SBC organization, membership, enrollment, attendance data: relative change, 1950-2007

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 23 November 2008

Relative change in organization/membership data, 1987=100 (or closest available year)

year state conventions local associations churches church-type missions new church plants total members members, resident members, nonresident baptisms baptism ratio (members/baptism) messengers, annual meeting year

1950 73.97 47.78 50.07 42.32 108.59 44.00 24.91 1950

1951 75.30 49.76 52.15 44.07 108.43 45.89 19.84 1951

1952 76.84 51.52 50.70 53.47 102.33 50.35 33.49 1952

1953 53.22 51.99 56.13 104.48 50.94 39.65 1953

1954 55.13 53.28 59.53 114.59 48.11 33.50 1954

1955 57.19 57.36 56.78 120.37 47.51 33.11 1955

1956 58.77 59.65 56.66 111.06 52.92 37.44 1956

1957 60.51 62.21 56.45 112.53 53.77 27.83 1957

1958 83.84 62.13 64.02 57.63 117.78 52.75 36.56 1958

1959 84.93 64.01 66.47 58.15 123.89 51.67 37.66 1959

1960 85.85 65.67 67.67 60.91 111.59 58.85 41.59 1960

1961 86.77 67.34 69.59 61.98 116.46 57.82 34.04 1961

1962 77.78 96.27 87.56 68.79 70.73 64.15 110.16 62.44 28.71 1962

1963 77.78 97.10 88.18 70.16 72.12 65.49 102.60 68.38 39.63 1963

1964 77.78 98.18 88.88 71.54 74.24 65.11 108.11 66.17 40.14 1964

1965 80.56 98.09 89.96 72.70 75.50 66.03 104.42 69.62 49.05 1965

1966 80.56 73.89 76.56 67.53 104.23 70.89 31.82 1966

1967 80.56 98.34 90.90 75.19 75.94 73.42 109.42 68.72 45.20 1967

1968 80.56 99.09 91.29 76.47 79.03 70.38 107.71 71.00 46.05 1968

1969 83.33 99.09 91.40 77.54 80.02 71.62 106.33 72.92 50.96 1969

1970 88.89 98.76 91.46 78.48 81.00 72.50 106.51 73.69 41.84 1970

1971 91.68 79.81 81.29 76.28 118.29 67.47 41.91 1971

1972 91.67 98.51 91.93 81.43 84.19 74.88 128.70 63.27 40.19 1972

1973 92.28 82.99 85.53 76.93 119.54 69.42 27.11 1973

1974 92.46 84.46 87.10 78.19 118.53 71.26 55.58 1974

1975 92.91 85.94 88.59 79.64 121.80 70.56 50.18 1975

1976 93.36 87.21 89.72 81.23 111.02 78.55 56.95 1976

1977 93.85 88.29 90.50 83.03 99.82 88.45 49.72 1977

1978 94.24 89.06 90.96 84.54 97.03 91.78 69.89 1978

1979 94.78 90.29 92.04 86.11 106.47 84.80 48.16 1979

1980 95.38 91.82 93.60 87.59 124.09 74.00 42.30 1980

1981 96.04 93.06 94.95 88.54 117.12 79.45 41.34 1981

1982 96.63 94.46 96.44 89.77 118.84 79.49 62.50 1982

1983 97.24 95.73 97.38 91.79 113.94 84.01 41.98 1983

1984 97.80 96.84 98.23 93.51 107.42 90.14 52.25 1984

1985 98.43 97.76 98.69 95.55 101.37 96.44 139.09 1985

1986 98.80 98.65 99.43 96.80 104.85 94.09 125.24 1986

1987 102.78 100.17 99.25 99.39 99.66 98.73 97.74 101.69 78.24 1987

1988 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 1988

1989 100.00 100.17 100.58 127.08 109.86 100.64 100.17 101.76 101.38 99.27 62.37 1989

1990 100.00 100.08 101.08 117.10 114.80 101.52 101.23 102.22 111.18 91.32 117.34 1990

