by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service
The 140 member churches, 10 congregations and one recognized
council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) report a total
66,214,048 members in 78 countries in 2005. That's an increase
of 280,000 or 0.43 percent from 2004. LWF churches had 65.93
million members in 2004 and 62.3 million in 2003. In 2005 the
number of LWF member churches rose from 138 to 140. The
statistics are detailed in a Feb. 14 news release from Lutheran
World Information, and in PDF files of a one-page summary and a
nine-page detailed report.
The number of Lutherans worldwide -- including members of
Lutheran churches not in the LWF -- reached 69,757,570 in 2005 --
an increase of 229,753 from 2004.
Africa: 15,038,072 members -- up 904,500 or 6.4 percent
14,981,175 in LWF member churches
Asia: 7,416,992 -- up 25,890 or 0.7 percent
7,280,313 in LWF churches
Latin American and Caribbean: 1,111,947 Lutherans -- down 4,966
835,460 in LWF churches
North America: 8,154,631 Lutherans -- down 1.16 percent from
8,250,658
5,122,026 in LWF churches
Europe: 38,035,928 -- down nearly 600,000
37,995,074 in LWF churches
Links:
Lutheran World Federation
http://www.lutheranworld.org/
Feb. 14 news release
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/1823.EN.html
One-page summary
http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF-Statistics-01-2005.pdf
Nine-page detailed report
http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF-Statistics-2005.pdf
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
