Nation: More Methodists

Among members of the 88th Congress, a Congregationalist is likely to be a Republican (19 to 5) and a Baptist is likely to be a Democrat (49 to 12)—but there are plenty of Methodists for both parties. With 102 Senators and Representatives, Methodists have passed Roman Catholics as the largest religious group in Congress for the first time since 1959. Congress also has a Schwenkfeldian, a Cumberland Presbyterian and a Seventh-Day Baptist —and six members who give no affiliation at all. The figures:

Methodist 102 Roman Catholic 99 Presbyterian 81 Baptist 61 Episcopalian 60 Congregationalist 24 Lutheran 17 Other Protestant 73 Jewish 11