Church membership in the Nazarene Church.

[Julie Reed]

Would anyone happen to know where the highest concentration of Nazarene Church membership is in the United States ?

[Dennis M. Scott]

A few years ago it was the county where Nampa, Idaho, is located.

West Virginia at one time was the state with the highest Nazarene percentage.

[Oliver Phillips]

Ohio has some impressive stats:
Central Ohio
14,474 current members
13,529 average worship attendance
15,852 on the discipleship lists
76 active churches

East Ohio
9,694 current members
5,918 average worship attendance
12,557 on the discipleship lists
77 active churches

North Central Ohio
11,639 current members
10,189 average worship attendance
18,673 on the discipleship lists
69 active churches

North Western Ohio
10,626 current members
9,292 average worship attendance
15,238 on the discipleship lists
60 active churches

South Western Ohio
13,385 current members
10,537 average worship attendance
17,290 on the discipleship lists
76 active churches

[Susan Unger]

This doesn't compile it nicely for you, but here are the rankings by district in North America. http://www.nazarene.org/files/docs/Top5byDistrict1.pdf

[Charlene Clevenger]

HERE (http://www.nazarene.org/files/docs/NazareneChurchesUS.pdf) is a map from 2004 that shows the "hot spots" in the U.S.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/CharRob/CLA/NazMap.jpg

[Dana Grant]

A few years ago it was the county where Nampa, Idaho, is located.

West Virginia at one time was the state with the highest Nazarene percentage.

West Virginia? Wow, I'm probably a statistic!!! (I grew up there)

[Dana Grant]

I'm also a statistic now, I suppose, but from the looks of the map of Arizona, it's probably on the lower end..... LOL

[Hal Paul]

This map shows Nazarene distribution as a percentage of the local population.

http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/nazarene.gif


I'm not sure how helpful this is. I noticed that Brown County, Nebraska is displayed as having a Nazarene density of between 2.8 and 8.2 percent, that number is fully represented by Londa's childhood home church, Ainsworth Church of the Nazarene, which in 2010 reported 128 full members and an average worship attendance of 89. In 2000 Brown county had a population of around 3,500, about half of that population lives in Ainsworth, the region has experienced a population decline estimated at about 15% over the last 10 years.

As Dennis mentioned, Canyon County, where Nampa is locate at one time was the only county in the U.S. in which Nazarenes represented a majority of protestant adherents (when I saw this statistic, the demographers had removed all Roman Catholic and LDS members). I don't know how true that is now since the population there has almost tripled in the past 25 years. The largest faith group in Canyon County is LDS.

I found the map at Valparaiso University's American Ethnic Geography (http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/geo/courses/geo200/religion.html) web page.

[Ryan Scott]

I know the large city with the highest concentration of nazarenes nearby is Louisville, KY - there's a reason they've been doing a lot of big events there recently (well a reason beyond getting good deals from the city, which is trying to lure a General Assembly at some point).

[Roland Hearn]

Out of interest I went straight to the Dallas district, from Susan's link. I was shocked. Richardson is reporting 388 and when I first moved to Dallas in 98 they were in their old facility and running around 700 in two services. Carrollton was then running around 250 from memory and is now at 138. Could some please please tell me what "Lone Star Cowboy" churches are? Is that a new name for old churches and can I bet one of them isn't Dallas first? Dallas first was back then running between 150-200 and isn't on the list. Is anyone in Dallas distressed by those numbers?

[Susan Unger]

Out of interest I went straight to the Dallas district, from Susan's link. I was shocked. Richardson is reporting 388 and when I first moved to Dallas in 98 they were in their old facility and running around 700 in two services. Carrollton was then running around 250 from memory and is now at 138. Could some please please tell me what "Lone Star Cowboy" churches are? Is that a new name for old churches and can I bet one of them isn't Dallas first? Dallas first was back then running between 150-200 and isn't on the list. Is anyone in Dallas distressed by those numbers?

I think Cowboy services are aimed at drawing in those in the cowboy culture. Others on Naznet have mentioned Cowboy Churches. Maybe they'll pipe up and explain them.

