I. Data Source

Data provided by the BFP

At regular two-year intervals, we conduct our own statistical survey of our members, congregations, and conference participants via data collection.
In our understanding of the free church, members are baptized and active members of the church.
Furthermore, we speak of affiliates who belong to the family of a member (spouse and children), are not baptized in faith themselves, and do not belong to any other church/denomination.
In connection with the granting of corporate rights, the BFP was given a factor of 3 as a statistical figure by the authorities in order to determine for which group of people the BFP congregation has to assume pastoral co-responsibility and care.
Only in this way can a serious comparability be made with the figures of other Protestant free churches and regional churches.
This would mean that the BFP, with a size of 60,000 members, can assume a mathematical size of 180,000 members including affiliates.

Our statistical survey is determined every two years with the following questions, among others:

1. number of members of the municipality as of 01.01.yyyy?
2. average number of adult visitors to the Sunday service (excluding underage children) as of 01.01.yyyy?
3. number of children and adolescents reached to the age of majority as of 01.01.yyyy?

The number of affiliates is a calculated number (as previously stated) based on members.
All figures are rounded up or down to the nearest 100/500 (e.g.: instead of 65,210 to 65,000 / instead of 1,184 to 1,200).

Development of the BFP staff

Pastors, church leaders and personal members in the BFP

• 1950 = 20 employees
• 1960 = 53 employees
• 1970 = 120 employees
• 1980 = 205 employees
• 1990 = 574 employees (of which 307 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 1996 = 823 employees (of which 450 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2000 = 976 employees (of which 601 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2002 = 1058 employees (of which 661 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2004 = 1177 employees (of which 722 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2006 = 1175 employees (of which 735 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2007 = 1221 employees (of which 761 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2009 = 968 personal members (of which 787 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2011 = 1048 personal members (of which 844 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2013 = 1117 personal members (of which 767 ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2015 = 1150 personal members (of which 853 are ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2017 = 1204 personal members (of which 1029 are ordained pastors / pastoral assistants)
• 2019 = 1259 personal members (of which 1124 are ordained pastors / pastoral assistants).

Church members and service visitors in BFP churches.

• 1996 = 28,000 members / 10,500 children and youth reached / 85,500 affiliates
• 1998 = 29,500 members / 12,000 children and youth reached / 88,500 affiliates
• 2000 = 34,500 members / 12,500 children and young people reached / 103,500 affiliates
• 2002 = 37,000 members / 13,500 children and young people reached / 111,000 affiliates
• 2004 = 39,500 members / 13,500 children and young people reached / 118,500 affiliates
• 2006 = 39,000 members / 13,000 children and young people reached / 117,000 affiliates
• 2007 = 40,000 members / 13,000 children and young people reached / 120,000 affiliates
• 2009 = 44,102 members / 16,038 children and youth reached / 132,306 affiliates
• 2011 = 46,226 members / 20,329 children and young people reached / 138,678 affiliates
• 2013 = 48,988 members / 23,322 children and youth reached / 146,964 affiliates
• 2015 = 51,896 members / 24,380 children and youth reached / 155,688 affiliates
• 2017 = 56,275 members / 25,674 children and youth reached / 92,721 church visitors (including members, children, guests, caregivers) / 168,825 affiliates
• 2019 = 62,872 members / 22,906 children and youth reached / 95,477 community visitors (incl. members, children, guests, those served) / 181,255 affiliates
• 2022 = 64.807 members / 21.696 children and youth reached / 117.453 community visitors (incl. members, children, guests, those served) / 194.421 affiliates

Source: Statistical survey of the BFP - prepared by the General Secretary.