Among the many signs of increasing health and growth in the International Churches of Christ are the results of the latest Disciples Today Church Survey.
This section of the report demonstrates our Total Membership from 1993 – 2009 and the current distribution of our membership around the world. Further reports will report on God’s turn around of our growth rate, victory stories and challenges.
The 2009 survey shows God’s growing our membership approximately 4.4% since 2006.
Click here for the International Churches of Christ 2009 Membership Survey Summary
I. Total Membership of International Churches of Christ
Surveys were not conducted in 2003 and 2008.
Data collected in five surveys, conducted in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, provide the basis for the analysis in this report. In each of these years, the number of participating churches varied. Therefore, in each survey a part of the membership is estimated, not reported.
The following chart indicates the reported vs. estimated membership in each year starting with 2002, the last year in which all churches participated:
|
Year |
Reported Membership |
Estimated Membership |
Total Membership |
Percent Estimated |
Reporting Churches |
Non-reporting Churches |
|
2002 |
135,046 |
0 |
135,046 |
0% |
429 |
0 |
|
2004 |
97,056 |
7,360 |
104,416 |
7% |
416 |
85 |
|
2005 |
82,096 |
9,839 |
91,935 |
11% |
413 |
117 |
|
2006 |
84,554 |
4,043 |
88,597 |
5% |
476 |
70 |
|
2007 |
89,131 |
999 |
90,130 |
1% |
545 |
17 |
|
2009 |
88,607 |
3,937 |
92,544 |
4% |
547 |
27 |
Looking just at the reported membership figures, we can draw similar conclusions as can be drawn using total membership, which includes conservative estimates for the non-reporting churches. With or without the estimated portion, a turning point can be seen in 2005-2006, and thereafter, moderate growth.
II. Geographic Distribution of ICOC Members
At least one ICOC exists in 145 countries.
While we have a wide distribution of churches, two-thirds of ICOC members are found in just six countries (U.S., Mexico, India, Philippines, Russia and Indonesia).
There are 100 nations in which we have just 5% of our membership.
A third of these 100 nations have 20 or fewer members of the ICOC.
There are 24 nations in which we, at some time since 1994, had at least one church. In these 24 nations there is no longer any presence of the International Churches of Christ. Most of these nations are in the Middle East and Europe.
There are approximately 30 nations, mostly small, in which we have never planted a church.
Click the Church Locator tab at the top of any page of Disciples Today to see the list of churches and links to their websites.
