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Baptisms account for a large percentage of our growth, a healthy sign. Perhaps not so healthy is the fact that we baptized more teenagers aged 12-17 (386) than we do young adults aged 21-34 (366). It might be interesting to see which churches retain baby busters and which do not.
Saskatchewan and B.C. indicate that 39% and 37% of their growth comes from transfers from other denominations. In all probability, this indicates that in these provinces Mennonite Brethren are seen as a possible option within other denominations.
An unusually low percentage of membership decrease due to death was reported by the B.C. churches. Generally, deaths account for 12-14% of membership loss. This past year, B.C. recorded only 7.9% (a total of 82). This is only fractionally more than Manitoba, which reported 72 deaths. Altogether, there were 861 births, 413 weddings and 53 divorces (all decreases) but 400 deaths (a 53% increase) in our churches (including adherents).
We continue to attract members who have either one or both parents as MB members (524 of the 1091 new members). While this is positive in that we are baptizing children of members, the question we could ask is: Are we involved enough in crossing barriers which exist between us and our neighbours?
Worship attendance as a percentage of membership is another healthy trend. Across Canada 31% more people attend services than are members. This is up slightly from the previous year's 28%. (Another interpretation of this is that fewer individuals are choosing to become members.) Altogether, 39,947 attend Sunday morning worship on an average Sunday (up 5.31%), 7,643 attend Sunday evening worship services (down 1.35%), 14,677 people participate in small groups (up 30.95%), and 5,943 children were involved in VBS programs (down 6.16%).
Demographically, our largest group of members and adherents is between ages 0 and 17, at just over 30%. Seniors aged 65 and older constitute almost 13% of our attenders.
Leadership by elders and deacons has almost reached a balance this year. The number of elders or church council members is slightly greater than the number of deacons. What is not known is how many churches have an eldership model and how many operate with a council model. It would be an interesting study to see how this transition has gone.
Other significant trends which need to be noted are in the areas of small group and college and career, up 30.95% and 40.54% respectively.
There continues to be interest in private and home schooling. This is especially noticeable on the west coast. The total number of students being home schooled or attending Christian elementary schools is virtually constant at 1114 in 1995, compared to 1103 in 1994.
Three of our Bible colleges (Columbia, Bethany and Winkler) experienced considerable growth, while Concord and IBL saw small decreases in enrollment of MB students. Secular institutions receive the support of just under 50% of our undergraduate students, which would appear to indicate that MB institutions are holding their own, at least for now. Christian graduate education has seen a reduction in numbers across the board--a significant 28% decrease.
The 3.01% increase in giving to all causes in our churches across Canada is encouraging. While income per member went up, however, income per attender went up only a fraction of a percent. This may indicate that it takes a while for attenders to begin giving.
1995 has been a big building year. The 233% increase in the amount local churches spend on buildings is no surprise, given that the Canadian Conference Stewardship Department had to borrow from the US MB Conference endowment fund in order to meet the demand from churches for mortgages.
Reuben Pauls
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