1. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use1 A Sample Presentation of The State of the Church in Iowa and the Des Moines 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 Iowa” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 43 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIA20.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/UIA20.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 Iowa Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in Iowa?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Iowa 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. Iowa has an attendance percentage (24.7%) that is much higher than the average for the nation (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 Iowa. Church attendance is much higher in the north than the south.

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

12. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use12 The Next 2 Slides show the ethnicity of Iowa 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 Iowa in 1990 and 2000. Evangelicals have grown in attendance, while Catholics and the mainline have 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.

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 Iowa. 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 Iowa Powerpoint is 43 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIA20.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/UIA20.htm

23. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use23 The next 3 slides are from the “State of the Church in Des Moines” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/DesMoines.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/DesMoines.htm

24. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use24 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Des Moines area in 1990 and 2000. Evangelical, Mainline and Catholic churches have all grown in attendance numbers. However, as population has grown rapidly, 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.

25. © 2004 by David T. Olson

27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27 The Next Chart shows the net increase in the number of churches in the Des Moines 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 24 churches. However, to keep up with the population growth in the Des Moines area, there would have needed to have been a net gain of 78 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.

28. © 2004 by David T. Olson

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 the Des Moines area in 2000.

30. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use30 Des Moines Metro Area 2000 Evangelical Percentage 6.3% Warren 4.0% Dallas 9.5% Polk

31. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use31 Des Moines Metro Area 2000 Mainline Percentage 7.1% Warren 5.2% Dallas 6.3% Polk

32. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use32 Des Moines Metro Area 2000 Catholic Percentage 17.3% Warren 6.3% Dallas 5.3% Polk

33. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use33 The Complete Des Moines Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/DesMoines.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/DesMoines.htm

34. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use34 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%.

35. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use35 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 Iowa Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIA20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/UIA20.htm The Complete Des Moines Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/DesMoines.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/DesMoines.htm A Combo Pack (12 Surprising Facts, Iowa and Des Moines Powerpoints) is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/IA0.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/IA0.htm