Each year, every United Methodist Church across the county completes a statistical report that provides a measurement of various aspects of the congregation’s life and ministry. The pastor or some other officer in the church records the square footage of the church buildings, the current market value of the church furnishings and equipment, and the amount that was paid for utilities, debt retirements, and payroll. The church reports the amount that was received as income from contributions, building use fees, and fundraisers. We also give an account of the number of people involved in Sunday School, worship, small groups, and community outreach projects. The report includes 70 different lines and takes many hours to compile.
There is much about a church that cannot be measured or expressed in numbers. At the same time, the numbers do tell a story. I want to share with you some of the numbers that tell us where we are, where we have been, and where current trends are heading.
Calvary United Methodist Church currently has 693 full members. In 2024, we had four new members join through the affirmation of faith, eight transfer in from other United Methodist congregations; three members transfer out to other churches, and sixteen members removed by death. The average Sunday worship attendance was 152 and we counted an average online viewership of 146 each week. I happened to look up the figures from 2014 for comparison. At the close of 2014, there were 998 full members. The average worship attendance that year was 311.
The downward trend of numbers is across all sorts of churches these days, in all denominations and types of churches. However, there are some interesting figures that popped up this year. Our average in-person worship attendance increased this year from 125 to 152. At the same time, our Sunday School attendance went from 18 to 37. The number of dollars and volunteer hours that are connected to mission and ministry projects is on an upward trend. These give us a sense of the growing impact that this congregation has both within and outside the building.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Steve