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<\/source><\/picture>The Episcopal Church saw a decline of over 90,000 members in 2022, but also witnessed a considerable increased in Sunday worship attendance, as documented in a new report.<\/p>\n
According to an analysis <\/a>of parochial data released on Monday, the Episcopal Church had approximately 1.58 million baptized members in 2022, being divided among 6,789 member congregations.<\/p>\n This represents a decline compared to their 2021 official statistics, in which the denomination reported having 1.678 million baptized members and 6,806 member congregations.<\/p>\n However, the denomination did see an increase in average Sunday worship attendance, going from approximately 312,000 in 2021<\/a> to nearly 373,000 last year, or a rise of about 60,000.<\/p>\n Regarding worship attendance, the report explained that while it \u201cdeclined dramatically\u201d during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, \u201cit seems to be rebounding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile not back to the pre-pandemic levels, there are signs of recovering some of the lost Sunday attendance,\u201d stated the parochial report. \u201cFurther, the [Sunday attendance] reported here included only in-person attendance and does not include virtual attenders from congregations that offer a virtual option for services.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the approximately 373,000 reported for 2022 is still well below the average Sunday attendance figures for 2013, which totaled a little more than 657,000.<\/p>\n Additionally, in 2019, the year before the pandemic began, the mainline Protestant denomination reported approximately 547,000 in average Sunday worship attendance.<\/p>\n Regarding plate and pledge income, the Episcopal Church\u2019s total has remained steady over the years, continuing to average $1.3 billion, while the average pledge has steadily increased, going from $2,553 in 2013 to $3,658 in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cThe median number of contributing households without a pledge is 9,\u201d explained the report. \u201cThis means that, of the congregations who answered this question, half reported more than 9 households without a pledge and half reported less.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the past several years, the Episcopal Church has been experiencing considerable decline, especially among baptized members and worship attendees. In 2010, the denomination\u2019s total membership dipped below 2 million<\/a> and is now nearly a half million less than that.<\/p>\n Some have attributed this decline to the progressive theological direction of the Church. For example, when the denomination ordained its first openly gay bishop in 2003, large numbers of conservative members and congregations broke away in response.<\/p>\n In November 2020, the Rev. Dwight Zscheile, an Episcopal priest and professor, warned that, at their current rate of decline, the Episcopal Church will effectively cease to exist by 2050.<\/p>\n \u201cThe overall picture is dire,\u201d said Zscheile, as reported by Church Leaders<\/a> in 2020. \u201cNot one of decline as much as demise within the next generation unless trends change significantly.\u201d<\/p>\n