1991 100.00 100.33 101.74 108.65 117.84 102.83 102.98 102.48 114.54 89.78 71.70 1991

1992 100.00 100.41 102.37 102.71 135.89 103.69 104.07 102.79 106.22 97.62 54.87 1992

1993 100.00 100.83 103.13 86.60 157.40 103.96 104.83 101.87 100.79 103.14 54.29 1993

1994 100.00 100.66 106.24 90.77 136.10 105.41 106.32 103.25 109.28 96.46 62.24 1994

1995 102.78 100.75 106.80 86.58 152.99 105.73 106.35 104.27 113.71 92.98 63.11 1995

1996 105.56 100.91 108.11 77.25 157.82 105.91 102.64 113.69 109.54 96.69 41.88 1996

1997 105.56 100.41 108.84 112.13 144.91 107.24 103.63 115.85 118.97 90.14 37.94 1997

1998 105.56 100.41 108.79 82.75 156.24 106.15 102.90 113.89 117.60 90.26 26.22 1998

1999 108.33 99.50 109.40 80.80 183.32 106.97 106.44 108.25 121.09 88.35 35.30 1999

2000 108.33 99.42 110.70 112.75 176.39 107.71 106.77 109.93 119.73 89.96 36.42 2000

2001 108.33 99.75 112.69 106.09 148.48 108.33 106.46 112.79 114.32 94.76 29.21 2001

2002 108.33 99.25 113.86 116.97 168.52 109.64 107.23 115.39 114.03 96.16 29.36 2002

2003 111.11 98.92 114.53 109.98 150.68 110.10 108.73 113.35 108.96 101.04 21.62 2003

2004 113.89 98.67 115.70 108.30 186.88 109.78 108.91 111.83 112.02 98.00 26.28 2004

2005 113.89 97.93 116.32 110.43 181.01 109.80 108.71 112.39 107.37 102.26 35.57 2005

2006 113.89 98.18 117.72 112.71 152.99 110.04 109.66 110.94 105.34 104.46 35.56 2006

2007 113.89 98.26 118.98 112.99 152.68 109.77 107.90 114.24 99.89 109.89 26.37 2007

2008 113.89 22.24 2008

year state conventions local associations churches church-type missions new church plants total members members, resident members, nonresident baptisms baptism ratio (members/baptism) messengers, annual meeting year

