How many churches are there in America?
About 300,000 according to Grounds For Giving.
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In Catholicism
What is the oldest church in South America?
The oldest church in South America is Cathedral de Santa Marta. It is located in the city of Santa Marta is Colombia.
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How many denominations of churches are there in one church?
There are no denominations within one church. There are many denominations within Christianity, but each is a church in its own right.
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In Mormonism
How many members in the Mormon church?
According to official 2009 year-end records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) has 13,824,952 baptized members worldwide. G…rowing at an average rate of 300,000 to 400,000 new members each year (half due to births, half due to converts) Church membership should reach 14 million before 2011. Click the "Related Links" below to see an interactive map which shows the number of members in an individual country or state. (MORE)
In Christianity
What is the Universalist Church of America?
You may be encountering the Universalist Church for the first time, reading this article. And yet its roots go deep into American history, back well before Bunker Hill. Many o…f its beliefs permeate U.S. society, though they were often ahead of the times. It remains an active denomination, attracting members from all walks of life, with possibly the widest diversity of any church in America.The Universalist Church of America is a Christian religious denomination established in the U.S. It is now called Unitarian Universalist, after merging with the Unitarian Church in 1961. The Universalist Church is known for being open to believers of many faiths. It is also a largely decentralized denomination, preferring state-level conventions to address church issues than national or international control. The basic doctrine is that of universal salvation.The Universalist denomination traces its origins to the Atlantic colonies. Basically an offshoot of Pietist and Anabaptist groups, the Universalist church of that time brought together Methodists, Lutherans, Quakers, and many other denominations in what was called "a church of the heart." They were among the first and most vocal of abolitionists, regarding slavery as a sin and a denial of basic humanity. From 1785 onward, they started annual Conventions to discuss church doctrine and address social ills. In 1866, the church became the Universalist General Convention, then in 1942, it changed its name to the Universalist Church of America (UCA). In 1961, the UCA merged with the American Unitarian Association and formed the Unitarian Universalist Association.As the Universalist Church, it was one of the 10 largest denominations in the U.S. in the late 19th century. As church attendance dwindled in the 20th century, the UCA lost a number of churchgoers, many of whom were initially not interested in religion. After World War II, the UCA saw its membership change to a less-theistic membership, one more focused on being agents of social change rather than seekers of spiritual comfort. To increase the church's membership, the merger with Unitarians, who shared many similar beliefs, was seen as a positive step. At present, some six million people claim membership in Unitarian Universalist churches, though some claims place the number as closer to nine million.As noted, universal salvation is the core doctrine. This belief says that God did not create anyone to damn them for eternity, and that everyone can thus find their path to salvation. Along these lines, there is no belief in a purgatory or hell, though some members believe that the after-life may have a period of "restitution" for salvation to be granted. Equality of all peoples is a basic belief, leading to early and unpopular positions against slavery and for women's rights. The UCA was the first church to ordain a woman, Olympia Brown, in 1883. The Unitarian Universalist Church ranks at or very near the top of U.S. denominations in the number of ordained women ministers since that time.The Universalist Church has no "entry requirements" for anyone to join. In many churches, not even baptism is required. This is because the belief of universal salvation does not require a baptismal step. However, believers who wish to go through a baptism can do so, with the support of the church and its members. It might seem odd, but many atheists are members of the church, as they feel that the denomination's open mind about thought and rationality is acceptable, and discussions about the nature or existence of a god are often welcome.For people who prefer structure and order in their lives and beliefs, the Universalist Church may not be for them. Free-thinkers and those with a more scientific turn of mind will find a better fit, as the denomination embraces thought as a path to learning about salvation. You might be surprised to find that there is a Universalist Church close to where you live. As one long-time member said: "Just look for the church where half the people are talking and the other half are listening carefully."Noted members of the Universalist Church include legendary promoter P.T. Barnum and founding father/abolitionist Benjamin Rush. Other well-known members were Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, and Ted Sorenson, speechwriter for President John Kennedy. Noted evangelists include Caleb Rich, John Murray, and Olympia Brown, the first woman in the U.S. to be ordained by a major denomination. (MORE)
In Churches
Church Attendance Statistics for Denominations of Christianity
Have you ever wondered which Christian denominations attend church with the most regularity? Do you have assumptions about which denominations fall short when it comes to chur…ch attendance? The results are in, and here they are for your viewing pleasure.Of the 16 million Southern Baptists in America, only an estimated 6 million show up for the primary church service on a given Sunday. This means 37 percent is the average attendance rate for Southern Baptists.Compared to the Baptists, the Methodists fair a little better when it comes to church attendance, but not by much. Methodist membership is estimated to be 8.2 million and, on average, 3.49 million Methodists attend a primary worship service on a given Sunday. This means about 43 percent of Methodists are attending church each Sunday.Over the past six decades, the Protestants have been fairly regular when it comes to church attendance. In 1955, Protestants attended church at a rate of 42%. Now, Protestant attendance is estimated at 45 percent, a slight increase over time.Catholic church attendance has experienced major changes in recent years due to scandals and tumultuous times at the Vatican. In 1955, Catholicism was at the height of its power in the United States, and average church attendance was estimated to be 75 percent. Now, Catholic church attendance is more comparable to other denominations. Now, it is estimated that 45% of Catholics attend a primary worship service on any given Sunday.No matter what denomination you are, the truth is that Christian church attendance on the whole is declining. Currently, no denomination reports that more than half of their constituents attend church on a given Sunday. While the number of constituents is not necessarily on the decline, the rate at which they attend a church service certainly is.One of the smallest Christian denominations is Unitarian Universalism, or UU. In the United States, most UU churches are based in New England and eschew any authoritarian requirements for their members. (MORE)
