Year
1987
1989
1991
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2004*
Members
4,301
19,172
36,832
47,407
58,694
73,986
86,020
95,545
108,497
119,084
128,809
134,260
135,046
104,416
Total Membership, 1987-2004
In the late 1980's churches affiliated with the Boston Church of Christ began growing rapidly in number and total membership. Much of the gains in the early period of the below chart came from entire congregations affiliating themselves with other churches planted by the Boston Church of Christ. In the late 1990s growth slowed and eventually leveled off in 2002. Its affiliated congregations experienced a combined membership loss of approximately 23% from 2002 to the end of 2004. See additional charts and analysis.
ICOC Info
Latest Updates on the International Churches of Christ
*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.