year	state conventions	local associations	churches	church-type missions	new church plants	total members	members, resident	members, nonresident	baptisms	baptism ratio (members/baptism)	messengers, annual meeting	year
1950			73.97			47.78	50.07	42.32	108.59	44.00	24.91	1950
1951			75.30			49.76	52.15	44.07	108.43	45.89	19.84	1951
1952			76.84			51.52	50.70	53.47	102.33	50.35	33.49	1952
1953						53.22	51.99	56.13	104.48	50.94	39.65	1953
1954						55.13	53.28	59.53	114.59	48.11	33.50	1954
1955						57.19	57.36	56.78	120.37	47.51	33.11	1955
1956						58.77	59.65	56.66	111.06	52.92	37.44	1956
1957						60.51	62.21	56.45	112.53	53.77	27.83	1957
1958			83.84			62.13	64.02	57.63	117.78	52.75	36.56	1958
1959			84.93			64.01	66.47	58.15	123.89	51.67	37.66	1959
1960			85.85			65.67	67.67	60.91	111.59	58.85	41.59	1960
1961			86.77			67.34	69.59	61.98	116.46	57.82	34.04	1961
1962	77.78	96.27	87.56			68.79	70.73	64.15	110.16	62.44	28.71	1962
1963	77.78	97.10	88.18			70.16	72.12	65.49	102.60	68.38	39.63	1963
1964	77.78	98.18	88.88			71.54	74.24	65.11	108.11	66.17	40.14	1964
1965	80.56	98.09	89.96			72.70	75.50	66.03	104.42	69.62	49.05	1965
1966	80.56					73.89	76.56	67.53	104.23	70.89	31.82	1966
1967	80.56	98.34	90.90			75.19	75.94	73.42	109.42	68.72	45.20	1967
1968	80.56	99.09	91.29			76.47	79.03	70.38	107.71	71.00	46.05	1968
1969	83.33	99.09	91.40			77.54	80.02	71.62	106.33	72.92	50.96	1969
1970	88.89	98.76	91.46			78.48	81.00	72.50	106.51	73.69	41.84	1970
1971			91.68			79.81	81.29	76.28	118.29	67.47	41.91	1971
1972	91.67	98.51	91.93			81.43	84.19	74.88	128.70	63.27	40.19	1972
1973			92.28			82.99	85.53	76.93	119.54	69.42	27.11	1973
1974			92.46			84.46	87.10	78.19	118.53	71.26	55.58	1974
1975			92.91			85.94	88.59	79.64	121.80	70.56	50.18	1975
1976			93.36			87.21	89.72	81.23	111.02	78.55	56.95	1976
1977			93.85			88.29	90.50	83.03	99.82	88.45	49.72	1977
1978			94.24			89.06	90.96	84.54	97.03	91.78	69.89	1978
1979			94.78			90.29	92.04	86.11	106.47	84.80	48.16	1979
1980			95.38			91.82	93.60	87.59	124.09	74.00	42.30	1980
1981			96.04			93.06	94.95	88.54	117.12	79.45	41.34	1981
1982			96.63			94.46	96.44	89.77	118.84	79.49	62.50	1982
1983			97.24			95.73	97.38	91.79	113.94	84.01	41.98	1983
1984			97.80			96.84	98.23	93.51	107.42	90.14	52.25	1984
1985			98.43			97.76	98.69	95.55	101.37	96.44	139.09	1985
1986			98.80			98.65	99.43	96.80	104.85	94.09	125.24	1986
1987	102.78	100.17	99.25			99.39	99.66	98.73	97.74	101.69	78.24	1987
1988	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	1988
1989	100.00	100.17	100.58	127.08	109.86	100.64	100.17	101.76	101.38	99.27	62.37	1989
1990	100.00	100.08	101.08	117.10	114.80	101.52	101.23	102.22	111.18	91.32	117.34	1990
1991	100.00	100.33	101.74	108.65	117.84	102.83	102.98	102.48	114.54	89.78	71.70	1991
1992	100.00	100.41	102.37	102.71	135.89	103.69	104.07	102.79	106.22	97.62	54.87	1992
1993	100.00	100.83	103.13	86.60	157.40	103.96	104.83	101.87	100.79	103.14	54.29	1993
1994	100.00	100.66	106.24	90.77	136.10	105.41	106.32	103.25	109.28	96.46	62.24	1994
1995	102.78	100.75	106.80	86.58	152.99	105.73	106.35	104.27	113.71	92.98	63.11	1995
1996	105.56	100.91	108.11	77.25	157.82	105.91	102.64	113.69	109.54	96.69	41.88	1996
1997	105.56	100.41	108.84	112.13	144.91	107.24	103.63	115.85	118.97	90.14	37.94	1997
1998	105.56	100.41	108.79	82.75	156.24	106.15	102.90	113.89	117.60	90.26	26.22	1998
1999	108.33	99.50	109.40	80.80	183.32	106.97	106.44	108.25	121.09	88.35	35.30	1999
2000	108.33	99.42	110.70	112.75	176.39	107.71	106.77	109.93	119.73	89.96	36.42	2000
2001	108.33	99.75	112.69	106.09	148.48	108.33	106.46	112.79	114.32	94.76	29.21	2001
2002	108.33	99.25	113.86	116.97	168.52	109.64	107.23	115.39	114.03	96.16	29.36	2002
2003	111.11	98.92	114.53	109.98	150.68	110.10	108.73	113.35	108.96	101.04	21.62	2003
2004	113.89	98.67	115.70	108.30	186.88	109.78	108.91	111.83	112.02	98.00	26.28	2004
2005	113.89	97.93	116.32	110.43	181.01	109.80	108.71	112.39	107.37	102.26	35.57	2005
2006	113.89	98.18	117.72	112.71	152.99	110.04	109.66	110.94	105.34	104.46	35.56	2006
2007	113.89	98.26	118.98	112.99	152.68	109.77	107.90	114.24	99.89	109.89	26.37	2007
2008	113.89										22.24	2008
year	state conventions	local associations	churches	church-type missions	new church plants	total members	members, resident	members, nonresident	baptisms	baptism ratio (members/baptism)	messengers, annual meeting	year

