PCA’s 2007 statistics
compared to PCUSA’s
The Layman, May 19, 2009
Related story: Presbyterian editor says PCA does keep worship data and that the 100 percent figure is inflated.
The Presbyterian Church in America, the nation’s second largest Presbyterian denomination, has recently released its comparative statistics for 2007.
Not all of the data is in categories that allow comparison with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest denomination, but some key areas show a marked difference.
The PCA figures cover a five-year period, from 2003 through 2007. During that period, the denomination increased its communicant membership from 256,224 to 271,495, a gain of 5.9 percent. During the same period, PCUSA membership declined by 284,235, a loss of 11.4 percent and more than the total membership of the PCA.
There is also a large difference in giving. The PCA reported per-capita giving of $2,517, more than double the 2007 average of $1,096.60 in the PCUSA.
The PCA’s statistics do not include average worship attendance. But denominational officials have told The Layman that the average is about 100 percent of membership. Visitors are included in that number. The PCUSA’s average worship attendance was 51.3 percent in 2007.
The PCA had 1,372 congregations at the end of 2007, a gain of 96 since 2003. The PCUSA had 11,295 congregations in 2007, a loss of 231 since 2003.
The total bill of General Assembly and presbytery funding in 2007 was $106.37 per capita, but that includes paying for more than double the number of foreign missionaries sponsored by the PCA (more than 600) versus those sponsored by the PCUSA (300).