1. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use1 A Sample Presentation of The State of the Church in Illinois and Chicago & St. Louis Metro Areas 1990-2000 Dave Olson www.TheAmericanChurch.org

2. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use2 The first 19 slides are from the “State of the Church in Illinois” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UFL20.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/UFL20.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 Illinois Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in Illinois?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Illinois 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. Illinois has an attendance percentage (20.3%) that is higher than the average for the nation (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 Illinois.

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9. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use9 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in Illinois. 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. The blue counties declined in population.

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12. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use12 The Next 2 Slides show the ethnicity of Illinois 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 Illinois in 1990 and 2000. Evangelical churches have grown slightly and Mainline and Catholic churches have declined. Unfortunately, as overall worship attendance has remained quite stable, 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.

17. © 2004 by David T. Olson

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 Illinois. The Pie Chart shows how much Catholics predominate in Illinois. The second and third charts show that all groups have declined with the exception of the Pentecostals.

22. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use22 The Complete Illinois Powerpoint is 43 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIL20.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/UIL20.htm

23. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use23 The next 7 slides are from the “State of the Church in Chicago” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 49 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Chicago.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/Chicago.htm

24. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use24 The Next Map shows the attendance numbers of churches in the Chicago Metro Area for 1990 and 2000. There has been slow growth for Evangelical churches and slow decline for Mainline and Catholics churches. However, as 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.

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27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27 The Next Map shows the net increase in the number of churches in the Chicago Metro Area from 1990 - 2000. The net increase equals the number of new churches started minus the number of closed churches. There was a net gain of 68 churches. However, to keep up with the population growth in the Chicago metro area, there would have needed to have been a net gain of 593 churches from 1990 - 2000. This chart reveals a net gain smaller than needed to keep with population growth. Since closure rates of churches tend to remain constant, the low numbers reflect an inadequate number of new churches started.

29. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use29 The First Factor to evaluate is the Percentage of the Population that attends a worship service on any given weekend. The first map shows the 2000 percentage for all Christian churches in each county.

30. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use30 The Chicago Metro Area Percentage of Population Attending Worship On Any Given Weekend 19.2% Kane 19.5% Will 18.5% Cook 18.2% Lake 14.8% McHenry 21.4% Du Page Beige = Higher Rose = Middle Blue = Lower

31. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use31 The Complete Chicago Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Chicago.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/Chicago.htm

32. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use32 The next 7 slides are from the “State of the Church in St. Louis” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 49 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/StLouis.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/StLouis.htm

33. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use33 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the St. Louis area in 1990 and 2000. Evangelical churches have grown, while Mainline and Catholic churches have declined 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.

34. © 2004 by David T. Olson

36. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use36 The Next Chart show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in St. Louis area.

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38. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use38 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. No counties in the St. Louis area grew in attendance percentage and twelve declined.

39. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use39 St. Louis Metro Area 1990 – 2000 Growth or Decline in Christian Church Attendance -9.5% Saint Louis City -9.4% Warren -27.5% Lincoln -4.2% Franklin -3.6% Saint Louis -7.5% Jefferson -6.6% Saint Charles -3.5% Saint Clair -24.0% Jersey -13.1% Clinton -33.2% Monroe -13.7% Madison

40. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use40 The Complete St. Louis Powerpoint is 46 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/StLouis.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/StLouis.htm

41. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use41 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%.

42. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use42 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 Illinois Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIL20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIL20.htm The complete Chicago Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Chicago.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Chicago.htm The complete St. Louis Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/StLouis.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/StLouis.htm