Status of the Church in Portland
Although the history of Oregon is rich in religious tradition, Oregon trails other states in religious activity as measured by church membership. In the 1926 Federal Census of churches, Oregon's church membership was 22.7% of the population as compared with 42.4% nationally. Urban areas, being easier to serve, reflected a higher percentage. Multnomah county church membership in 1926 was 31.2% of the population. In 1952 a study by the Oregon Council of churches showed state membership as 23.2% of the population, but Portland's Multnomah County had dropped to 25.1%. A study a decade later showed Multnomah's County's church index had increased sharply to 36.3%.There have been many reasons given for these low Oregon statistics. Predominate is the fact that many Oregon people are of the outdoor type and enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, and backpacking. There is also a higher number of people who attend Portland churches without joining them than in other areas of the country. Also significant is the fact that most of Oregon's growth occurred during the Depression and World War II. It was not until about 1950 that the economy improved enough to build the church plants necessary to serve the rapid expansion. Baptist churches grew from 22 in 1940 to 81 in 1974. Between 1952 and 1963 the population in Multnomah County grew only 6%. Baptist church membership, in contrast, grew 71%. Some denominations, such as the Later Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventists, surpassed the Baptists and grew almost 100% during this same time.
What is the picture of the church today?
Portland church attendance (from ARISE and Jack Dennison’s survey):
| Year | Attendance | Membership | Evangelical Churches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 205,968 | 277,317 | 1082 |
| 1992 | 252,046 | 308,530 | 1138 |
During the 1990-1992 period just before the 1992 crusade the attendance had a 2.5% AAGR and membership 1.5% AAGR. Population increased in Portland at a 2.21% annual rate during the period from 1990 to 1996 (from Percepts analysis).
During 1993 (the year after the crusade), the AAGR (based on only a sample) was 8%, with 20% of the population attending church. There were 35,000 decisions made at the crusade. An 8% AAGR means 15,000 were discipled and stayed in the church. But 20,000 - over half of the decisions - were lost to the church.
From the 1992 statistics:
Three denominations showed a 7% AAGR (excellent growth)
Five showed 2-5% AAGR (nominal growth)
and five had plateaued (-1 to 1% AAGR).
The Oregonian(1997) reports that membership in Christian congregations now are growing as much as 11% annually, with 20-23% of the residents of the five-country area attending church.
Our Percepts analysis summary for the 12 mile radius from the center of town in 1996 shows the following preferences:
| Religion | Estimated Households | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| in Portland Preferring | ||
| Catholic | 15.9% | 22.5% |
| Not Interested, No preference | 15.0% | 11.0% |
| Non-Denominational, Independent | 12.0% | 7.4% |
| Mormon | 9.3% | 1.6% |
Sources:
Jack Dennison, DAWN (Discipling a Whole Nation)
The Sunday Oregonian, March 30., 1997, Page A1,19
Precepts Analysis, 1996, Strategic Resources Ministry
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