 Posted Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:48 PM
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Hi, Christian Way friends:
Using information from the TMC website, I've compiled the worldwide church and society totals as of May 7, 2008. The drop worldwide over the past year is is 2.4%, slightly better than the attrition rate of 2.55% in the year-earlier period.
In the United States, the number of churches declined by 1.8% in the past year (-2.9% a year ago), and the number of societies dropped by 6.1% (-3.2% a year ago). The drop for the combined USA churches/societies is 2.8% (-2.6 a year ago).
In the Rest of World, the church totals remained the same, but the number of societies dropped by 3.4%. The totals for Canada didn't change.
Since I began calculating the totals in October 2002, the number of churches/societies worldwide has dropped by 12.7%. There are 72 countries with churches/societies.
Maybe the Mother Church will be honest when it reports the number of CS churches/societies instead of saying about 2,000 as I've seen in recent years.
Kind regards,
Garey
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May 2008 churches: 1,233
May 2008 societies: 486
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May 2008 total: 1,719
May 2007 churches: 1,250
May 2007 societies: 511
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May 2007 total: 1,761
June 2006 churches: 1,279
June 2006 societies: 528
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June 2006 total 1,807
June 2005 churches: 1,318
June 2005 societies: 513
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June 2005 total: 1,831
Apr. 2004 churches: 1,380
Apr. 2004 societies: 535
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Apr. 2004 total: 1,915
Oct. 2002 churches: 1,439
Oct. 2002 societies: 531
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Oct. 2002 total: 1,970
————— ————— —————
May 2008
USA: 944 churches / 277 societies
Canada: 26 churches / 13 societies
ROW: 263 churches / 196 societies
May 2007
USA: 961 churches / 295 societies
Canada: 26 churches / 13 societies
ROW: 263 churches / 203 societies
June 2006
USA: 990 churches / 300 societies
Canada: 26 churches / 14 societies
ROW: 263 churches / 214 societies
June 2005
USA: 1,021 churches / 293 societies
Canada: 27 churches / 14 societies
ROW: 270 churches / 206 societies
April 2004
USA: 1,074 churches / 306 societies
Canada: 29 churches / 16 societies
ROW: 277 churches / 209 societies
October 2002 numbers
USA: 1,115 churches / 290 societies
Canada: 32 churches / 17 societies
ROW: 292 churches / 227 societies
————— ————— —————
CS churches/societies May 2008 (May 2007)
NC = No Change
Alabama 6—4 (NC)
Alaska 4—3 (NC)
Arizona 18—5 (18—6)
Arkansas 6—5 (7—5)
California 173—19 (177—18)
Colorado 20—8 (20—9)
Connecticut 17—2 (18—2)
Delaware 4—0 (NC)
D.C. 6—0 (NC)
Florida 61—14 (62—16)
Georgia 12—5 (11—6)
Hawaii 3—4 (NC)
Idaho 2—6 (NC)
Illinois 52—11 (56—9)
Indiana 22—6 (NC)
Iowa 9—5 (10—5)
Kansas 5—6 (5—7)
Kentucky 4—3 (5—3)
Louisiana 5—6 (NC)
Maine 10—6 (10—7)
Maryland 15—4 (15—5)
Massachusetts 45—8 (43—8)
Michigan 32—12 (33—12)
Minnesota 10—2 (11—2)
Mississippi 1—3 (NC)
Missouri 19—8 (21—11)
Montana 6—3 (NC)
Nebraska 7—3 (NC)
Nevada 3—0 (NC)
New Hampshire 12—3 (13—3)
New Jersey 16—4 (16—6)
New Mexico 6—3 (NC)
New York 51—11 (54—12)
North Carolina 13—8 (NC)
North Dakota 0—1 (NC)
Ohio 37—7 (37—8)
Oklahoma 11—1 (NC)
Oregon 26—8 (27—7)
Pennsylvania 30—8 (30—10)
Rhode Island 2—2 (NC)
South Carolina 7—4 (7—3)
South Dakota 1—3 (NC)
Tennessee 6—5 (5—6)
Texas 48—18 (48 17)
Utah 4—1 (NC)
Vermont 5—6 (NC)
Virginia 23—3 (NC)
Washington 39—6 (39—9)
West Virginia 4—3 (NC)
Wisconsin 25—9 (24—10)
Wyoming 1—2 (1—4)
————— ————— —————
CS churches/societies May 2008 (May 2007)
Argentina 11—3 (11—4)
Australia 27—7 (NC)
Austria 2—0 (NC)
Bahamas 0—1 (0—2)
Barbados 1—0 (NC)
Belgium 1—0 (NC)
Benin 0—1 (NC)
Bermuda 0—1 (NC)
Brazil 10—5 (NC)
Cameroon 4—5 (3—6)
Canada 26—13 (NC)
Chile 2—2 (NC)
China (HK) 1—0 (NC)
Colombia 2 1 (NC)
Congo (DR) 6—8 (5—9)