In Christianity
Understanding What a Presbyterian Church Is
Like any special interest, the Christian religion is filled with words and phrases that mean nothing to outsiders. Just as a person unfamiliar with football might have no idea… what a two point conversion is, so a non-Christian may have no idea what a Presbyterian Church is. To make matters worse, many Christian words, like Presbyterian, have multiple uses in many different contexts. The following article attempts to explain the different uses of the word Presbyterian in Christianity.One of the most broad uses of the word Presbyterian in Christian circles refers to Presbyterianism, which is a blanket term for a large portion of the Reformed Protestantism. If you do not know what Reformed Protestantism is, it is enough to say that it refers to an ideological set of beliefs that follow in the tradition of John Calvin. The branch of reformists who called themselves Presbyterians can usually trace their roots to movements that started in England and Scotland in the early 1700s. These churches have migrated and splintered to form many different denominations around the world.The word Presbyterian itself actually originates from a much broader term that is not typically used by laypeople. It refers to a particular form of church governance, which may be used by Presbyterian and non-Presbyterian churches alike. A church that uses Presbyterian governance typically places their authority in a group of locally elected elders, who make broad decisions about the direction and finances of the church as a whole. Groups of affiliated churches are governed by similar boards with representation from each member church.As mentioned above, the majority of churches that use the name Presbyterian trace their roots back to Reformed Protestantism. For this reason, some people have taken to calling their particular brand of reformed theology Presbyterianism. This theology generally places a heavy emphasis on confessions of faith, memorized statements that express that church's brand of theology. Presbyterian theology also emphasizes the sovereignty of God, traditional forms of worship, and an effort to distinguish between the church as a body of believers rather than an organization or building.As with most other cultures, the Presbyterian church that immigrated to the United States eventually formed its own set of practices and ideas to distinguish themselves from their European founding groups. The first Presbyterian churches were founded in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and by the turn of the 19th century they had established themselves as an independent organization. Since then, the denomination has splintered into several different groups, with varying levels of affiliation.The largest and most well known Presbyterian denomination in the United States is undoubtedly the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This organization boasts congregations all across North and South America, with a presence in all 50 states. This church is also affiliated with several different seminaries around the country, including Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas; Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; and Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina. These churches boast a membership of almost two million people.Even with the explanation above, it may be difficult to decipher just what someone means when they call themselves a Presbyterian. However, it may be enough to say that anyone claiming to a Presbyterian likely holds to a core set of Reformed theological views. In addition, they likely espouse a certain form a church governance based on elected elders. With these tools in hand, you should be better equipped to discuss this topic with both Christians and non-Christians alike.It may be difficult to decipher just what someone means when they call themselves a Presbyterian. However, it may be enough to say that anyone claiming to a Presbyterian likely holds to a core set of Reformed theological views. In addition, they likely espouse a certain form a church governance based on elected elders. (MORE)
In Christianity
Differences Between the Main Synods of the Lutheran Church
While the Lutheran Church is one of the larger denominations of Christianity, what many people do not realize is that there is a number of different synods which define this r…eligion. The differences in these synods ranges, from barely noticeable, to large schisms that keep the churches from being in fellowship with one another. There are three large main synods, as well as a countless number of splinter denominations. Each group has their own set of beliefs, despite the fact that each of them looks to the writings of Martin Luther for guidance in how they conduct their religion.Also called ELCA, this synod is the largest of the Lutheran Churches. ELCA is the only one of the synods to have entered into full fellowship with non-Lutheran churches, and is a member of the World Council of Churches. One of the biggest differences between ELCA and other synods is that ELCA allows for the possibility of errors and cultural limitations within the Bible, and believes it needs to be interpreted. ELCA allows for women to be ordained, which many of the synods do not allow, and is more accepting of homosexuality and abortion than most of the synods are. The Book of Concord, which is the book of rules by which Lutherans have lived since the 16th century, is regarded as more of a guideline by the ELCA for its members, and is thought to be outdated for modern living.This synod is most often referred to as LCMS, and is the second largest branch of Lutheranism. The Missouri synod is more conservative than the ELCA, and holds more closely to the Book of Concord and the teachings of the Bible. Unlike ELCA, the LCMS synod does not allow anyone to take communion within their churches unless they have been accepted as a part of their group and are an LCMS member. LCMS does not ordain women, but they do allow women to be officers in the church. