While overall membership may be increasing, only five of the top 25 churches in the nation are growing, according to the 2010 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.
According to a Feb. 22, 2010, RNS report, the 10 largest Christian bodies remain unchanged from last year’s list with one exception. The Assemblies of God moved up a notch to the No. 9 spot, switching places with the Presbyterian Church (USA), which now finishes last on the Top 10 list. (The Yearbook includes Mormons among the listing of Christian churches.)
The 10 largest Christian bodies reported in the 2010 Yearbook are:
1. The Catholic Church: 68.1 million, up 1.49 percent.
2. Southern Baptist Convention: 16.2 million, down 0.24 percent.
3. The United Methodist Church: 7.8 million (U.S.), down 0.98 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 5.9 million (U.S.), up 1.71 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million, no change.
6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. Inc: 5 million, no change.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 4.6 million, down 1.62 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America Inc.: 3.5 million, no change.
9. Assemblies of God: 2.9 million, up 1.27 percent.
10. Presbyterian Church (USA): 2.8 million, down 3.3 percent.