Missouri Synod reports drop in membership

ST. LOUIS — The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has reported a drop of 22,867 members in 2006, bringing membership in the St. Louis-based denomination to just over 2.4 million.

Despite the lower membership numbers, giving and average weekly worship attendance have increased, the church said.

Giving rose by an estimated $58.6 million to $1.3 billion for 2006. Average weekly worship attendance was 172.5 in 2006, slightly higher than the 2005 average of 164.2.

The denomination saw decreases in the number of children baptized and the number of teenagers and adults who were confirmed but saw increases in the numbers of students attending weekday religion classes and enrolled in Sunday School.

Only 64 percent of the denomination’s churches reported their information, so its statistical office tallied the new information and added figures from previous years for congregations that did not report 2006 figures.