Mainline Protestant - Denominations

Denominations

The largest U.S. mainline churches are sometimes referred to as the Seven Sisters of American Protestantism. The term was apparently coined by William Hutchison.

• With almost 8 million U.S. members in 2008 (down from over 11 million in 1968), the United Methodist Church remains the largest U.S. mainline Protestant denomination.
• The second largest mainline denomination is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), with approximately 4.5 million members in 2009 (down from 4.7 million members in 2008).
• The third largest mainline denomination is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with approximately 1.95 million members in 2011 (down from 2.4 million members in 2006).
• Fourth in size is the Episcopal Church, with approximately 1.95 million members in 2010 (down from 2.1 million members in 2008).
• American Baptist Churches USA are fifth in size, with approximately 1.3 million members (2008).
• The United Church of Christ has 1.1 million members (2008).
• The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) claimed 691,160 in 2008.

The Association of Religion Data Archives also considers these denominations to be mainline:

• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 350,000 members
• Reformed Church in America 254,485 members (2008)
• International Council of Community Churches 73,174 members (2006)
• National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 65,392 members (2002)
• North American Baptist Conference 64,565 members (2002)
• Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches 15,666 members (2006)
• Moravian Church in America, Northern Province 20,983 members (2008)
• Moravian Church in America, Southern Province 21,513 members (1991)
• Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 12,000 members (2007)
• Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Congregational Christian Churches, (not part of any national CCC body)
• Moravian Church in America, Alaska Province

The Association of Religion Data Archives has difficulties collecting data on traditionally African American denominations. Those churches most likely to be identified as mainline include these Methodist groups:

• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Some denominations with similar names and historical ties to mainline groups are not considered mainline. The Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the Churches of Christ, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) are often considered too conservative for this category and thus grouped as evangelical.