men
as elders in the PCUSA
The Layman, July 16, 2008
For the first time in the history of the Presbyterian Church (USA), there were more women than men serving as elders of local congregations at the end of 2007.
A three-page report published by the Office of the General Assembly said the totals were 46,662 women and 46,564 men, a difference of less than one percent. The 94-elder difference reflected what has occurred since reunion of the United Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) as a result of denominational pressure on local congregations to achieve parity between men and women on local church sessions.
Overall, women serving in the denomination’s lay offices – elder and deacon – outnumber men by a sizeable margin. The total at the end of 2007 for both offices was 92,407 women (45,745 as deacons) and 65,405 men (18,836 as deacons). That’s 58.5 percent women and 41.5 percent men.
Although the Book of Order says the congregation has the “inalienable” right to elect its officers, it also provides constitutional clout for gender parity.
G-4.0403 says, “The Presbyterian Church (USA) shall give full expression to the rich diversity within its membership and shall provide means which will assure a greater inclusiveness leading to wholeness in its emerging life. Persons of all racial ethnic groups, different ages, both sexes, various disabilities, diverse geographical areas, different theological positions consistent with the Reformed tradition, as well as different marital conditions (married, single, widowed, or divorced) shall be guaranteed full participation and access to representation in the decision-making of the church.”
Presbyteries applying that standard have pressured local sessions, especially those in the former southern Presbyterian Church U.S., to work toward gender parity. One minister was drummed out of the denomination for his refusal to participate in the ordination of women.
The report by the Office of the General Assembly is titled “Summaries of Statistics/Comparative Statistics.” The most comprehensive report on 2007 statistics will be issued later.
The three-page summary did provide a number of measurements of the continuing decline of the PCUSA, including the previously reported membership loss of 57,502 in 2007. That’s the largest loss since reunion in 1983.
One of the few categories showing growth was the number of ministers, which increased by eight to 21,368. That’s slightly more than one preacher per 100 Presbyterians, now that the membership – 4.2 million in 1966 – is down to 2,209,546.
Other losses:
- Sunday school attendance declined by 40,899, a loss of 3.8 percent from the attendance in 2006. The percentage loss is higher than the membership loss of 2.5 percent.
- Total membership losses, not including gains, were 166,578, including 30,329 by transfer of membership and 33,535 by death. The greatest loss – 107,214 – was in the “other” category.