Reports - Central Illinois District - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Since 2000 mission funds sent to district and synod from congregations has reduced from13.79% to 15.68%.The reasons generally offered:∑ TIM (Together in Missions) in the 1990’s. Congregations supporting a particularforeign mission or missionary. Funds sent directly to LCMS Missions.∑ Current LCMS Foreign Missions- Missionaries raise their support from congregationsfor activity for their financial support.∑ Higher cost of running a congregation.∑ The shrinking pool of givers (National Study showed that across the U.S.A there is ashrinking pool on 10% or more givers of their income.)Last Study to present was recently sent to all the districts of National LCMS Synod. Thesestatistics are from LCMS Headquarters for Synod and the individual district from 1971 to2006 (25 year period). The study shows the decline has been more that just recent years.1. Membership Changes1971- 2006 (25years) LCMS CIDBaptized -16.26% -0.64%Communicants -7.96% 5.77%2. Sunday School Enrollment1971- 2006 (25years) LCMS CIDSunday School -43.33% -39.68%3. Worship attendancea. This one is a little harder to quantify from their (LCMS) studies as it shows adecline in worships attendance in National Synod and CID. The study doesn’tshow how this relates to the average size of a congregation.b. Other national studies have shown a deep drop in worship attendance from the 40%level into the teens and 20% level. (In relation to membership size.)i. LCMS appears to have dropped from 40% into low 30%.ii. CID appears to have dropped from 48% average to about 39%.c. These are averages and there are some growing churches in word/sacramentministry.Thus, in general way what are the statistics telling us without point fingers at any one.∑ General membership overall is down in the last 25 years.∑ Sunday School Enrollment is significantly down. Often cited is smaller families withkids, but also few Adults attending. Also broken or blend families as a result ofdivorce and remarriage often a problem to where the child attends or not.∑ Worship attendance is down. (While many sight reasons such as: “snow-birds aresouth in winter;” or “society is mobile and fluid;” studies show all worship is down.)Also cited is the lack of denominational loyalty.2009 Convention Section B – Reports Page 36