CHURCH GROWTH

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 213, 5 June 1931, Page 3

CHURCH GROWTH

Presbyterian Increases FIGURES ANALYSED . In 10 1-3 years persons under pastoral care in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand have increased from 139,336 to 196,145, according to a statistical report submitted to the General Assembly yesterday. “Taking the method of computing church attendance for what it is worth, while the numbers have grown from 74,086 to 80,667, it is not proportionate to the increase of persons under pastoral care, but is actually a lower figure than has been reported for si., years,” the report continues. “The mid-week service or prayer meeting is rapidly dwindling, and the return this year is the lowest, in the history of the church since union, and shows'a marked drop from last year. The column sshowing additions by certificate from New Zealand Presbyterian churches is not of much value to the church as a whole. It serves as some kind of index of the floating membership of the church. Its value would be increased if there was a return of disjunctions issued from year to year. Fresh Blood. “The fresh blood of the church is drawn from three sources —new _ communicants within our church, immigrant members from overseas, and additions from sister churches. The additions by confession of faith, 2258 (about 87 per cent, of the total added), of whom 930 come from the Bible classes, is the lowest since 1929, and falls considerably below the average for the last 10 !-•> years (2505). There is a marked decline iu the additions Iroin overseas. The total for the • last nine years is 4913, an average of 546 per annum. Highest 821, this year 204— about S per cent, of the total added. There is always a small percentage coming in from sister churches —in seven years 1041, the average 149, the highest 180. this year .135, or 5 per cent, of total additions. The difference between total additions from all sources and losses by death, emigration, drastic purging and drift gives the net result. Gain to Txiss. There is usually an increase of from 1100 to 1400, the highest in any year 1807. During the four years 1915-1918 the net gain was 722, 205, 160, 437, and in 1919 and 1920 there was a net loss of 342 and 274. Once again in 1929 and 1930 the returns show a net loss of 141 and 181. There is room for serious considera“i’he debt, from all sources is £201.857, of which £19,454 (or 9.6 per cent.) is by way of overdraft, £163,254 (or 80 per cent.) mortgage, and the balance £18.867 (9 per cent.) is from other sources. The mortgage debt has increased 61 per cent. Tn 10 1-3 years, and the overdraft <5 per cent, in 5 1-3 years. “The average annual ordinary income for the last decade is £168,303 (this year £183,769). for buildings £54,200 (this year £59.570). for assembly schemes (9 l-o /ears) £38,361 (this year £38,631, the lowest since 1926), and the average grosfa for 10 1-3 years £259,134 (this year £269,342, the lowest since 1925). “Next year will mark the completion of 30 years’ work since the union of the northern and southern churches.”