NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention’s membership has reached an all-time high of 16.2 million. The denomination announced April 22 that total membership in Southern Baptist churches reached 16,247,736 in 2002, a 1.21 percent increase, or 194,816 additional members, over the previous year.
The total number of Southern Baptist churches increased to 42,775, an increase of 441 churches, or 1.04 percent, from the 2001 total of 42,334.
While membership totals grew, other figures showed some decreases. There was a slight decline in baptisms. The total, 394,893, was a decline of 1,037, or 0.26 percent, from the previous year. Sunday School enrollment declined 8,251, or 0.10 percent, to a total of 8,174,493. Church reports indicated growth in average worship attendance to 5,839,945, an increase of 108,965, or 1.9 percent.
The statistics are from LifeWay Christian Resources, based on church reports from local Baptist associations and state conventions.
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