Which U.S. denominations saw the largest membership gains or losses from 2015–2024, and what factors explain the differences?
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Executive summary
From 2015–2024, mainline Protestant denominations—especially the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—registered some of the largest reported membership losses, while The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and select evangelical and non‑denominational congregations reported net gains or stabilization in recent years; broader national polls show an overarching slide in formal church membership with pockets of local resilience [1] [2] [3]. The reasons are multi‑causal: long‑term secularization and generational disaffiliation, pandemic‑era disruptions, denominational decisions on social issues that accelerated exits, and, conversely, growth where robust proselytizing, high retention practices, or local innovation persisted [4] [5] [2].
1. Largest institutional losses — Presbyterian and similar mainline bodies
The clearest documented large loss belongs to PC(USA): its 2024 statistics report a loss of 48,885 members just in that year and continued multi‑year declines in churches and ministers [1] [6]; earlier reporting has identified steep multi‑decadal losses for denominations such as the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ across the 2000–2015 period as well [7]. Those losses are not isolated to a single year but part of longer trends tracked by denomination data portals and analyses showing fewer ministers, fewer congregations, and demographic aging within membership rolls [8] [9].
2. Largest institutional gains — LDS and some evangelical/non‑denominational movements
On the growth side, the LDS Church reported consistent membership increases in the U.S. through 2023–2024 with net annual gains of roughly 60–65 thousand in each of those years, representing under‑1% growth but an important exception to broader declines [2]. Independent reporting and local non‑denominational churches have also shown stability or growth in specific communities, with examples of Baptist and non‑denominational congregations reporting returns to or surpassing pre‑COVID attendance [10]. Broadly, evangelical groups have in past decades showed more resilience than some mainline bodies [7].
3. Underlying drivers of losses: secularization, generational shifts, and pandemic effects
Multiple sources point to long‑running secularization and generational change as central drivers: surveys and trend summaries show a steady rise in the religiously unaffiliated and falling formal membership since the 1990s, with Gallup documenting church membership dipping below 50% of U.S. adults in recent polling [3] [11]. The COVID‑19 pandemic amplified losses and disrupted patterns of attendance and small‑group participation, while younger cohorts have been less likely to be raised in or to maintain institutional ties [4] [12].
4. Denominational decisions, scandals and internal dynamics that accelerated change
Denominational stances on social issues and high‑profile scandals have been identified by observers as accelerating departures from mainline churches; ChurchTrac and related analyses cite scandals and declining baptism rates as contributors to Western Christian decline [4]. PC(USA)’s reporting also shows uneven distribution of financial resources and membership, suggesting internal consolidation as some congregations shrink or close even while stewardship metrics in remaining churches may strengthen [1] [6].
5. Why some groups grew or stabilized — retention, organization and mission strategies
Where growth occurred, explanations include disciplined membership practices, active proselytism, and investment in youth and family retention — patterns evident in LDS reporting of steady national additions [2] — and local churches that innovated with hybrid worship and community outreach saw attendance rebound in specific localities [10] [12]. Denominations that invest in new worshiping communities or prioritize adult baptisms also record pockets of numerical vitality even as overall rolls shrink [1] [9].
6. Limits of the available reporting and alternative interpretations
Available sources document clear losses for mainline denominations and pockets of growth for institutions like the LDS Church and some evangelical/non‑denominational congregations, but denominational reporting methods differ and national polls measure different concepts (membership vs. attendance vs. identification), complicating precise cross‑denominational comparisons across 2015–2024 [4] [8]. Some datasets suggest stabilization in Christian identification for certain cohorts, and local exceptions to national decline emphasize that national aggregates can mask diverse local stories [13] [10].