The Southern Baptist Convention has continued its membership decline even as attendance and baptisms increased, according to new data released by Lifeway Research, the denomination’s research arm.
The 2025 results, released Tuesday, showed membership fell to its lowest level since 1973, despite gains in baptisms and worship attendance.
According to the Associated Press, membership dropped 3 per cent to 12.3 million last year, extending a decline that has continued for more than two decades. Weekly attendance rose 4 per cent to 4.5 million, while baptisms increased 5 per cent to 263,075. It marked the second consecutive year baptisms exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
“We are grateful Southern Baptists continue to show growth in key metrics like baptisms, worship attendance and Bible study participation,” Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, said in a statement.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said the decline in membership was due in part to church closures and congregations updating their membership rolls.
The SBC’s figures are based on self-reporting by congregations. Most members are located in the denomination’s traditional southern base, where it was founded by a pro-slavery faction before the American Civil War, according to the AP.
The SBC remains the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.