[Julie Reed]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this. It has been a real eye opener for me. If I only read Naznet, I would think all of the Nazarenes were living only on the east coast and the west coast when it is obviously the heartland where the majority of the Naz poputlation is. Interesting! :)

[Dennis M. Scott]

Anyone who only reads naznet is pretty likely to assume some inaccuracies!

However, there are some great midwest Naznetters.

I can't speak for any west coast Naznetites, but some of the east coast people would have no contact with other Nazarenes outside the local church if it weren't for Naznet.

Naznet does represent a smattering of Nazarenes, but I would hesitate to say that the representation is in any way proportional.

[John Reilly]

Anyone who only reads naznet is pretty likely to assume some inaccuracies!

However, there are some great midwest Naznetters.

I can't speak for any west coast Naznetites, but some of the east coast people would have no contact with other Nazarenes outside the local church if it weren't for Naznet.

Naznet does represent a smattering of Nazarenes, but I would hesitate to say that the representation is in any way proportional.

Dennis, NAZNET is infallible!!! Without any error at any time on any topic or issue. NAZNET is without error concerning all things having to do with NAZNET CENTRAL ! Anyway, WOW !!! WHAT awesome statistics. I noticed on the map some counties in NH have no reported Nazarenes. Any missionaries out there want to go to northern NH and evangelize? You will need a snowmobile ... even in July.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Dennis, NAZNET is infallible!!! Without any error at any time on any topic or issue. NAZNET is without error concerning all things having to do with NAZNET CENTRAL ! Anyway, WOW !!! WHAT awesome statistics. I noticed on the map some counties in NH have no reported Nazarenes. Any missionaries out there want to go to northern NH and evangelize? You will need a snowmobile ... even in July.

John, you must remember that some of those counties don't even have any people. I do remember one county in a western state, Wyoming or some such, the Nazarene church had more members than the county had residents. Several people drove in from neighboring counties. Kinda like Windsor, NH.

[Lorie Hatcliff]

It looks like Long Island is covered with Nazarene churches. (according to post #5 map)
Is that right?

[John Kennedy]

Could somebody come up with a map or two showing the geographical distribution of Naznetters and in relation to Nazarene churches? Would there be a high correlation?

[John Kennedy]

It looks like Long Island is covered with Nazarene churches. (according to post #5 map)
Is that right?

Either that or a combination of large dots on a relatively small island.

[Charlotte 'Mercer' Burton]

Out of interest I went straight to the Dallas district, from Susan's link. I was shocked. Richardson is reporting 388 and when I first moved to Dallas in 98 they were in their old facility and running around 700 in two services. Carrollton was then running around 250 from memory and is now at 138. Could some please please tell me what "Lone Star Cowboy" churches are? Is that a new name for old churches and can I bet one of them isn't Dallas first? Dallas first was back then running between 150-200 and isn't on the list. Is anyone in Dallas distressed by those numbers?

I'm glad you made this comment, because I saw the same thing. I was starting to doubt whether my memory of the number of regular attenders at Richardson was right. Now I see that my memory was right, and the church (and apparently others on the district) really are dwindling in size astonishingly. I would be very interested to know where all of those people have gone and why.

[Kimberly Merrill]

The map was really interesting. It looks like we need some New Start pastors to move to Utah! Meanwhile, in Maine, the highest concentrations were in counties where there are only about three people living anyway, so it's easy to skew that statistic. LOL!

[Shea Zellweger]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this. It has been a real eye opener for me. If I only read Naznet, I would think all of the Nazarenes were living only on the east coast and the west coast when it is obviously the heartland where the majority of the Naz poputlation is. Interesting! :)

Bear with me... which statistic demonstrated for you that it is "obviously the heartland where the majority of the Naz population is"? I didn't see anyone post any raw numbers. The clearest stat was Hal's map, but in reading that you have to bear in mind the population differences. 0.9% of the population of New York City is more than 8.2% of the population of Idaho, for instance. Although I would guess that the midwest has more Nazarenes than any other region, I don't see anything on this thread that proves it.

