“The top ten list of presbyteries with the most “departing” congregations include: Charlotte was ranked first, losing 17 congregations, Mid-South was second with 16 congregations gone, Cascades and Central Washington tied for third place, each have 14 congregations depart.”

Charlotte Presbytery has had the most congregations to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) while Sacramento Presbytery has lost the most members, according to a presentation given in October 2014 by former and current staff of the PCUSA’s Research Services.

The presentation also disclosed that Pennsylvania was ranked first in the number of congregations that have left, and California had the most members to leave the PCUSA.

“Congregations leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA),” was a presentation given at the annual meeting of the Religious Research Association held Oct. 31 in Indianapolis.

Table four of the Power Point slides that accompanied the presentation showed the rankings of the presbyteries in relation to the number of congregations and members that have left the denomination.

The top ten list of presbyteries with the most “departing” congregations include:

• Charlotte was ranked first, losing 17 congregations
• Mid-South was second with 16 congregations gone
• Cascades and Central Washington tied for third place, each have 14 congregations depart
• Beaver-Butler ranked fifth: 12 congregations gone
• San Joaquin and Shenango tied for sixth both having 11 congregations leave
• Tropical Florida was eighth: 10 congregations gone

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