Congo (Rep) 2—2 (NC)
Cuba 1—0 (NC)
Czech Rep. 0—1 (NC)
Denmark 2—0 (NC)
Ecuador 0—1 (NC)
Egypt 0—1 (NC)
Finland 0—1 (NC)
France 6—4 (NC)
Germany 37—25 (37 26)
Ghana 2—3 (1—4)
Gr. Britain 74—43 (75—44)
Greece 1—0 (NC)
Grenada 1—0 (NC)
Guam 0—1 (NC)
Guatemala 0—1 (NC)
Haiti 0—1 (NC)
India 3—2 (NC)
Indonesia 2—2 (NC)
Ireland 1—1 (NC)
Italy 3—0 (NC)
Ivory Coast 0—1 (NC)
Jamaica 1—0 (NC)
Japan 1—1 (NC)
Kazakhstan 0—1 (NC)
Kenya 2—5 (NC)
Latvia 0—1 (NC)
Mauritius 0—1 (NC)
Mexico 2—2 (NC)
Namibia 0—1 (NC)
Netherlands 3—1 (NC)
New Zealand 7—6 (7—7)
Nigeria 6—14 (NC)
Peru 1—2 (NC)
Philippines 3—0 (NC)
Poland 0—1 (NC)
Portugal 1—2 (2—1)
Puerto Rico 1—0 (NC)
Russia 0—1 (NC)
Rwanda 0—1 (NC)
Sierra Leone 0—1 (NC)
South Africa 11—6 (NC)
South Korea 0—1 (NC)
Spain 1—3 (NC)
Sweden 1—2 (NC)
Switzerland 9—11 (11—8)
Tanzania 0—1 (NC)
Thailand 0—1 (NC)
Togo 0 1 (NC)
Trinidad/Tobago 1 0 (NC)
Uganda 0 2 (NC)
Ukraine 0—1 (NC)
Uruguay 7—1 (NC)
Venezuela 1—0 (NC)
Virgin Islands 0—1 (NC)
Zambia 1—1 (NC)
Zimbabwe 1—1 (NC)
——END——
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Posted Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:56 PM
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Nice research. Your research does not include any churches that closed before your study period started. The closings of Cleveland's 3rd church, the Franklin Meadowlake, MI Church, and the Detroit, MI church at Dalison & Livernois, all occurred outside of the study period, as did the closings of both the Daycroft CS boarding school and the Desert Sun School in CA.
I wonder how many of the Denver-area church closings are included in the study period? Only 2 out of the original 8 numbered CS churches remain listed these days, and a similar circumstance is going on in Detroit.
I have to wonder how far back the CS Church has to go to get their quoted figure of 2,000 CS branch churches?
Just wondered,
Mark
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Posted Friday, May 09, 2008 2:59 PM
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Mark:
I wish I had time to get copies of CS Journals from years ago to track the church's decline, as I believe it hit its peak in the 1950s (Linda might be able to confirm this). When TMC claimed 2,000 branch churches, I believe it was counting churches and societies. TMC was still close to that number in 2002, when I counted 1,970. CS is strongest — and it's not really that strong — in the U.S., Great Britain and Germany.
As you know, TMC doesn't release membership numbers but is always quick to says how many copies of S&H have been sold over the years, allegedly 10 million. To get rough membership numbers, I gave each church (1,233) 50 members, which could be on the high side, and I generously gave each society (486) 10 members. That's a paltry 66,510 worldwide.
Garey
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Posted Friday, May 09, 2008 3:28 PM
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Do you suppose that it will be long before CS churches drop the numbering as part of the names?
How do you suppose CS churches would be named if not by numbers? "Truth Church of Christ, Scientist"? "Mary Baker Eddy Memorial Church of Christ, Scientist"?
Ironic that a church that is forbidden to count its members numbers its churches. 
I'm reminded of a practical joke alleged to have been played by some college students. They let three pigs loose on campus with numbers painted on them: "1", "2", and "4". Campus security spent a good bit of time looking for "3".
Do Go Be Man
<><
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Posted Friday, May 09, 2008 7:40 PM
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I'm reminded of a practical joke alleged to have been played by some college students. They let three pigs loose on campus with numbers painted on them: "1", "2", and "4". Campus security spent a good bit of time looking for "3". That actually happened at my kids' high school. I suspect it has happened at a number of schools; it's too good a joke to only do once. 
