San Jose, Calif. — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA) lost more than 57,000 members last year, the denomination’s largest decline since 1981, church leaders announced at a churchwide general assembly in San Jose, Calif.
The 2.5 percent drop brings active membership in the PCUSA to 2.2 million, but it remains the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination.
Twelve PCUSA congregations joined other denominations in 2007, and 71 churches were dissolved, according to the PCUSA.
About 130 churches in total have threatened to leave or have left the denomination because of disagreements about homosexuality and the Bible.
Clifton Kirkpatrick, the PCUSA’s outgoing stated clerk, said the membership plunge exceeded expectations.
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