Relative change in enrollment/attendance data, 1987=100 (or closest available year)

year worship attendance Sunday school enrollment Sunday school attendance Training Union enrollment WMU enrollment Brotherhood/RA enrollment music ministry enrollment seminaries, enrollment seminaries, graduate degrees awarded international missionaries home missionaries year

1950 63.51 72.27 85.84 31.92 1950

1951 66.41 77.98 90.32 35.32 1951

1952 69.41 84.13 95.02 40.81 1952

1953 72.80 92.79 1953

1954 80.35 103.32 24.46 1954

1955 83.95 111.60 1955

1956 86.25 116.36 1956

1957 88.13 121.13 1957

1958 89.70 125.59 115.95 110.84 33.18 33.50 1958

1959 91.98 130.82 120.95 117.46 35.71 42.49 1959

1960 93.32 133.65 123.31 117.81 38.27 53.17 1960

1961 94.89 136.65 124.31 119.52 40.03 51.61 1961

1962 95.69 137.81 123.71 119.51 44.61 42.05 54.19 1962

1963 96.20 137.86 125.04 120.77 48.46 46.63 58.06 1963

1964 96.96 136.53 125.38 114.88 52.08 49.16 61.98 1964

1965 96.82 130.92 122.08 91.95 49.16 53.53 65.85 1965

1966 96.11 1966

1967 95.80 128.42 119.98 87.11 57.45 58.88 59.21 1967

1968 95.38 136.69 116.92 85.39 58.53 61.31 62.32 1968

1969 93.76 132.84 107.25 81.89 59.89 64.44 62.32 1969

1970 92.15 125.10 99.66 80.40 60.68 64.68 58.06 1970

1971 90.27 1971

1972 90.73 95.10 102.54 93.50 86.44 1972

1973 90.79 96.48 1973

1974 90.89 97.39 1974

1975 92.04 100.50 1975

1976 94.27 101.70 1976

1977 93.93 98.38 1977

1978 92.75 96.75 1978

1979 92.50 96.83 73.42 1979

1980 93.96 99.21 1980

1981 95.16 100.17 1981

1982 97.06 100.98 1982

1983 98.79 99.78 1983

1984 99.32 99.19 1984

1985 100.62 100.89 1985

1986 100.41 101.53 1986

1987 100.39 100.75 98.00 99.46 109.03 97.99 101.21 99.30 97.88 1987

1988 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 1988

1989 100.31 99.47 101.63 99.88 100.99 100.89 92.81 97.75 99.50 1989

1990 101.24 100.76 110.66 99.51 113.00 103.57 91.78 99.90 119.49 1990

1991 100.00 103.44 102.45 110.47 99.73 114.50 105.73 87.82 101.01 128.61 1991

1992 100.66 104.44 102.50 111.65 98.92 116.91 106.32 81.98 100.67 127.20 1992

1993 100.67 104.23 102.93 116.77 95.44 116.80 105.80 79.69 101.99 127.57 1993

1994 96.12 104.45 98.16 111.55 91.76 122.93 103.81 77.59 105.46 128.38 1994

1995 99.63 103.75 97.92 108.94 88.15 142.59 106.07 81.19 107.03 126.91 1995

1996 106.97 104.18 98.79 117.75 88.98 146.38 107.96 81.00 107.76 126.26 1996

1997 114.08 102.89 102.23 122.57 82.72 99.39 102.96 76.47 109.85 127.15 1997

1998 117.88 102.99 102.08 127.28 82.33 100.03 103.30 71.99 118.18 125.82 1998

1999 118.31 102.98 103.21 99.13 75.55 84.69 93.96 71.48 124.52 131.30 1999

2000 121.07 103.48 104.63 110.77 74.10 92.75 93.28 75.82 127.90 132.77 2000

2001 125.14 103.43 105.74 103.86 71.24 80.42 96.35 83.47 130.77 134.67 2001

2002 127.52 103.33 107.30 105.37 80.00 82.90 93.48 84.97 139.02 135.98 2002

2003 128.26 103.57 107.78 100.39 70.79 79.66 95.93 85.29 138.92 135.25 2003

2004 131.55 103.73 108.86 112.22 80.39 80.53 92.10 91.55 133.57 133.94 2004

2005 132.16 101.99 108.48 83.65 66.86 73.88 88.91 90.71 130.23 140.16 2005

2006 134.05 100.26 109.44 75.43 67.37 71.62 82.64 87.68 132.09 134.65 2006

2007 134.27 99.56 83.48 64.67 72.57 81.44 136.31 137.73 2007

year worship attendance Sunday school enrollment Sunday school attendance Training Union enrollment WMU enrollment Brotherhood/RA enrollment music ministry enrollment seminaries, enrollment seminaries, graduate degrees awarded international missionaries home missionaries year

