I'm not sure. The CRC Yearbooks label baptisms as "Covenant Children Baptized."
This number isn't large. In my entire time at Third CRC, I recall one adult baptism and two or three (maybe?) children who were baptized, from a family who came from a church that didn't baptism infants.
"I wonder what kind of job the CRC is doing at making new believers." The CRC has always struggled with this; it's just more apparent now than it ever was.
Very interesting to read and look through the graphs. That drop in baptisms starting after 2016 is steep! I looked up the 2022 URCNA statistics. Lynden URC is up to 466 members, and Covenant URC in Lynden has 76. Lynden URC had 11 baptisms that year and Covenant 3. Based off the graph above and the one year of URC data it looks like the baptism totals were equal for 2022.
The URC data is not easy to find as I've only been able to see a few random years online.. As a CRC'er being connected to 2 areas (Phoenix & San Diego) where the CRC churches and communities are dying / non-existent and the URC presence is really growing and planting new churches I've found these numbers interesting. It seems to be a more west coast thing as the same doesn't seem to be happening in Michigan or Iowa.
Interesting musings, Kent! Along with your charts and graphs, I appreciated the history you provided on how the First CRC of Lynden had its beginnings, and that several families had come by way of Whidbey Island. Curious - if you and your family had continued to live in Lynden, would you still be at Third CRC? Neither of us has a crystal ball, but what are your thoughts? It may be worth your while to come and attend worship services and visit with staff at the CRC churches in Lynden, since you commented that you haven't been to these churches in ten years.
(Also, please correct the spelling of Dordt University in the "Cultural Change" paragraph. Thanks)
Mary, thanks for your feedback—and correction! Dordt is now spelled correctly. In 2014, we became involved at The Table in Bellingham. If we lived in the area, we’d probably still be there.
Excellent work!
Thank you, Paul!
Are adult baptism recorded? As infants decrease I wonder what kind of job the CRC is doing at making new believers.
I'm not sure. The CRC Yearbooks label baptisms as "Covenant Children Baptized."
This number isn't large. In my entire time at Third CRC, I recall one adult baptism and two or three (maybe?) children who were baptized, from a family who came from a church that didn't baptism infants.
"I wonder what kind of job the CRC is doing at making new believers." The CRC has always struggled with this; it's just more apparent now than it ever was.
I think in my 20 years in the CRC I also saw 1 adult baptized at church.
Very interesting to read and look through the graphs. That drop in baptisms starting after 2016 is steep! I looked up the 2022 URCNA statistics. Lynden URC is up to 466 members, and Covenant URC in Lynden has 76. Lynden URC had 11 baptisms that year and Covenant 3. Based off the graph above and the one year of URC data it looks like the baptism totals were equal for 2022.
That sounds about right. At some point I'd like to look at all URC data from 1997 onwards, but that's another project altogether...
The URC data is not easy to find as I've only been able to see a few random years online.. As a CRC'er being connected to 2 areas (Phoenix & San Diego) where the CRC churches and communities are dying / non-existent and the URC presence is really growing and planting new churches I've found these numbers interesting. It seems to be a more west coast thing as the same doesn't seem to be happening in Michigan or Iowa.
Interesting musings, Kent! Along with your charts and graphs, I appreciated the history you provided on how the First CRC of Lynden had its beginnings, and that several families had come by way of Whidbey Island. Curious - if you and your family had continued to live in Lynden, would you still be at Third CRC? Neither of us has a crystal ball, but what are your thoughts? It may be worth your while to come and attend worship services and visit with staff at the CRC churches in Lynden, since you commented that you haven't been to these churches in ten years.
(Also, please correct the spelling of Dordt University in the "Cultural Change" paragraph. Thanks)
Mary, thanks for your feedback—and correction! Dordt is now spelled correctly. In 2014, we became involved at The Table in Bellingham. If we lived in the area, we’d probably still be there.