United Methodist Church reports decline in U.S. membership and attendance

The United Methodist Church (UMC) reported a decrease in its U.S. membership by approximately 174,000 individuals during 2025, according to data released by the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). Membership figures fell from roughly 3.988 million in 2024 to 3.814 million, representing a 4.36% decline. The report also noted a drop in worship participation, with in-person attendance falling to about 1.041 million and online attendance decreasing to approximately 986,000.

A GCFA spokesperson stated that the decline is attributed to a variety of factors, including transfers to other denominations, deaths, and administrative corrections to membership rolls. The organization emphasized that these statistics reflect a blend of departures and new professions of faith, noting that they cannot isolate the impact of any single cause. While U.S. numbers have trended downward, the report highlighted a slight increase in the number of small groups within U.S. congregations. The data does not account for the denomination's international membership, which has seen significant growth in regions such as Africa.