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

2. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use2 The first 21 slides are from the “State of the Church in Pennsylvania” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UPA20.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/UPA20.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 Pennsylvania Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in Pennsylvania?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania has an average church attendance percentage (20.5%) slightly 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 Pennsylvania.

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9. 9 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in Pennsylvania. The first map shows the population of each county. The second map shows the growth or decline in population for each county from 1990 - 2000. Nineteen counties have declined in population over the last decade.

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12. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use12 The Next 2 Slides show the ethnicity of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals have grown numerically over the last decade. Mainline and Catholic churches and total attendance have declined numerically. As population grows, 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, with the exception of Evangelical churches.

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19. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use19 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in Pennsylvania. The first chart illustrates the huge influence of the Catholic church. The second and third charts show the significant decline of all denominations in Pennsylvania, with the exception of Baptist and Pentecostal churches.

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21. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use21 The Next 3 Maps show the growth or decline of attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in Pennsylvania between 1990 and 2000. For evangelicals, 38 counties grew in attendance percentage, while 29 counties declined. For Mainline churches, 1 county grew in attendance percentage, while 66 counties declined. For Catholics, 17 counties grew in attendance percentage, while 50 counties declined.

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25. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use25 The Complete Pennsylvania Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UNJ20.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/UNJ20.htm

26. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use26 The next 8 slides are from the “State of the Church in Pittsburgh” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Pittsburgh.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/Pittsburgh.htm

27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Pittsburgh 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 Next 3 Maps show the attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in the Pittsburgh metro area in 2000.

32. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use32 Pittsburgh Metro Area 2000 Evangelical Percentage 5.5% Allegheny 5.2% Beaver 3.3% Washington 4.5% Westmoreland 5.7% Fayette 4.9% Butler

33. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use33 Pittsburgh Metro Area 2000 Mainline Percentage 4.6% Allegheny 5.5% Beaver 5.9% Washington 5.9% Westmoreland 4.9% Fayette 6.7% Butler

34. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use34 Pittsburgh Metro Area 2000 Catholic Percentage 11.6% Allegheny 8.3% Beaver 8.2% Washington 13.3% Westmoreland 9.0% Fayette 7.1% Butler

35. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use35 The Complete Pittsburgh Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Pittsburgh.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/Pittsburgh.htm

36. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use36 The next 9 slides are from the “State of the Church in Philadelphia ” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Philadelphia.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/Philadelphia.htm

37. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use37 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Philadelphia 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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40. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use40 The Next Chart shows the 1990 & 2000 average church attendance by group for both this metro area and the nation. The second chart shows the 1990 & 2000 population per church for this metro area and the nation. This shows how many people live in this metro area for every Christian church. Among states in 2000, Arkansas is the lowest at 411 people per church, while Utah is the highest at 4,586 people per church.

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43. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use43 Philadelphia Metro Area 1990 - 2000 Population Growth or Decline 3,213 Delaware 56,461 Bucks 57,105 Chester 71,986 Montgomery -1,009 Salem 24,591 Gloucester -68,027 Philadelphia 28,328 Burlington 6,108 Camden

44. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use44 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in the Philadelphia area.

45. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use45 Philadelphia Metro Area 2000 Percentage of the Population Attending a Christian Church on Any Given Weekend 21.1% Delaware 18.4% Bucks 19.2% Chester 19.4% Montgomery 14.0% Salem 15.6% Gloucester 19.6% Philadelphia 16.2% Burlington 14.8% Camden

46. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use46 The Complete Philadelphia Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Philadelphia.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/Philadelphia.htm

47. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use47 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%.

48. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use48 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 Pennsylvania Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UPA20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UPA20.htm The Complete Pittsburgh Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Pittsburgh.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Pittsburgh.htm The Complete Philadelphia Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Philadelphia.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Philadelphia.htm A Combo Pack (12 Surprising Facts, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh & Philadelphia Powerpoints) is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/PA0.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/PA0.htm