Episcopal Church Continues Decline in AWA latest Figures Show

By Mary Ann Mueller

www.virtueonline.org

November 14, 2025

The Episcopal Church has released its 2024 diocesan stats for Average Weekly Attendance figures. However, the complete statistics for all across the board metrics are still missing in action.

Perusing the domestic attendance stats revealed that 57 dioceses registered a drop in weekly attendance from 2023 with the dioceses recording a double digit plunge in attendance. They include: the Navajoland (21%); Georgia (17.2%); Eastern Oregon (16.3%); Western Massachusetts (13%); Mississippi (12.2%); Southwest Florida (11.8%); and Los Angeles (11.6%).

Only one out of 36 dioceses showed a double-digit growth in attendance: South Carolina at 13.4%.

Nine dioceses showed a less than one percent increase in weekly attendance including: Arizona (0.7%); California (0.04%); Montana (0.4%); New Jersey (0.4%); Northwest Texas (0.4%); Northwestern Pennsylvania (0.6%); TEC Pittsburgh (0.3%); Utah (0.9%); and West Texas (0.8%).

Ten dioceses showed an increase or decrease in weekly attendance by fewer than ten souls including: Massachusetts (+1); California (+2); Iowa (-2); Montana (+4); Kansas (-4); TEC Pittsburgh (+5); Northwest Texas (+6); Northwestern Pennsylvania (+6); Delaware (-8); and El Camino Real (-8).

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Tracking the attendance numbers in new hybrid dioceses of The Great Lakes and Wisconsin and also in Hawaii are problematic.

The Diocese of the Great Lakes came into being as the dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan joined forces to form a united Michigan-based diocese.

In 2023 the Diocese of Eastern Michigan had an AWA of 1,170; and the Diocese of Western Michigan had an AWA of 2,408 for a combined total of 3,578. 

That 3,578 figure is what the new Diocese of the Great Lakes reported for its 2024 AWA.

So the question is: Was there absolutely no change up or down in the number of Episcopalians who showed up for services in 2024? Or did the Diocese of the Great Lakes just plug in the combined 2023 numbers for its 2024 figure?

Looking at the reconstituted statewide Diocese of Wisconsin the 2024 attendance figure of 4,008 seems to reflect a very small dip of 11 people in the pews from the combined 2023 figures of the dioceses of Eau Claire (411); Fond du Lac (1,243); and Milwaukee (2,354) with a combined 2023 total of 3,997.

Over in Hawaii the Pacific island diocese took in Micronesia with a 2023 AWA of 78. During the same period of time the Diocese of Hawaii had an AWA of 2,079 for a combined total of 2,157.

However, adding in the AWA from Micronesia did not really boost the Diocese of Hawaii’s weekly attendance figures much. Hawaii's 2024 AWA stands at 2,084 only six more from its 2023 figure of 2,079 even with addition of Micronesia.

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