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two main branches is that LCMS believes that the Holy Scriptures should be taken as literal.Also called WELS, the Wisconsin Synod is considerably smaller than the two largest synods, but is still the third largest Lutheran Church. WELS is also the most conservative of the three branches in the United States. WELS considers the Bible to be the unerring word of God and that it should be taken literally. They take a strong stand against both homosexuality and abortion, believing in the sanctity of the marriage union and of life. Women are not allowed to be ordained nor to be officers in the church, however they are allowed to take nonvoting positions where they are not in authority over men.The AFLC was formed from those members of the Lutheran Free Church who did not want to join the ALC when they were merged back in 1962. A smaller organization, they are a fellowship of independent congregations who have chosen not to join with other synods. Their beliefs are also conservative, and most importantly they believe that the Bible scriptures are still relevant to today's current issues of morality and ethics. AFLC also believes that the scriptures of the Bible are inerrant and are the only infallible source of God's wisdom to us. As such women are not allowed to be ordained, and the AFLC takes a strong stand against homosexuality and abortion. The biggest difference between AFLC and other synods is that AFLC is not actually a synod, and each church has more autonomy in its individual teachings than do other churches.ELS is a small synod that was originally known as the Norwegian Synod. It is the only synod in full fellowship with the WELS synod. Like WELS, this synod is very conservative, and follows the writings of Luther as guidance for its beliefs. They also have a strong belief in the spiritual purity of the Bible and their teachings are guided by a desire to adhere to the Bible in all things. They do not allow women in any position of authority much like many of the conservative synods. They also take a strong stand on homosexuality and abortion.Collectively there are millions of Lutherans around the world, but many of these groups are split up by differences in theology. The belief that living in a modern world changes how we should interpret the writings of the Bible and Luther is the main point of division in most of these synods. The other division exists from just how closely we should adhere to the scriptures, and where time and culture differences end and spiritual mandate begins. In many cases the differences between the smaller branches is small and not something laity need to be concerned about.Lutheranism dates back to the 16th century, when Martin Luther pushed for reform in a corrupt medieval Catholic Church. From the push for reform came not only the Lutheran Church but also access to the Bible for the masses. Bibles were not only translated out of Latin and into the languages of the people, the printing press made the Holy Scriptures available to anyone who wanted to read them. (MORE)
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In Christianity
All About the Association of Unity Churches
In 1892, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, a husband and wife team, founded the Unity Church, which described itself as a new approach to Christianity. The religion, which is consi…dered to be New Thought, is based on the teachings from Jesus with a focus on prayer. The Association of Unity Churches has evolved since the Unity Church was first founded more than 100 years ago.The Association of Unity Churches is an international organization that helps to manage the daily operations of the Unity Church. The organization manages the different churches that practice the New Thought religion. The association also works in tandem with the Unity Worldwide Ministries, which is a network of ministers, teachers, and individuals WHO practice this religion. The two organizations work together to help increase the membership numbers of the church. In addition, they also help to promote the religion and its beliefs to different cultures.The Unity Church is found in more than 30 countries around the world. It is found in most parts of the U.S. and Canada, including Puerto Rico. It tends to be primarily found in Central and South America. However, the Unity Church does a have a presence in European countries like Germany. It is even found in areas like New Zealand.The Association of Unity Churches has a number of different operations. Its primary operation is to provide support to its parent group, the Unity Church. In doing so, it helps to manage the operations of the church. This may include managing member mailings, maintaining financial records, and conducting marketing activities. It also works to provide assistance to churches within the association and network that need help. This may include helping ministries become full-status ministries.To become a member of the Association of Unity Churches, you need to operate a Unity Church. There are a number of other requirements that must be met, and the organizers warn that it is a lengthy process to become a full-status ministry. This includes holding a certain number of worships each week. In addition, applicants must provide their church financials with their application. Other elements, such as number of members and photos of the facility, are also required for the application.The Unity Church lists all of its member churches on its website. The church has a search function on its website that can help you find a location nearby. This includes all of the full-status ministry churches. Other churches and ministries can be located by reaching out to Unity Church members in your area. The leaders of the facility will likely know where you can find other locations near you.The Association of Unity Churches helps to support the overall mission of the Unity Church. In this capacity, it works to ensure that the church continues to function at the high level required for one with such a large following. It also works with the church's ministry to expand the word of the religion around the world. Because of this, it is an instrumental component of the Unity Church.The Unity Church reports that it has more than 1 million members around the world. There are more than 1,000 Unity Churches located around the world. The headquarters is located in Unity Village, Mo., which is approximately 15 miles away from Kansas City. (MORE)
Famous Churches in Washington D.C.
