Statistics show mixed picture
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
The 2007 WELS Statistical Report is now available on the synod Web site at www.wels.net/jump/statistics and will soon be available in hard copy.
It's common knowledge that statistics can be used to make a point or to add strength to an argument. Depending on how they are used, statistics can also be used to spin the truth or to distort reality.
When looking at the statistical report for 2007, readers should let the numbers speak for themselves. The numbers for last year contain a mixture of good news, as well as news that might be somewhat disappointing. Here are just a few of the numbers:
Total baptized members declined slightly from 395,947 to 394,335—a decrease of 1,612 souls (less than one-half of one percent). This decrease in baptized membership continues a trend over the past six years, although the rate of decrease is less than in the previous two years.
Total communicant members declined slightly from 311,977 to 311,429—a loss of 548 communicants (less than two-tenths of one percent). This also continues a trend, but as in the case of baptized membership the decrease is significantly smaller than the previous year.
Infant baptisms increased by nearly two percent, rising from 6,831 in 2006 to 6,953 in 2007.
Adult confirmations declined from 3,852 to 3,672 but adult baptisms increased from 668 to 730.
We can see both blessings and challenges in these numbers. We know that it is the Holy Spirit who works faith and brings people into his family through the proclamation of the gospel. In that sense, every single soul represented by those numbers is a blessing. We can also note that the decrease in membership seems to have slowed last year, and that WELS has not experienced the losses experienced by many other church bodies. We also note the blessing of the increase in infant and adult baptisms.
While the membership in our synod has indeed decreased somewhat in the United States, we should also be aware of blessings that are not seen in these numbers. The report doesn't provide numbers for our world mission fields and sister church bodies around the world where the growth of baptized membership has offset losses domestically.
As we continue to carry out the resolution of last summer's convention—to expand our efforts to share the gospel—we do so asking God to give us the zeal and dedication to be faithful in this work. We pray that every member, every family, and every congregation rededicates itself to sharing the gospel of Christ, and that as a synod we continue to focus on our God-given mission. And we do all of this together with the joy and confidence of knowing that as we faithfully plant and water, it is God alone who provides the growth.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: membership, statistics
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