Despite the overall slowdown in growth rate, positive developments in the 1994-2002 time frame include the internationalization of both churches and membership, and an aggressive church planting effort that established churches in highly challenging environments for new churches. Although membership losses after 2002 were unprecedented, this chart shows how they were the continuation of a trend that had been in effect for almost a decade. See additional charts and analysis.
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*Note on 2004 Membership Estimate
After 2002, no mechanism existed for central collection of membership data. In late 2004, this website and DisciplesToday initiated a cooperative effort to conduct a voluntary survey of affiliated churches. We were able to obtain data for churches whose 2002 membership comprised almost 93% of the ICOC's total 2002 membership. The combined membership loss for churches for which we had obtained data was then applied to the 2002 membership of remaining congregations to arrive at an estimate of 2004 membership. The data file showing the method of this calculation, and the actual survey results, is available for download.
