According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s figures, Arkansas has grown in population from 2,673,400 in 2000 to 2,889,450 in 2009. This represents a population growth of approximately 8.08%.
According to Episcopal Church statistics, the Diocese of Arkansas went from Average Sunday Attendance (or ASA) of 5,349 in 1998 to 4,684 in 2008. This represents an ASA decline of about 12% over this ten year period.
In order to generate a pictorial chart of some Arkansas diocesan statistics, please go [url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/growth_60791_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=50929]here[/url] and enter “Arkansas” in the second line down under “Diocese” and then click on “View Diocese Chart” under the third line to the left.
Arkansas came through the 2002 throgh 2008 years relatively well with Members down 6.6 percent, ASA down 15.9 percent, but with Plate & Pledge (adjusted for inflation) actually increasing about 1.9 percent. Using these data I ranked the diocese at 20 out of 95 considered. The future is a bit mixed with Aging not good with 150 Infant Baptisms and 190 Burials in 2008. (It took 90 Members to produce ONE Infant Baptism.) Money looks a bit brighter with 24 of its 56 churches with Plate & Pledge over $150K in 2008 which means that every two “rich” churches has three “poor” churches to help. Growth is a bit darker with 32 of its 56 churches with ASA of 70 or less in 2008 and 13 of these 32 with ASA of 20 or less. ACNA may also have a negative impact on TEC numbers with 10 churches in Arkansas. Statmann
I would note that NW Arkansas has become a significant retirement community. While I am quite sure we need to witness to young families and children, in a society growing older, we should expect to attract older people and include a larger proportion of that generation than was once the case.