Membership dips in US
but rises in other nations


NASHVILLE (Tennessee) - US membership in the United Methodist Church decreased by less than 1 per cent in 2004, and worship attendance experienced a similar dip, according to a report from the denomination's finance agency.


The number of United Methodist members in the United States decreased by 0.81 per cent, to about 8.07 million, and worship attendance was down by 0.96 per cent from 2003, according to the General Council on Finance and Administration's report, "The State of Our Connection".


Membership has declined annually since the formation of the denomination in 1968. During the last 10-year period, the number of members churchwide decreased by 5.48 per cent.


Countering the US decline, United Methodist lay membership in the central conferences - regions of the church in Africa, Asia and Europe - increased more than 68 per cent from 1995 to 2004, to 1.88 million. - United Methodist News Service.