I'm guessing the clearest representation of the Nazarene population in the US is this one (http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/administration/researchcenter/census/apportionment/display.aspx), which lists Naz. population by district, and uses it to describe how the House of Representatives would break down if it were based solely on Nazarenes. By that logic, and if I'm counting right, the land between the mountain ranges has over 200 reps, while the coasts have 162. California, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have the largest Nazarene populations, and it looks like New York might have the lowest percentage in the union.

[Julie Reed]

Bear with me... which statistic demonstrated for you that it is "obviously the heartland where the majority of the Naz population is"? I didn't see anyone post any raw numbers. The clearest stat was Hal's map, but in reading that you have to bear in mind the population differences. 0.9% of the population of New York City is more than 8.2% of the population of Idaho, for instance. Although I would guess that the midwest has more Nazarenes than any other region, I don't see anything on this thread that proves it.

I'm guessing the clearest representation of the Nazarene population in the US is this one (http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/administration/researchcenter/census/apportionment/display.aspx), which lists Naz. population by district, and uses it to describe how the House of Representatives would break down if it were based solely on Nazarenes. By that logic, and if I'm counting right, the land between the mountain ranges has over 200 reps, while the coasts have 162. California, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have the largest Nazarene populations, and it looks like New York might have the lowest percentage in the union.

Yes I guess your right. I was looking at the Ohio statistics.

[Billy Cox]

Out of interest I went straight to the Dallas district, from Susan's link. I was shocked. Richardson is reporting 388 and when I first moved to Dallas in 98 they were in their old facility and running around 700 in two services. Carrollton was then running around 250 from memory and is now at 138. Could some please please tell me what "Lone Star Cowboy" churches are? Is that a new name for old churches and can I bet one of them isn't Dallas first? Dallas first was back then running between 150-200 and isn't on the list. Is anyone in Dallas distressed by those numbers?

That's sad news. I have been to Richardson several times, but that was a long time ago and I'm not familar with the church's more recent history.

[Billy Cox]

Would anyone happen to know where the highest concentration of Nazarene Church membership is in the United States ?

When I last looked for this information, Indianapolis had the highest percentage of Nazarenes. (Nazarenes as a percentage of the overall population)

It's not an accident that General Assembly is almost always in Indianapolis...and Louisville (where M11 and NYC are being held) is just down the highway.

[Grant Henry]

The clearest stat was Hal's map, but in reading that you have to bear in mind the population differences. 0.9% of the population of New York City is more than 8.2% of the population of Idaho, for instance. Although I would guess that the midwest has more Nazarenes than any other region, I don't see anything on this thread that proves it.


Agreed. For example, on Hal's map there is a pretty big red spot in eastern Oregon, the county that borders Idaho. There is one Nazarene church in that county (Baker City, OR - where I grew up), but the church is 400-500 in a county of no more than 15,000 (probably less now) - a county of at least 2,000 square miles. Makes a pretty big spot, but as it turns out, it's only one church!

Peace in Christ,

[Marg Shurtliff]

Could somebody come up with a map or two showing the geographical distribution of Naznetters and in relation to Nazarene churches? Would there be a high correlation?


John , this is from a few years back . I believe Joel Merrill made this for us .

[Jim Franklin]

This map has me south of Tampa and the closest I have been to that area was in Oklahoma. Did Marsha Lynn live in California then? I don't think Barb Bouldry was in Missoula, MT either.

[Charlene Clevenger]

I remember somebody made a NazNet map using Google Earth. I don't have it on my computer anymore.

[Marg Shurtliff]

This map has me south of Tampa and the closest I have been to that area was in Oklahoma. Did Marsha Lynn live in California then? I don't think Barb Bouldry was in Missoula, MT either.

That's so true , Jim . I remember now it wasn't perfect . I think Joel explained some but uncertain what that was now . I'm more or less in the right place and assumed all was well. lol .Don't think Marsha moved either .
I think Paula Karr and Glenn Harris are wrong , too, and there are many that are more or less , less the operative word ,in the area of their homes .That was from 2005 I see.

And Charlene , what I posted was Google .

