America continues to shift away from the “Ozzie and Harriet” family model of the 1950s, according to the 2000 census figures.
The changing face of the American household shows fewer traditional families, more homes composed of unmarried partners and an increase in the number of children living with single parents.
Fewer than one fourth (23.5 percent) of households now are traditional nuclear families- families composed of married couples with their children. The figure dropped from 25.6 percent in 1990. In 1960, that number was 45 percent.
The number of unmarried partners living together, meanwhile, grew 72 percent between 1990 and 2000. It is unknown how many of those are same-sex partners.
The trend is even more pronounced in the Bible Belt, where several states outstripped the national rate of increase in this category. Texas showed an 88 percent increase in unmarried partners living together, compared with 108 percent in Georgia and 123 percent for Tennessee.
Unmarried partners
Despite the increase, unmarried partners still represent a small percentage of all homes- 5.5 percent, compared with 3.2 percent in 1990.
Single- father homes with children represented 3 percent of households in 2000 and showed a 62 percent increase over the past 10 years. North Carolina’s number of households headed by single fathers rose 81 percent, while South Carolina’s number increased 72 percent.
Single-mother homes with children represented 7 percent of households. From 1990 to 2000, this category increased 25 percent. A Baptist ethicist urged congregations to pay heed to the new census data as they minster to their communities.
“These changes challenge church leaders to look more closely at congregational and community demographics in order to shape ministry and sharpen the choice of preaching texts and sermon topics,” said Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics in Nashville, Tenn. “Good information can advance more effective ministry, providing real help for real families.”
(ABP)
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