America’s Largest Presbyterian Group In Freefall
The Presbyterian Church (USA), the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination, is projected to fall below one million members by the end of 2025, continuing a decades-long trend of decline. A recent report from the denomination’s Interim Unified Agency revealed that nearly 49,000 members were lost in 2024, bringing the total down to about 1.045 million. This marks a significant drop from earlier years, with membership having decreased by roughly 150,000 since 2021. The number of congregations and church elders also fell, pointing to broader structural shrinkage within the denomination.
Despite the drop in membership, financial contributions to the denomination increased significantly in 2024, rising from approximately $1.8 billion the previous year to over $2.2 billion. Additionally, the report showed a modest rise in baptisms, including both child baptisms and those during confirmation, suggesting some continued engagement at the local level. There was also a small increase in the number of members identifying as non-binary or genderqueer.
Rev. Dr. Tim Cargal, who oversaw the report, noted that while crossing below the one-million-member threshold will be symbolically significant, it doesn’t capture the entire picture. He emphasized that PC(USA), like many religious organizations in the U.S., is navigating a cultural shift marked by declining participation across denominations. Nevertheless, he stressed that the church is still finding ways to bring people into the faith community, even amid overall losses.
Over the past two decades, PC(USA) has undergone major changes, including staff cuts and restructuring efforts in response to its shrinking size. One major contributor to the membership decline has been the denomination’s progressive stance on various theological and social issues. For example, its decision in 2010 to allow the ordination of non-celibate LGBTQ individuals led to hundreds of congregations breaking away to join more conservative Presbyterian bodies.
These internal changes have reflected broader national trends of shifting religious identities and practices. Though the PC(USA) once had over 2.5 million members, it now faces the challenge of sustaining its mission while adapting to a religious landscape that increasingly includes individuals who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Church leaders continue to emphasize the importance of outreach and community-building as they respond to these ongoing shifts.