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

2. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use2 The first 38 slides are from 5 “State of the Church” Powerpoints of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. 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.

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 Maine Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in Maine?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Maine 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. Maine has an average church attendance percentage (11.2%), much lower than the national average (18.7%).

6. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use6

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 Maine.

8. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use8 5.3% Waldo 6.3% Sagadahoc 7.0% Oxford 8.0% Lincoln 9.3% Knox 9.5% Piscataquis 9.7% Somerset 10.0% Washington 10.0% Franklin 10.6% Kennebec 10.7% Hancock 10.8% Penobscot 10.8% York 11.9% Cumberland 15.1% Androscoggin 17.6% Aroostook 0.0% to 9.5% 9.5% to 10.7% 10.7% to 18.6% Maine Counties 2000 Percentage of Population at Christian Churches Beige = Higher Rose = Medium Blue = Lower

9. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use9 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in Maine. 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. Five counties have declined in population over the last decade.

10. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use10 17,235 Piscataquis 29,467 Franklin 33,616 Lincoln 33,941 Washington 35,214 Sagadahoc 36,280 Waldo 39,618 Knox 50,888 Somerset 51,791 Hancock 54,755 Oxford 73,938 Aroostook 103,793 Androscoggin 117,114 Kennebec 144,919 Penobscot 186,742 York 265,612 Cumberland 0 to 36,280 36,280 to 73,938 73,938 to 265,613 Maine Counties 2000 Population

11. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use11 -12,998 Aroostook -1,682 Penobscot -1,466 Androscoggin -1,418 Piscataquis -1,367 Washington 459 Franklin 1,121 Somerset 1,210 Kennebec 1,679 Sagadahoc 2,153 Oxford 3,259 Lincoln 3,262 Waldo 3,308 Knox 4,843 Hancock 22,155 York 22,477 Cumberland -13,000 to 0 0 to 5,000 5,000 to 22,478 Maine Counties 1990-2000 Population Growth or Decline

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

13. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use13

14. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use14

15. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use15

16. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use16 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in New Hampshire in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals, Catholics and total worship attendance has grown slightly. Mainline has declined. Unfortunately, as overall worship attendance has slowly increased, 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, except for Evangelical churches where the percentage has remained constant.

17. © 2004 by David T. Olson

19. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use19 The Next Graph is a Pie graph visualizing the percentage of the population at churches in each category in 2000. The “Absent” category indicates the percentage of the population that is not worshipping at a Christian church on any given weekend. The second graph shows the percentage gain or decline for each category in Vermont in 1990 and 2000.

20. © 2004 by David T. Olson

22. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use22 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in Massachusetts. The first chart illustrates the huge influence of the Catholic church. The second and third charts show the significant decline of denominations in Massachusetts, with the exception of the Pentecostal, Reformed and Lutheran churches.

26. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use26 The Next Chart shows the 1990 & 2000 average church attendance by group for both this state and the nation. The second chart shows the 1990 & 2000 population per church for this state and the nation. Among states in 2000, Arkansas has the lowest population per church with 411 people per church, Utah is the highest at 4,586 people per church.

27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27

28. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use28

29. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use29 The Next 3 Maps show the attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in Massachusetts in 2000.

30. Massachusetts Counties Percentage of Population at Worship in Evangelical Churches on any Given Weekend Blue = Lowest Rose = Middle Beige = Highest 0.0% Nantucket 1.3% Hampshire 1.5% Franklin 1.6% Berkshire 1.6% Barnstable 1.7% Norfolk 1.7% Dukes 1.9% Essex 2.1% Middlesex 2.6% Bristol 2.7% Plymouth 2.9% Worcester 3.0% Hampden 6.5% Suffolk 0.0% to 1.7% 1.7% to 2.7% 2.7% to 7.5%

31. Massachusetts Counties Percentage of Population at Worship in Mainline Churches on a Given Weekend Blue = Lowest Rose = Middle Beige = Highest 0.7% Suffolk 1.4% Bristol 1.9% Middlesex 2.0% Plymouth 2.2% Hampshire 2.2% Hampden 2.2% Norfolk 2.3% Essex 2.5% Worcester 2.9% Barnstable 3.3% Berkshire 3.9% Franklin 5.2% Dukes 6.3% Nantucket 0.0% to 2.2% 2.2% to 3.3% 3.3% to 7.3%

32. Massachusetts Counties Percentage of Population at Worship in Catholic Churches on a Given Weekend Blue = Lowest Rose = Middle Beige = Highest 3.4% Nantucket 4.5% Hampshire 4.6% Barnstable 6.7% Worcester 7.0% Plymouth 7.3% Suffolk 8.1% Essex 8.1% Bristol 8.8% Middlesex 9.5% Norfolk 10.1% Berkshire 10.2% Hampden 10.8% Dukes 11.4% Franklin 0.0% to 7.3% 7.3% to 10.1% 10.1% to 12.4%

33. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use33 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. One county grew in attendance percentage, while seven counties declined.

34. -30.3% Windham -18.3% New Haven -15.9% Hartford -14.2% Fairfield -11.5% New London -10.8% Litchfield -8.0% Middlesex 10.5% Tolland -100.0% to 0.0% 0.0% to 100.0% Connecticut Counties Growth or Decline in Percentage of Population at Christian churches from 1990 - 2000

35. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use35 The Next 3 Maps show the growth or decline of attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in Connecticut between 1990 and 2000. For evangelicals, 6 counties grew in attendance percentage, while 2 counties declined. For mainline churches, all 8 counties declined. For Catholics, one counties grew in attendance percentage, while 7 counties declined.

