1. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use1 A Sample Presentation of The State of the Church in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee and Madison Metro Areas 1990-2000 Dave Olson www.TheAmericanChurch.org

2. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use2 The first 22 slides are from the “State of the Church in Wisconsin” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm

3. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use3 In 1996, polls taken immediately after the Presidential election revealed that 58% of people claimed they had voted, when in reality only 49% actually did. This is called the Halo Effect. People tend to over-inflate their participation in activities that create acceptability within their social group. For many decades, pollsters such as Gallup and Barna have reported that around 45% of Americans attend church every Sunday. But there is a religious Halo Effect. Actual attendance counts have shown that the percentage of people attending church on any given weekend is much lower than was previously thought.

4. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use4 The Intent of this presentation is to answer and then expand on two key questions: “How Many People Really Attend Church in Wisconsin Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in Wisconsin?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Wisconsin will begin to take shape.

5. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use5 This study uses weekend church attendance as a more reliable and more immediate snapshot of Christian influence than membership. The following map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in all 50 states in 2000. Wisconsin has an average church attendance percentage (24.6%) much higher than the national average (18.7%).

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7. 7 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in Wisconsin.

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9. 9 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in Wisconsin. The first map shows the population size of each county. The second map shows the growth or decline in population for each county from 1990 - 2000.

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12. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use12 The Next 2 Maps show the ethnicity of Wisconsin in 1990 and 2000. The third slide shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population for each ethnic group.

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16. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use16 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in Wisconsin in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals have grown in attendance, Mainline and Catholics have significantly declined. Unfortunately, as overall worship attendance has declined, the population has grown. A more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph. This graph reflects a significant decrease in the percentage of the population attending church among all three groups.

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19. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use19 The 2 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in Wisconsin. The first chart illustrates the strong influence of the Catholic church, followed by the Lutheran church. The second chart shows the significant decline of all denominations in Wisconsin, with the exception of the Pentecostal and Three Sisters churches. (The 3 Sisters are 3 similar evangelical denominations originally from Sweden, the Baptist General Conference, the Evangelical Free Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church.)

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21. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use21 The Next Map shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend from 1990 to 2000 for each county. 3 counties grew in attendance percentage, while 69 counties declined.

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23. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use23 The Final Chart shows the net gain in the number of churches in Wisconsin in the past decade. There was a net loss of 59 churches. However, 532 churches were needed to keep up with population growth in Wisconsin from 1990 - 2000.

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25. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use25 The Complete Wisconsin Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm

26. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use26 The next 10 slides are from the “State of the Church in Milwaukee” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm

27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Milwaukee metro in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals grew in attendance numbers, while Catholics and Mainline groups have declined over the last decade. As population has grown however, a more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph.

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31. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use31 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in Milwaukee metro area.

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35. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use35 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in the Milwaukee area.

36. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use36 Milwaukee Metro Area 2000 Percentage of the Population Attending a Christian Church on Any Given Weekend 21.0% Milwaukee 26.7% Ozaukee 23.6% Washington 21.5% Waukesha

37. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use37 The Complete Milwaukee Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm

38. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use38 The next 7 slides are from the “State of the Church in Madison” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm

39. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use39 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Madison metro in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals, Mainline and Catholics all grew in attendance numbers. As population has grown however, a more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph.

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46. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use46 The Next Chart shows the 1990 & 2000 average church attendance by group for the Madison area and the nation. The second chart shows the 1990 & 2000 population per church for the Madison area and the nation.

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48. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use48 The Complete Madison Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm

49. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use49 This Presentation is based on a nationwide study of American church attendance, as reported by churches and denominations. The database currently has average worship attendances for each of the last 10 years for over 200,000 individual churches. It also uses supplementary information (actual membership numbers correlated with accurate membership to attendance ratios) to project the attendances of all other denominational and independent churches. All told, accurate information is provided for over 300,000 orthodox Christian churches. 1 1 This presentation looks only at people attending orthodox Christian churches. Approximately 3 million people attend non-orthodox Christian churches, and perhaps 3 million attend a religious service of another religion. Those ‘houses of worship’ would add another 35,000 churches in the United States and increase the 2000 percentage to 20.5%.

50. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use50 For More Information... Please go to www.theamericanchurch.org for additional information on the American Church.www.theamericanchurch.org 12 Surprising Facts about the American Church is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/ 12supm. htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/ 12supm. htm The complete Wisconsin Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UWI20.htm The Complete Milwaukee Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Milwaukee.htm The Complete Madison Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Madison.htm A Combo Pack (12 Surprising Facts, Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Madison Powerpoints) is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/WI0.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/WI0.htm