ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has seen a continuing decline in membership, according to reports from its congregations. While the denomination has reaped increased contributions, its research analyst John O’Hara said: “The real story is that membership is still declining.”
The number of baptized members at the end of 2003 was 2,488,936, which is 23,778 fewer than in 2002. Between 2001 and 2002, the baptized membership declined by 27,331.
The total of confirmed members for 2003 was 1,894,822, or 13,101 fewer than 2002. Confirmed membership declined by 13,026 from 2001 to 2002. O’Hara said the membership declines “continue a trend of the past 30 years.” Contributions in 2003 reached a record amount — in excess of $1.2 billion. That is more than $53 million above contributions reported the year before and follows declines of $13.8 million in 2002 and $12.1 million in 2001.
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