Church Membership Census Figures Fall (Press, 13 January 1983)

According to figures released from the 1981 census, membership of the four major churches in New Zealand - Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Methodist - experienced a significant decline of 8.9 per cent between 1976 and 1981, resulting in a loss of 190,496 members. The proportion of the total population represented by these churches decreased from 68.2 per cent in 1976 to 61.2 per cent in 1981. Conversely, the number of individuals identifying as "Christian" without a specific denomination nearly doubled from 52,478 in 1976 to 101,901 in 1981. Among the non-Christian religions, Hinduism emerged as the largest, with 6,078 followers, reflecting a growth of 16.8 per cent since 1976. The Hebrew faith saw a decrease in adherents from 3,921 in 1976 to 3,360 in 1981, making Buddhism, which had 3,693 followers and a notable increase of 55 per cent, the second-largest non-Christian religion in New Zealand. Additionally, the number of individuals opting not to disclose their religion rose to 473,115, comprising 14.9 per cent of the total population, up from 14 per cent in 1976. The census also highlighted demographic shifts, noting a decline in the population under the age of 25 by 58,699 (3.9 per cent) across the nation, while those in the four main denominations aged under 25 decreased by 156,303 (16.1 per cent). Specifically, the number of Catholics under 15 fell by 17.4 per cent from 166,247 to 137,349. Among the main churches, Anglicans and Methodists had the lowest proportions of adherents under 25, at 39 per cent and 39.5 per cent respectively, while the Ratana and Latter-Day Saints Churches reported the highest proportions at 63.3 per cent and 62.2 per cent, reflecting significant Māori representation. The census data indicated a greater number of females than males in the largest churches, whereas the opposite was true for "non-religious" responses. The Baptist Church was identified as the most urbanised, with 89.3 per cent of its members living in urban areas, closely followed by the Salvation Army. In geographic terms, Anglicans were prominent on the East Coast and in various regions, while Presbyterians dominated in Otago and Southland, and Catholics were strongest in Westland. Despite the statistical trends, church leaders in Auckland contested the accuracy of the census figures, arguing that they did not adequately represent church attendance or commitment levels. The Rt Rev. Godfrey Wilson of the Anglican diocese emphasised that the focus should be on the quality of life of believers rather than mere numbers. Echoing this sentiment, the Rt Rev. Ernest Simmons from the Catholic diocese attributed the decline in membership to society's growing resistance towards institutions rather than a rejection of religious beliefs. The Rev. James Gunn from the Presbyterian Church noted a cultural shift where individuals no longer felt the need to affiliate with a religious denomination, while the Rev. Edmund Grounds from the Methodist Church observed stable attendance amidst a drop in membership percentages.

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