Statistics & More
People hate numbers, and they can't understand them in bulk. That's why we search for summarized data and pictorial presentations (graphs) to understand the results of any research. But just looking at a snapshot of numbers or charts gives an incomplete picture of the environment and the causes. In fact, if not handled in context, inappropriate conclusions are possible.
Much of the information in this section of the website is presented to challenge the reader to begin questioning why the results look as they do. You will find few complete answers here, and hopefully, you will leave with a curiosity that will lead you to a more complete understanding of the church world in which we life.
This is but another beginning of your search for understanding...
Enjoy the journey.
To Begin, Study Your Own Congregation
In order to know who you are, you need to look at where you have been. A good place to begin a congregational self-study is by looking at your trends in membership, average worship attendance, and financial giving.
By following the instructions on the link below (to the Episcopal Church, Congregational Development website pages), you can display and print a chart of three combined graphs that track membership, participation, and giving for your church over the most recently available eleven years. (Below is a example of a chart created for this diocese with an explanation.)
Link: To Episcopal Church Congregational Development Study Your Congregation
Chart of all congregations in the Diocese of West Texas
In this chart, the blue bar indicates Baptized Members (members of record). Our largest membership was in 1994 - 1995 with over 30,000 members. Since that time we have had a slow shrinkage to about 28,000 members. The Worship Attendance (those active members who attend Eucharist services) has remained constant at close to 12,000 as indicated by the red bar. Finally the green line indicates Plate and Pledge income. In addition to the inflation factor, this rising line indicates that about the same number of church members are contributing more each year.
Now follow the link above and consider you own congregation's historic information.
