1. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use1 A Sample Presentation of The State of the Church in South Carolina and the Charleston and Columbia Metro Area 1990-2000 Dave Olson www.TheAmericanChurch.org

2. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use2 The first 21 slides are from the “State of the Church in South Carolina” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 43 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm

3. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use3 In 1996, polls taken immediately after the Presidential election revealed that 58% of people claimed they had voted, when in reality only 49% actually did. This is called the Halo Effect. People tend to over-inflate their participation in activities that create acceptability within their social group. For many decades, pollsters such as Gallup and Barna have reported that around 45% of Americans attend church every Sunday. But there is a religious Halo Effect. Actual attendance counts have shown that the percentage of people attending church on any given weekend is much lower than was previously thought.

4. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use4 The Intent of this presentation is to answer and then expand on two key questions: “How Many People Really Attend Church in South Carolina Every Week?” “Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in South Carolina?” As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in South Carolina will begin to take shape.

5. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use5 This study uses weekend church attendance as a more reliable and more immediate snapshot of Christian influence than membership. The following map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in all 50 states in 2000. South Carolina has an church attendance percentage of (23.3%), which is higher than the national average (18.7%).

6. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use6

7. 7 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in South Carolina.

8. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use8

9. 9 The Next 2 Maps show the population numbers for each county in South Carolina. The first map shows the population of each county. The second map shows the growth or decline in population for each county from 1990 - 2000. Blue states have declined in population.

10. © 2004 by David T. Olson 9,958 Marion 11,211 Allendale 15,185 Calhoun 16,658 Bamberg 19,181 Saluda 20,119 Lee 20,678 Jasper 21,386 Hampton 23,454 Fairfield 23,478 Barnwell 24,595 Edgefield 26,167 Abbeville 28,818 McCormick 29,881 Union 30,722 Dillon 32,502 Clarendon 34,068 Chester 35,466 Marlboro 36,108 Newberry 37,217 Williamsburg 38,264 Colleton 42,768 Chesterfield 52,537 Cherokee 52,647 Kershaw 55,797 Georgetown 61,351 Lancaster 66,215 Oconee 66,271 Greenwood 67,394 Darlington 69,567 Laurens 91,582 Orangeburg 96,413 Dorchester 104,646 Sumter 110,757 Pickens 120,937 Beaufort 125,761 Florence 142,552 Aiken 142,651 Berkeley 164,614 York 165,740 Anderson 196,629 Horry 216,014 Lexington 253,791 Spartanburg 309,969 Charleston 320,677 Richland 379,616 Greenville 0 to 30,000 30,000 to 100,000 100,000 to 400,000 South Carolina Counties 2000 Population

11. © 2004 by David T. Olson -543 McCormick -511 Allendale -456 Union -244 Bamberg 402 Williamsburg 1,090 Marion 1,159 Fairfield 1,567 Marlboro 1,608 Dillon 1,682 Lee 1,898 Chester 2,009 Sumter 2,305 Abbeville 2,432 Calhoun 2,824 Saluda 2,936 Newberry 3,185 Barnwell 3,195 Hampton 3,887 Colleton 4,052 Clarendon 4,191 Chesterfield 5,191 Jasper 5,543 Darlington 6,220 Edgefield 6,704 Greenwood 6,779 Orangeburg 6,835 Lancaster 8,031 Cherokee 8,721 Oconee 9,048 Kershaw 9,495 Georgetown 11,417 Florence 11,475 Laurens 13,353 Dorchester 13,875 Berkeley 14,930 Charleston 16,863 Pickens 20,544 Anderson 21,612 Aiken 26,991 Spartanburg 33,117 York 34,512 Beaufort 34,957 Richland 48,403 Lexington 52,576 Horry 59,449 Greenville -600 to 0 0 to 10,000 10,000 to 60,000 South Carolina Counties 1990 - 2000 Population Decline or Growth

12. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use12 The Next 2 Slides show the ethnicity of South Carolina in 1990 and 2000. The third slide shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population for each ethnic group.

13. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use13

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16. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use16 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in South Carolina in 1990 and 2000. All groups have grown numerically over the last decade. But as population numbers change, a more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph. This graph reflects a decrease in the percentage of the population attending church for all groups except Catholics.

17. © 2004 by David T. Olson

19. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use19 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in South Carolina. The first chart highlights the Baptist predominance in this area. The second and third charts show that all denominational families have declined except for Catholics and Pentecostals.

20. © 2004 by David T. Olson

23. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use23 The Next Map shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend from 1990 to 2000 for each county. 10 counties grew in attendance percentage, while 36 counties declined.

