Show Church Influence J Church membership in the United States including synagogue synagogue synagogue syn syn- I membership inched I upward in the latest measurement measurement measurement measure measure- ment but not as fast as did the population increase and thus the percentage of Americans Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans attending either a church or synagogue declined in the thelast thelast thelast last twelve months THE LATEST tabulation by bythe bythe bythe the National Council of Churches Church Church- es claims a church membership membership membership member member- I ship in the United States in 1968 of though these figures are looked upon by some as optimistic and include many members who are members members members mem mem- bers in name only Largest of the churches is the Roman Catholic with claimed members Protestant membership and Eastern Orthodox membership combined totals while synagogue membership is Largest of the l Protestant churches are the Southern Baptist and the United Methodist with just under I ITHE THE PERCENTAGE of church membership in the nation nation nation na na- na- na tion dropped from per cent in 1967 to in m 1968 For the first time more Americans approximately are not members of oi any church than are members of all Protestant Protestant Protestant Prot Prot- and Eastern Orthodox churches combined Adding I members of the Roman Cath Cath- olic church a church now experiencing experiencing experiencing ex ex- ex- ex an upheaval in which over priests have resigned resigned resigned re re- re- re signed in two years Americans who call themselves church members outnumber nonmembers nonmembers nonmembers non mem bers by five to three e or million to 75 million The percentage decline in church membership constitutes a challenge to church leaders sighted far-sighted enough to read the message which seems to be that churches must move more actively to meet the needs and demands of today if their influence influence influence in in- fluence is not to decline still further |