¶ Church membership in the U.S. climbed to a record 97,482,611 in 1954, a gain of 2,639,766 over 1953, according to the Yearbook of American Churches. Today 60.3% of all Americans are members of religious bodies.
¶ Membership in Lutheran churches of the U.S. and Canada increased by 248,840 last year, to reach a new high of 7,117,906, the National Lutheran Council reported. Area of greatest growth: the powerful (2,001,135) Missouri Synod, which gained 84,625 baptized members (4.4%) in 1954.
¶ The Socialist-controlled city council of Nürnberg, Germany decided to ignore protests of religious leaders, voted to rebuild a monument (destroyed by the...