The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-10-16
Lutheran Church Membership
Nearing 100000 Mark

neafeu tue SeVen-mlllOn mark ii
total membership during 1853.
According to the annual statisti
cal summary compiled by the Di
vision of Public Relations of the
National Lutheran Council, Luther
an Churches in the United State,
and Canada reported $3.50 ,O66
members in 1858, an increase d,
95,121 or 2.9 per cent over the pre-.
vious year. This has been the aver.
age gain during the past five
years.
Comprising the third largest Pro,
testant UNCONVENTIONAL grouping in
America, the Lutheran Churches
are exceeded in members only the
Baptists and Methodists. Of the to-
tai Lutherans, $685., 1S1 are located
in the United States and 202, 1886 in
Canada. The latter are affiliated
with church bodies in the U. S.
The Councils summary is based
on statistics supplied by sixteen
Lutheran bodies, plus the Negro
Missions conducted by four groups
, associated in the Synodical Con-
ference. Of the sixteen bodies, ten
recorded gains In membership IN
1858, while six showed no change
as their figures were taken from
statistics compiled in previous
years. A slight loss was reported
by Negro Missions.
Bapfisms Increase
The increase in baptized men,
bership Of 1921 for 1858, distri-
buted among the 1905 congrega-
tons, represents an average in
crease Of lis new members per
local church, compared to III in
1852, 1914 in 1851, 10 in 1850, and
II in 1949. Confirmed or adult
membership increased by 1O6,s35
persons to q grand total of 1885,
us gain of .2.3 per cent.
This would indicate an average
accession of 6.3 adult members per
congregation in 1853, compared to
six in 1852, 81 in 1851, 81 in 1850.
and SIS in 1949.
For the ninth consecutive year,
the highest numerical increase was
made by the Lutheran Church -
Missouri Synod, with a gain Of So
226 baptized members or 81 per
cent over 1852. With a membership
OF 1916, $40, the Missouri Synod is
the second largest Lutheran body
In America.
Over. the past nine years, the
synod has added 77,139 members,
an average of 53,015 annually.
Grace lutheran Church, Flagler
Avenue and 10th Street is a men,
Der of this body, the Lutheran
Church Missouri Synod.
Greatest Percentage
Among the major bodies, the
American Lutheran Church showed
the greatest advance on a percent
age basis, its 33,546 additions re-
presenting gain of AZ per cent.
The A.L.C., with 1874, 535 members,
is the fourth largest Lutheran body.
The Evangelical Lutheran
Church, which up to 1853 showed
the greatest gain ,on a percentage
basis for seven successive years,
reported an increase of 12,716
members or Ia per cent in 1853.
The United Lutheran Church in
America, largest Of the bodies, re.
ported an increase of IS, APT mem
bers or 81 per cent to a total mem
bership of 2,143,372.
Negro Mission, conducted by the
Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod,
Norwegian Synod and Sloyak
Church, reported a decrease of II
members or or per cent to 500.
Parish Education
In the field Of parish education,
the Churches enrolled a record to.
tai of 2,9s6,923 pupils, 1881 more
than in 1852. They were taught by
2S8,550 teachers, a gain of Sc, 26s, in
29,466 schools, gain of 1879.
A breakdown of figures for this
branch of church activity revealed
1Cl11 Sunday schools with IDOL.
s75 pupils and 236,602 teachers; l..
662 release time schools with a..
622 pupils and 5,012 teachers; O.,
S46 vacation Bible schools with
667,0 3S pupils and 42,526 teachers;
and 1,526 parochial schools with
1928 pupils and 4,41O teachers
Most of the parochial or Chris.
tan Day schools were conducted
by the Lutheran Church Missouri
Synod, with l,155, the Joint Synod
of Wisconsin, with 1893, and the
American Lutheran Church, witt
So.
The number of ordained minis
ters rose to 1858, an increase o.
324 over 1852. Of these, l1,947, o.
800 more than the previous year
were serving pastorates in 1858.
122 New Churches
A total of 122 churches was or
ganized, 20 more than in 1852, Il
raise the number of congregation.
to 17,O06, while the total of preach
ing stations showed an increase
for the first time in a decade, ris
ing by IS to a total of $50.
Property valuation passed The
billion dollar mark for the SECOND
straight year with an increase O
$94.7O5. 1888 or So per cent to a re
Nord hioh of e. Tx CIT 07c A. Al.