Japan Denominational Statistics, 1991

Harry BURTON-LEWIS

As HAS BEEN TRUE for several years, most The most reliable and authoritative Christian bodies in Japan experienced slow source for statistics on Japanese denomina­ annual growth in 1991. Reported claims of tions is the Kirisutokyo Nenkan (The Chris­ church membership totalled 1,783,851 be­ tian Yearbook), published each year under lievers, or 1.439 percent of the national pop­ the auspices of a weekly Christian newspa­ ulation. This total, which includes reports per, the Kirisuto Shimbun. Nearly all church from marginal groups whose claims may be growth analysts depend entirely on the ac­ less than completely reliable, is an increase curacy of these carefully compiled figures, from 1.047 percent in 1982,0.936 percent in but too often fail to credit the publication for 1972, 0.787 percent in 1962, and 0.462 per­ its hard work in collating indispensable cent in 1952. Some churches and mission church membership data. groups demonstrate percentage gain but The yearbook presents annual reports for have not achieved sufficient numerical trac­ 170 denominations and independent tion for statistically significant or accurate churches, complete with addresses for con­ church growth studies. Although smaller denominations affiliated with the Japan gregations, institutions, clergy, and promi­ Evangelical Association continued to post nent lay people. The reader is cautioned to modest numerical increases, the increases be analytical of memberships reported by with genuine impact on total Christian pop­ certain groups, as in the case of the indige­ ulation are among the Roman Catholics and nous Spirit of Jesus (Iesu no Mitama) the mainline Protestants belonging to the Church. This body regularly publicizes National Christian Council of Japan. These wildly deviant statistics, loosely based on bodies, with larger central offices that can whimsical counting procedures by some efficiently screen local church reports, dem­ local leaders who base their membership onstrated a carefully tabulated membership claims on counting methods that enumerate growth of about 10,000 people last year. Ap­ living and dead relatives of believers. The proximate!y three-fourths of the 19,83 6 bap­ Spirit of Jesus Church reported a national tisms reported in 1991 were in Roman membership of 472,544 for the present Catholic or NCCJ churches. annum, representing an astonishing in­ crease of 40,000 believers in the last year. If Harry BURTON-LEWIS is professor of commu­ true, this body alone would be considerably nications at Seigakuin University and a doctoral more numerous than the Roman Catholic candidate at the University of Texas ~n Austin. A total of 444,573. The yearbook presents United Methodist minister, he is assigned to these statistics as reported, with an asterisk Tsukuba Science City by the United Church of to alert readers that these figures and those Christ in Japan (Kyodan). of some other groups are not considered

121 JAPAN CHRISTIAN REVIEW 58 1992 reliable enough to justify. inclusion in the tion. This is one reason why observations overall Christian statistical totals, so that based purely on annual denominational in­ church membership excluding marginal crease or decrease are effective only for bod­ groups is reported as 1,040,986. ies with memberships totalling 5,000 or Acceptance of the accuracy for the vari­ more, or if protracted over at least two or ous denominational head count claims three decades. Below those levels, churches would require the assumption that there is have not obtained adequate traction to pro­ some form of responsible membership ac­ duce noteworthy statistical impact in the counting structure, and that similar meth­ general Japanese population. ods are employed by each reporting body. To illustrate, a larger group like the Certain small evangelical bodies and inde­ United Church of Christ in Japan (Kyodan) pendent congregations, however, are not an­ has experienced the exodus of two different swerable to any form of external analysis groups of churches in the past five years­ and reports tend to fluctuate considerably The Uniting Church of Christ in Japan and from year to year. the Holiness Federation. Each of these To examine church growth factors in Jap­ formed its own small denomination, al­ anese Christian denominations it is essential though these new bodies are by no means to soberly recognize the effects offragmenta­ the smallest in Japan. Yet the mass of the tion among the more than 160 mostly min­ Kyodan, with over 200,000 members, meant iscule Protestant groups. Simply computing the departures were hardly even noticed and annual percentage increases (or decreases) that the Kyodan was easily able to absorb for bodies with less than 5,000 members na­ the impact of these losses and to continue to tionwide is a meaningless exercise unless post growth figures. In fact, the Kyodan protracted for at least a decade. Mergers and membership increase of 2,139 believers last schisms (more the latter) have a dramatic year (with3,225 baptisms) was itself a figure effect on the overall annual statistics for the larger than the entire national denomina- micro-denominations that have proliferated . tional memberships of all but the largest in Japan in the past five decades. Some of the evangelical churches. smaller bodies include individual congrega­ Additional statistical analysis yields inter­ tions that of themselves are actually a siz­ esting evangelistic audit data for denomina­ able proportion of the entire national tions. The yearbook provides information on membership total for the whole denomina­ numerous other factors, including the num­ tion. Among numerous examples of this ber of baptisms. In most cases, the number phenomenon is the Cumberland Presbyte­ of baptisms exceeds the overall membership rian Church in Japan, which reports 1,618 increase for a denomination. This would in­ members. The denomination's congregation dicate that evangelism and baptism of new at Koza alone has 1,005 believers, nearly believers is necessary to exceed attrition two-thirds of the national total. In many in­ rates, most notably from the death of elderly stances, factionalism has divided many Jap­ members. Obviously, groups whose mem­ anese Christian groups (there are, for bership gains equal or exceed baptisms are instance, more than a dozen separate Baptist experiencing a certain amount of transfer of splinter denominations), so that loss of even already baptized Christians who held mem­ a single congregation or relatively small ad­ bership in other Christian churches. An an­ ditions or defections may warp growth nual report showing fewer baptisms than figures extrapolated from simple calcula- general membership growth thus reflects lit-

