Methodist membership falls

United Methodist Church membership dipped to a new low last year in the United States, dropping to under 8 million.

The church’s General Council on Finance and Administration estimated U.S. membership at 7.98 million members in 2005.

Membership among the Methodists – like most mainline Protestant churches – has been dropping slowly but steadily since the formation of the denomination in 1968.

Plans to reverse the trend include new congregations in the United States and outreach to Hispanics and immigrant groups.

The problem of declining membership is exclusive to the United States.

Regions of the church in Africa, Asia and Europe have increased membership more than 68 percent between 1995 and 2004.

The Methodist church’s global membership is estimated at 9.86 million.