36. -2.4% Fairfield -0.4% New London 1.8% New Haven 1.8% Windham 6.8% Hartford 7.3% Middlesex 14.1% Litchfield 19.2% Tolland -100.0% to 0.0% 0.0% to 100.0% Connecticut Counties Growth or Decline in Percentage of Population at Evangelical churches from 1990 - 2000

37. -21.3% Windham -13.3% New Haven -11.0% Fairfield -10.3% Hartford -8.3% Tolland -8.3% New London -5.6% Litchfield -5.3% Middlesex -100.0% to 0.0% 0.0% to 100.0% Connecticut Counties Growth or Decline in Percentage of Population at Mainline churches from 1990 - 2000

38. -36.0% Windham -24.5% New Haven -23.8% Hartford -19.1% Fairfield -16.4% New London -16.0% Litchfield -11.7% Middlesex 17.9% Tolland -100.0% to 0.0% 0.0% to 100.0% Connecticut Counties Growth or Decline in Percentage of Population at Catholic churches from 1990 - 2000

39. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use39 The Final Chart shows the net gain in the number of churches in Connecticut in the past decade. There was a net gain of 5 churches. However, 78 churches were needed to keep up with population growth from 1990 - 2000.

40. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use40

41. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use41 The Complete Maine Powerpoint available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UME20.htm. The Complete New Hampshire Powerpoint available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UNH20.htm. The Complete Vermont Powerpoint available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UVT20.htm. The Complete Massachusetts Powerpoint available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UMA20.htm. The Complete Connecticut Powerpoint available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UCT20.htm. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UME20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UNH20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UVT20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UMA20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UCT20.htm

42. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use42 The next 38 slides are from the 3 “State of the Church” Powerpoints of the Burlington, Boston and Hartford Metro Areas. Each 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.

43. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use43 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in the Burlington area. The Burlington MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) consists of Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties.

44. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use44 Burlington Metro Area 2000 Percentage of the Population Attending a Christian Church on Any Given Weekend 14.5% Grand Isle 14.0% Franklin 15.6% Chittenden

45. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use45 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in the Burlington area. 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.

46. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use46 Burlington Metro Area 2000 Population 6,901 Grand Isle 45,417 Franklin 146,571 Chittenden

47. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use47 Burlington Metro Area 1990 - 2000 Population Growth or Decline 1,583 Grand Isle 5,437 Franklin 14,810 Chittenden

48. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use48 The Next 2 Slides show the ethnicity of the Burlington area in 1990 and 2000. The third slide shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population for each ethnic group.

49. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use49

50. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use50

51. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use51

52. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use52 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Boston metro in 1990 and 2000. Because 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. Evangelical church attendance has grown over the last decade both numerically and in the percentage of the population attending church, while Mainline, Catholics and total numbers have declined.

53. © 2004 by David T. Olson

55. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use55 The Next Graph is a Pie graph visualizing the percentage of the population at churches in each category in 2000. The “Absent” category indicates the percentage of the population that is not worshipping at a Christian church on any given weekend. The second graph shows the percentage gain or decline for each category in the Boston metro area in 1990 and 2000.

56. © 2004 by David T. Olson

58. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use58 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in the Boston metro area. The first chart illustrates the huge influence of the Catholic church. The second and third charts show the significant decline of denominations in the Boston metro area, with the exception of the Baptist, Pentecostal and Reformed churches.

59. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use59

60. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use60

61. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use61

62. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use62 The Next 3 Maps show the attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in the Hartford metro area in 2000.

63. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use63 Hartford Metro Area 2000 Evangelical Percentage 1.9% Toland 4.1% Hartford 2.1% Middlesex

64. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use64 Hartford Metro Area 2000 Mainline Percentage 3.4% Toland 3.6% Hartford 4.2% Middlesex

65. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use65 Hartford Metro Area 2000 Catholic Percentage 8.7% Toland 10.6% Hartford 10.1% Middlesex

66. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use66 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. 1 counties in the Hartford metro area grew in attendance percentage, 2 declined.

67. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use67 Hartford Metro Area 1990 – 2000 Growth or Decline in Christian Church Attendance +10.5% Toland -15.9% Hartford -8.0% Middlesex

68. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use68 The Next 3 Maps show the growth or decline of attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in the Hartford metro area between 1990 and 2000. For evangelicals, 3 counties grew in attendance percentage, none declined. For Mainline churches, no county grew in attendance percentage, 4 declined. For Catholics, one county grew in attendance percentage, 3 declined.

69. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use69 Hartford Metro Area 1990 – 2000 Growth or Decline in Evangelical Church Attendance +19.2% Toland +6.8% Hartford +7.3% Middlesex

70. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use70 Hartford Metro Area 1990 – 2000 Growth or Decline in Mainline Church Attendance -8.3% Toland -10.3% Hartford -5.3% Middlesex

71. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use71 Hartford Metro Area 1990 – 2000 Growth or Decline in Catholic Church Attendance +17.9% Toland -23.8% Hartford -11.7% Middlesex

72. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use72 The Next Chart shows the net gain in the number of churches in Hartford Metro area in the past decade. There was a net gain of 27 churches as evangelicals started a relatively large number of churches over the last decade. This was more than was needed to keep up with the small population growth of the Hartford metro area.

73. © 2004 by David T. Olson

74. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use74 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%.

75. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use75 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 Burlington Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Burlington.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Burlington.htm The Complete Boston Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Boston.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Boston.htm The Complete Hartford Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Hartford.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Hartford.htm The New England Combo Pack (12 Surprising Facts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Burlington, Boston and Hartford Powerpoints) is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/NewEngland.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/NewEngland.htm