Evangelical Lutherans see membership decline

CHICAGO — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) saw a slight drop in membership in 2006, continuing a trend of decline of more than a decade. The total of baptized members at the end of 2006 was 4,774,203, a 1.6 percent decrease from the 2005 total of 4,850,776, denomination officials said.

The denomination has lost about 466,000 baptized members in the last 16 years, said Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary. In 1990, there were 5,240,739 members. Recent declines are due to a decrease in the number of new members, the disbanding of 40 congregations and “roll cleaning,” in which long-inactive members have been removed from the membership lists of churches.

In a separate matter, Almen spoke in July to the triennial convention of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Houston and urged leaders of the two denominations to continue their regular dialogues. The two groups have theological differences but cooperate on efforts such as relief work, immigration services and recruitment of chaplains.

“The task has not been easy, and at times the prospects have seemed  discouraging,” said Almen, who will retire later this year after 20 years as ELCA secretary. “These two church bodies need to work together in as many ways as possible, now and in the years to come. We need to do so not just for ourselves, but … for the sake of our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.”