24. © 2004 by David T. Olson -17.9% Abbeville -14.9% Lancaster -13.8% Calhoun -13.6% Edgefield -13.1% Laurens -12.4% Kershaw -12.2% Clarendon -12.2% Chester -11.9% Jasper -11.0% Horry -10.5% Anderson -10.4% Newberry -10.4% Cherokee -10.2% Saluda -9.7% Colleton -8.5% Florence -7.8% Georgetown -7.5% Marion -7.0% Hampton -6.8% Chesterfield -6.3% York -4.9% Lexington -4.6% Beaufort -4.5% Barnwell -4.4% Fairfield -4.3% Spartanburg -3.2% Orangeburg -3.0% Oconee -2.8% Pickens -2.6% Lee -1.8% Darlington -1.5% Richland -1.4% Union -0.7% Aiken -4.1% Charleston 0.1% Berkeley 0.3% Bamberg 0.4% Williamsburg 1.1% Dillon -8.1% Dorchester 3.2% Greenwood 4.1% Allendale 4.7% Sumter 7.1% Greenville 8.1% McCormick 28.2% Marlboro Decline Growth South Carolina Counties 1990-2000 Growth or Decline of Percentage of Population at Christian Worship on any Given Sunday. Rose = Growth Blue = Decline

25. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use25 The Complete South Carolina Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm

26. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use26 The next 9 slides are from the “State of the Church in Charleston” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm

27. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use27 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Charleston metro in 1990 and 2000. All groups have grown numerically over the last decade. But as population has grown, a more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph.

28. © 2004 by David T. Olson

30. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use30 The Next 3 Maps show the attendance percentages for the Evangelical, Catholic and Mainline churches in each county in Charleston in 2000.

31. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use31 Charleston Metro Area 2000 Evangelical Church Attendance 13.3% Charleston 10.9% Berkeley 17.6% Dorchester 0% to 12% 12% to 15% 15% to 20% South Carolina Counties 2000 Percentage of Population at Evangelical Churches Beige = Higher Rose = Medium Blue = Lower

32. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use32 Charleston Metro Area 2000 Mainline Church Attendance

33. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use33 Charleston Metro Area 2000 Catholic Church Attendance

34. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use34 The Next Chart shows the net gain in the number of churches in the Charleston Metro area in the past decade. There was a net gain of 26 churches. However, a net gain of 72 churches was needed to keep up with population growth from 1990 - 2000. An additional 47 churches were needed to keep up with changes in population.

35. © 2004 by David T. Olson

36. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use36 The Complete Charleston Powerpoint is 45 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm

37. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use37 The next 9 slides are from the “State of the Church in Columbia” Powerpoint. The Complete Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm

38. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use38 The Next Graph shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Columbia metro in 1990 and 2000. All groups have grown numerically over the last decade. But as population has grown, a more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph.

39. © 2004 by David T. Olson

42. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use42 The Next Map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in the Columbia Metro area.

43. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use43 25.8% Richland 20.9% Lexington Columbia Metro 2000 Percentage of Population at all Christian Churches on any Given Weekend

44. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use44 The 3 Next Charts show the relative strength of the 8 major denominational groups in Columbia metro area.

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47. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use47 The Complete Columbia Powerpoint is 42 slides in length, and is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm. It includes maps of church attendance in every county in the metro area, as well as denominational charts, average size charts, church planting charts, ethnicity charts and population growth information. http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm

48. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use48 This Presentation is based on a nationwide study of American church attendance, as reported by churches and denominations. The database currently has average worship attendances for each of the last 10 years for over 200,000 individual churches. It also uses supplementary information (actual membership numbers correlated with accurate membership to attendance ratios) to project the attendances of all other denominational and independent churches. All told, accurate information is provided for over 300,000 orthodox Christian churches. 1 1 This presentation looks only at people attending orthodox Christian churches. Approximately 3 million people attend non-orthodox Christian churches, and perhaps 3 million attend a religious service of another religion. Those ‘houses of worship’ would add another 35,000 churches in the United States and increase the 2000 percentage to 20.5%.

49. © 2004 by David T. Olson Sample - Not for Public Use49 For More Information... Please go to www.theamericanchurch.org for additional information on the American Church.www.theamericanchurch.org 12 Surprising Facts about the American Church is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/ 12supm. htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/ 12supm. htm The complete South Carolina Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/state/USC20.htm The Complete Charleston Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Charleston.htm The Complete Columbia Powerpoint presentation is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/metro/Columbia.htm A Combo Pack (12 Surprising Facts, South Carolina and Charleston Powerpoints) is available at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/SC0.htm http://www.theamericanchurch.org/combo/SC0.htm