year	worship attendance	Sunday school enrollment	Sunday school attendance	Training Union enrollment	WMU enrollment	Brotherhood/RA enrollment	music ministry enrollment	seminaries, enrollment	seminaries, graduate degrees awarded	international missionaries	home missionaries	year
1950		63.51		72.27	85.84	31.92						1950
1951		66.41		77.98	90.32	35.32						1951
1952		69.41		84.13	95.02	40.81						1952
1953		72.80		92.79								1953
1954		80.35		103.32							24.46	1954
1955		83.95		111.60								1955
1956		86.25		116.36								1956
1957		88.13		121.13								1957
1958		89.70		125.59	115.95	110.84				33.18	33.50	1958
1959		91.98		130.82	120.95	117.46				35.71	42.49	1959
1960		93.32		133.65	123.31	117.81				38.27	53.17	1960
1961		94.89		136.65	124.31	119.52				40.03	51.61	1961
1962		95.69		137.81	123.71	119.51	44.61			42.05	54.19	1962
1963		96.20		137.86	125.04	120.77	48.46			46.63	58.06	1963
1964		96.96		136.53	125.38	114.88	52.08			49.16	61.98	1964
1965		96.82		130.92	122.08	91.95	49.16			53.53	65.85	1965
1966		96.11										1966
1967		95.80		128.42	119.98	87.11	57.45			58.88	59.21	1967
1968		95.38		136.69	116.92	85.39	58.53			61.31	62.32	1968
1969		93.76		132.84	107.25	81.89	59.89			64.44	62.32	1969
1970		92.15		125.10	99.66	80.40	60.68			64.68	58.06	1970
1971		90.27										1971
1972		90.73	95.10	102.54	93.50	86.44						1972
1973		90.79	96.48									1973
1974		90.89	97.39									1974
1975		92.04	100.50									1975
1976		94.27	101.70									1976
1977		93.93	98.38									1977
1978		92.75	96.75									1978
1979		92.50	96.83							73.42		1979
1980		93.96	99.21									1980
1981		95.16	100.17									1981
1982		97.06	100.98									1982
1983		98.79	99.78									1983
1984		99.32	99.19									1984
1985		100.62	100.89									1985
1986		100.41	101.53									1986
1987		100.39	100.75	98.00	99.46	109.03	97.99		101.21	99.30	97.88	1987
1988		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00		100.00	100.00	100.00	1988
1989		100.31	99.47	101.63	99.88	100.99	100.89		92.81	97.75	99.50	1989
1990		101.24	100.76	110.66	99.51	113.00	103.57		91.78	99.90	119.49	1990
1991	100.00	103.44	102.45	110.47	99.73	114.50	105.73		87.82	101.01	128.61	1991
1992	100.66	104.44	102.50	111.65	98.92	116.91	106.32		81.98	100.67	127.20	1992
1993	100.67	104.23	102.93	116.77	95.44	116.80	105.80		79.69	101.99	127.57	1993
1994	96.12	104.45	98.16	111.55	91.76	122.93	103.81		77.59	105.46	128.38	1994
1995	99.63	103.75	97.92	108.94	88.15	142.59	106.07		81.19	107.03	126.91	1995
1996	106.97	104.18	98.79	117.75	88.98	146.38	107.96		81.00	107.76	126.26	1996
1997	114.08	102.89	102.23	122.57	82.72	99.39	102.96		76.47	109.85	127.15	1997