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Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:57 PM
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I think that rather than playing the numbers game regarding Christian Science it's more helpful to look at the spiritual revolution going on in the United States and other nations. Even in many hospitals people can be very spiritually minded and sympathetic. A lot of spiritual healing through prayer is going on in churches of various denominations, which I think is very promising. There is this universal spirituality, this universal truth coming to us from our divine Source that we can rely on to bring spiritual solutions to problems of all sorts, and healing. As Christ Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you." We can find this healing truth within ourselves when we see ourselves through a spiritual lens. God loves us all and gives us all the ability to find these spiritual solutions to problems, to heal.
Bruce Cunningham
San Francisco, CA
Bruce Cunningham
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Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008 6:00 PM
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Your remarks are a bit of topic, Bruce. Since you've introduced the subject of healing* in the context of the decline and impending demise of what I term "institutional (or 'corporate'?) Christian Science," I am reminded of Jesus' admonition, "Physician, heal thyself." One would think that God/Immortal Mind's "last and ultimate Revelation" to Mankind--Christian Science--would be most strongly manifested in, and demonstrated by, God's chosen vessel--The Mother Church. And that TMC would thus be able to heal it/Herself, being close to the Godhead, as it/She is.
But the data speak for themselves.
What I think you're getting at, Bruce, is that although CS is in decline and disarray, the religion has in some way leavened human thought, which can be seen in various types and degrees of spiritual-thought healing--even in hospitals! But the fact that you appear to believe that CS is true does not necessarily have any connection or correlation to spiritual healing elsewhere. People have been praying for healing and relief long before CS appeared on the world scene, and will continue long after CS is gone. Most of us in Christian Way think prayer for healing is most effective when combined with the best medical care available.
Perhaps you'd like to introduce a thread of your own, to discuss the manner and degree which CS has influenced religions, Western Civilization, Christianity, etc. The matter is not new to the Christian Way Forums--check old threads and resurect one with a posting. Search "New Age," "NewThought" and perhaps "Unity" or "Religious Science" for starters. Or start your own!
Lastly, Bruce, remember that "leaven" is not necessarily a positive Biblical image.
Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. "Mat.16.6
*You could also consider participating in the various "healing" threads. Why not register!?
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Posted Friday, May 16, 2008 5:15 AM
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| The main ideas of Christian Science were nothing new when MBE began it and it irritates me to no end that they seem to take credit for some "lost element of healing". The history of the late 19th century shows that CS was merely a variation of the philosopy of the times. MBE just marketed her brand of what we call today "New Age" in a successful formula for the era. She charged outrageous sums in terms of fees for the late 1800's to teach her "discovery" . There were several offshoots of Quimby. She was just one of many. Most recently, "The Secret" is the brand for today. The core ideas are actually ancient. MBE saying she discovered it is sort of like someone claiming they discovered the internet! (Taking credit for the ideas of many)
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Posted Friday, May 16, 2008 11:39 AM
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We've had a couple of anonymous posts in this thread today that I did not yet approve as they continue to stray from the topic of CS by the numbers (in one case signed, but not from a logged in user).
If you would like to continue that thread of discussion, please do so in an appropriate forum and thread. The latest probably belongs in the Doctrinal and Bible Related Issues forum. If you need a copy of your pending post, I'd be happy to send it to you so you may repost it.
Do Go Be Man (as co-moderator)
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Posted Saturday, May 17, 2008 7:51 PM
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Back to "CS by the numbers." But first, a tangent: interesting how rarely the books of Numbers, and for that matter, Deuteronomy and Leviticus show up in sermon material, CS and elsewhere! There really is a lot of good doctrine and spiritual truth there. It takes a bit of academic effort, but those books are worth the effort.
I'm a cop, and I occasionally lock up people on years-old warrants, which usually take them by surprise. I sometimes quip, "Sure it's an old warrant, but there's an old verse in the Bible, 'You can be sure your sin will find you out!'" (Numbers 32.23)
I'm intrigued by the gaps in the numbering system of CS branch churches.* It's a lose-lose PR problem for TMC. Fix it, and reorder the branches, and people are confused. Or fix it and publically acknowledge the decline.
I think of old cartoons with an old-West plot, which sometimes featured the "Last National Bank." How about the "Last Church of Christ, Scientist"? For that matter, have you ever considered why CS is officially the "Church of Christ, Scientist"? MBE was following a 19th Century fad for naming new churches and denominations. You had the "Church of Christ, Apostolic," or "First Church of Christ, Orthodox," and "...Lithuanian," "...Trinitarian," "...Pentacostal," etc. I remember reading about a "Church of Christ, Spiritualist"!!
Sometimes I wise-crack about the "Nineth Church of Christ, Apostate," or "Third Church, Heretic!"
*The English major in me wretches at the mixed metaphor of a branch Church emanating from the "Mother Church"!
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