Assessing the Landscape

Demographics and Trends in Kansas Christianity

Religious Adherents in Kansas

• Half of Kansans claimed by religious groups in 2010– 1.4 million (98%) by Christian groups – 27 thousand non-Christians

Largest Groups in Kansas

• Christians are 97% Protestant or Catholic– Catholics are largest single group

Largest Groups in Kansas

• Christians are 97% Protestant or Catholic– Catholics are largest single group– Protestants divided into a hundred smaller groups

Christian Group AdherentsCatholics 426,611

United Methodists 202,989

Non-denominational churches 114,013

Southern Baptists 99,329

Other Protestant groups 535,194

Other Christian groups 38,906

Adherents of Other Religions

• 82 hundred Buddhists in five counties– From 7 to 27 temples 2000-2010

• 77 hundred Muslims in fourteen counties– From 9 to 11 masjids 2000-2010

• 77 hundred Jews in two counties– From 10 to 6 synagogues 2000-2010

• 37 hundred “Other” across all regions– From 15 to 20 centers 2000-2010

Unclaimed Kansans

• 1.4 million not claimed by any of 236 groups• Religion Census can’t identify them beyond

total numbers, but Gallup surveys suggest– 80% (1.1 million) believe in God– 60% (850 thousand) are Christian– 20% (300 thousand) call themselves members

Source: Gallup numbers (90%, 80%, 60%) applied to Religion Census 50% unclaimed figures for Kansas

Trends in Religious Groups

• Catholics increased 5.1% statewide since 2000• Conservative/Evangelicals lost 1.5% since 2000

Group 2010 Adherents Change

Assemblies of God 29,767 6.8%

Christian Churches & Churches of Christ 61,549 8.4%

Church of the Brethren 2,759 -25.2%

Church of the Nazarene 32,538 2.0%

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 59,381 -5.3%

Mennonite Church 12,647 -11.5%

Southern Baptist Convention 99,329 -6.2%

Trends in Religious Groups

• Catholics increased 5.1% statewide since 2000• Conservative/Evangelicals lost 1.5% since 2000• Mainlines dropped 14.7% since 2000

Group 2010 Adherents Change

American Baptist Churches in the USA 48,497 -24.6%

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 38,890 -31.7%

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 34,368 -19.1%

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 37,211 -26.8%

United Church of Christ 8,730 -35.4%

United Methodist Church 202,989 -1.6%

Trends in Religious Groups

• Catholics increased 5.1% statewide since 2000• Conservative/Evangelicals lost 1.5% since 2000• Mainlines dropped 14.7% since 2000• Other groups grew, but numbers are small– LDS grew 64% to 40 thousand statewide– Orthodox Christians grew 24% to 3 thousand– “Other Christian” grew 56% to 1 thousand

Attendance Estimates

• Up to one-fourth of Kansans attend religious services each weekGroup Attendance

EstimateCatholics 150,000

Mainline Protestants 125,000

Conservative/Evangelical Protestants 300,000

African American Protestants 12,000

Other Christian Groups 30,000

Non-Christian Groups 6,000

Source: Partial reports given to 2010 U.S. Religion Census offices.

Opportunities and Challenges

• Population concentrations• Poverty rates• Population growth and decline• Minority groups

Who Works with Hispanics?

• One-third of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic – Correlation between Hispanics and Catholics

• Other groups also claim Hispanic membershipGroup U.S. Hispanic

MembershipU.S. Hispanic

RatioCatholic 21,000,000 33%

Assemblies of God 620,000 20%

United Methodist Church 68,000 1%

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 45,000 1%

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 30,000 1%

Church of the Nazarene 28,000 5%

Source: Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies

Further Data Available On-line

• Specific denominations, maps, tables– www.USReligionCensus.org

• Comparative religious tables and charts – www.TheARDA.com

• Census and American Community Survey data– www.census.gov

• Community demographics– www.nazareneresearch.org