1998	117.88	102.99	102.08	127.28	82.33	100.03	103.30		71.99	118.18	125.82	1998
1999	118.31	102.98	103.21	99.13	75.55	84.69	93.96		71.48	124.52	131.30	1999
2000	121.07	103.48	104.63	110.77	74.10	92.75	93.28		75.82	127.90	132.77	2000
2001	125.14	103.43	105.74	103.86	71.24	80.42	96.35		83.47	130.77	134.67	2001
2002	127.52	103.33	107.30	105.37	80.00	82.90	93.48		84.97	139.02	135.98	2002
2003	128.26	103.57	107.78	100.39	70.79	79.66	95.93		85.29	138.92	135.25	2003
2004	131.55	103.73	108.86	112.22	80.39	80.53	92.10		91.55	133.57	133.94	2004
2005	132.16	101.99	108.48	83.65	66.86	73.88	88.91		90.71	130.23	140.16	2005
2006	134.05	100.26	109.44	75.43	67.37	71.62	82.64		87.68	132.09	134.65	2006
2007	134.27	99.56		83.48	64.67	72.57	81.44			136.31	137.73	2007
year	worship attendance	Sunday school enrollment	Sunday school attendance	Training Union enrollment	WMU enrollment	Brotherhood/RA enrollment	music ministry enrollment	seminaries, enrollment	seminaries, graduate degrees awarded	international missionaries	home missionaries	year

Sources:

Baker, Robert A., 1974, The Southern Baptist Convention and Its People, 1607-1972, Broadman Press (Nashville, TN).
Barnes, W. W., 1954, The Southern Baptist Convention, 1845-1953: The First History of a Great Denomination, Broadman Press (Nashville, TN).
Day, William H. Jr., 2003, "The state of membership growth, Sunday School, and evangelism in the Southern Baptist Convention 1900-2002," Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry, 1(2):107-121, on line at Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry [http://baptistcenter.com/Journal%20Articles/Fall%202003/07%20The%20State%20of%20Membership%20Growth%20-%20Fall%202003.pdf].
Fletcher, Jesse C., 1994, The Southern Baptist Convention: A Sesquicentennial History, Broadman Press (Nashville, TN).
Kummer, Tony, 30 April 2008, "Sunday School domination and decline," Said at Southern, on line [http://saidatsouthern.com/sunday-school-domination-decline/].
Lifeway, 2008, "SBC Totals--1971-2006," Lifeway, on line [].
Lifeway, 2008, "2007 Southern Baptist Convention Statistical Summary," Lifeway, on line [].
Nale, Billy, 2007, "The Sunday School as a Viable Tool for Church Growth in the 21st Century," D.Min. thesis, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (Lynchburg, VA), on line at LBTS [http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1093&context=doctoral].
SBC Executive Committee, SBC Annual 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, SBC (Nashville, TN).
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