The United States' capital is the site of a large variety of churches and cathedrals. Churches and cathedrals are part of a strong cultural heritage. Their diversity shows the… multitude of cultures that had an impact on the nation?s capital over the centuries. Washington D.C. churches are open to the public, either to tour or for worship.The National Presbyterian Church is the church of over 1800 members, with three services every Sunday. The National Presbyterian Church has been holding this name since 1947, and it was formed by the merger of two downtown D.C. churches. The church moved to its present location during the Sixties. The National Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Van Ness and Nebraska Avenue. The church has a free parking lot just behind the building.The St. Johns Church in Lafayette Square is a Protestant Episcopal Church located just across from the White House. Because it is located in the vicinity of the White House, and sometimes Presidents attend the services, this church has been nicknamed ?The Church of the Presidents?. The church offers both a weekday sermon, as well as a weekend sermon. People can get involved by participating in worships services, prepare parish lunches, or attend social activities. The church offers a variety of events open to the public.The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is named after the patron of the civil servants. This cathedral organized the funeral mass for slain President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Pope John Paul II celebrated mass at this cathedral in 1979. The cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church belonging to the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Washington. It is located on the northeast corner of 15th and H Streets, NW, and it was established in November 1840. There are three to four masses held here daily during the week, two on Saturdays, and seven on Sundays.The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It is also one of the ten largest Roman Catholic Churches in the World. It was designated as the American preeminent Marian shrine, and it was dedicated to the patroness of the U.S., Virgin Mary. This is why the name of the church is Immaculate Conception. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, has hosted Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, along with Sister Maria Theresa. The edifice is built in the Byzantine-Romanesque style, and it homes seventy chapels.The Georgetown Presbyterian Church is located in the residential area of Georgetown. It was established in 1780, and it is the oldest church of any denomination in the nation?s capital. Sermons are offered every Sunday at 10AM. Midweek events are available as well, and open for the public.The large variety of Washington D.C. churches illustrates the colorful cultural landscape of the American capital. Numerous churches belonging to many denominations are available for visit and worship. Among these, the Washington National Cathedral is probably the most famous. Most Washington D.C. churches and cathedrals offer sermons and worship possibilities every day of the week.Fox News classified the Washington National Cathedral to be one of the 12 most beautiful churches in America. The cathedral has held 21 presidential funerals, and has some peculiar features, including a Darth Vader sculpture. Another special feature of this cathedral is that it displays a moon rock, received as gift from the Apollo 11 astronauts after their return from the Moon. (MORE)
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In Catholicism
What is the oldest Catholic church in America?
Saint Augustine Florida is the oldest European city in the United States. The city was founded by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 8, 1565. Martin Francisco Lopez de Me…ndoza Grajales became first parish priest of St. Augustine, the first established parish in the United States. Its church records, dating from 1594, are preserved in the archives of the present cathedral. St. Ignatius was founded in 1641 by Jesuits who arrived on the Ark and the Dove to assist in the forming of a new English Colony. St. Ignatius is located in Port Tobacco, Maryland on Chapel Point road. It remains the oldest continuously serving catholic church in the United States. (MORE)
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In Catholicism
What was the first Catholic Church in North America?
The first Roman Catholic Church building was built in 1565. It was located in St. Augustine, FL. St Augustine is the oldest European settlement in North America.
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In England
How many churches in the city of London?
The Diocese of London lists 35 churches in The City of London. It should be noted that the 'City of London' is a small, one-square mile, part of the Metropolitan area of Lon…don. According to the Diocese, there are in excess of 1,000 churches in greater London, though this would only include diocesan churches. (MORE)