[Rich Schmidt]

HERE (http://www.nazarene.org/files/docs/NazareneChurchesUS.pdf) is a map from 2004 that shows the "hot spots" in the U.S.


This map shows Nazarene distribution as a percentage of the local population.

I'm not surprised to see how dark Indiana is on both of those maps. Looking at it now, I feel like we're squeezed between Illinois (with ONU) and Ohio (with MVNU). :)

I'm also not surprised to see the my county (Porter County) is in the 1.0-2.7 % of population range. We have quite a few Nazarene churches in our county, and two of the top three churches on our district (in terms of attendance) are here. One averages just under 1,000 people on a Sunday, and the other between 1,000 and 1,500.

BTW, this makes me one of those Midwest NazNetters. :)

[Susan Unger]

Out of interest I went straight to the Dallas district, from Susan's link. I was shocked. Richardson is reporting 388 and when I first moved to Dallas in 98 they were in their old facility and running around 700 in two services. Carrollton was then running around 250 from memory and is now at 138. Could some please please tell me what "Lone Star Cowboy" churches are? Is that a new name for old churches and can I bet one of them isn't Dallas first? Dallas first was back then running between 150-200 and isn't on the list. Is anyone in Dallas distressed by those numbers?

http://dallasnaz.org/images/5274/pdf/Nazarene%20Cowboy%20Church%20Network.pdf

[Gina Stevenson]

I'm also a statistic now, I suppose, but from the looks of the map of Arizona, it's probably on the lower end..... LOL

Yes, it appears that the darker spot is up near Phoenix, not by the border & Tucson.

As for that 2005 map, think those people's names are probably surrounding the dots indicating areas where NN'ers live, rather than the names being on top of their location; otherwise, names would be on top of each other & unreadable. ;)

Seems there are enough more now that it would even be rather hard to say anymore, unless one just numbered/lettered spots on the map that corresponded with names underneath it?

[Marsha Lynn]

Anyone who only reads naznet is pretty likely to assume some inaccuracies!

However, there are some great midwest Naznetters.

I can't speak for any west coast Naznetites, but some of the east coast people would have no contact with other Nazarenes outside the local church if it weren't for Naznet.

Naznet does represent a smattering of Nazarenes, but I would hesitate to say that the representation is in any way proportional.

I think you touch on several factors here.

1. Those with much contact with other Nazarenes don't need NazNet for contact.

2. Those who can easily find fellowship with Nazarenes who are a lot like them don't need NazNet for fellowship.

3. Those who enjoy life on the more conservative end of things are unlikely to find NazNet a comfortable place of fellowship.

If I were in a mental state to mesh those three statements into a cohesive thought, I would do so. Unfortunately, this is as far as it goes for me during this time of mental hiatus. Someone else can draw the conclusions.

:smilies1098:

Marsha

[Jayne Hessling]

yeah , that pretty much my family, They are in a small town in Wyoming

[Jayne Hessling]

Kimberly, I live in Utah....its a rough one here.
it would be great to see them flourish...

[Monte Butts]

Kimberly, I live in Utah....its a rough one here.
it would be great to see them flourish...

Pretty desolate in Mississippi as well.

[John Kennedy]

Kimberly, I live in Utah....its a rough one here.
it would be great to see them flourish...

Where in Utah do you live? My parents pastored the Provo church (now closed) about 50+ years ago.

[Jim Franklin]

Where's Joel when we need him? Come back to the fold Joel, please. Your Geographer friend needs you.

[Susan Unger]

Where's Joel when we need him? Come back to the fold Joel, please. Your Geographer friend needs you.

He's on facebook now Jim.

[David Graham]

In my denomination, the Uniting Church, we have an active membership of over 70000 in our state synod of Queensland. On the national statistics we are the third largest denomination in the nation with 9% of the population identifying themselves as Uniting. In my state of Queensland 7.2% of the population identify themselves as Uniting.

Nationally the Church of the Nazarene in Australia has between 1 and 2 thousand members and statistically they are identified among the other protestant groups which nationally have 4% of the population in this mix.

The largest church in Austalia is the Roman Catholic Church to which 41% of the population claim identity.