122 BURTON-LEWIS: Denominational Statistics

1991 STATISTICS FOR 20 LARGEST DENOMINATIONS

DENOMINATION MEMBERSHIP CHANGE CONGREGATIONS CLERGY/ RELIGIOUS Roman Catholic 418,706 +4,940 1,095 10,124 United Church of Christ in Japan 204,293 +2,139 1,707 2,155 (Kyodan) Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican) 57,772 + 234 299 344 Japan Baptist Convention 30,242 + 501 73 115 Eastern Orthodox 25,523 0 82 61 Japan Evangelical Lutheran 21,425 + 498 138 160

Church of Christ in Japan (Nikkt) 13,824 + 61 142 162 Seventh Day Adventist 12,893 + 193 153 120

Immanuel (Wesleyan) 12,288 + 63 117 262 Jesus Christ Church 11,896 - 4 117 244

Assemblies of God 10,492 + 243 165 332

Holiness Church 11,354 + 238 159 344

Reformed Church in Japan 8,671 + 64 125 151 The Evangelical Alliance (OOmei) 8,040 + 463 167 272

Salvation Army 6,654 -593 70 220

Holy Church of Jesus 6,284 + 114 98 204

Nazarene 5,544 0 76 100

Japan Baptist Union 4,816 -56 73 115 Independent Churches Federation 4,350 0 63 67 (Renmei)

Korean Christian Church in Japan 4,246 + 87 79 68

tle impact on the total growth for the Chris­ overall age for believers, with less attrition tian population in Japan. This phenomenon due to the death of aging members, but if has been especially evident in smaller protracted would also signal a need for bal­ churches. Among several examples is the anced evangelistic efforts to produce growth Evangelical Alliance Church (Domei), that is less dependent on transfers from which baptized only 429 persons last year other denominations. but experienced an increase of 463 mem­ The major charismatic or Pentecostal bers. This ratio might indicate a younger bodies, which have accounted for the bulk of

123 JAPAN CHRISTIAN REVIEW 58 1992 church growth figures in Latin America, sures and school activities on Sunday are sub-Saharan Africa, and some Asian coun­ often blamed, and what this portends for the tries, experienced little or no membership next generation of Japanese Christians re­ expansion in Japan in 1991. The Assemblies mains to be seen. of God, for example, added less than 250 be­ As is true in other countries, the rule in lievers nationwide. Some independent Pen­ Japan is that younger and smaller denomi­ tecostal congregations funded and staffed by nations enjoy a larger percentage of worship Korea-based groups have experienced spurts participation. Ratios vary enormously, with of growth that have not been sustained or some denominations reporting that only that have encountered the schismatic tend­ about a third of their membership are in encies mentioned above. church on a given Sunday, while others Other important barometers of local claim that well over half of the membership church strength are church school enroll­ attend weekly services. ment and the ratio of attendance at Sunday The Japan Christian Review will annually services to overall membership. Only the track statistical patterns for the major Chris­ Roman Catholics, the United Church of tian churches, and will seek to provide read­ Christ in Japan, the Baptist Renmei and the ers with yearly reports of important mergers Anglican Sei Ko Kai report church school to­ or schisms that may be of assistance in as­ tals in excess of 5,000 pupils. Secular pres- sessment of annual data.

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