This section documents the composition of the three major Protestant traditions (evangelical Protestantism, mainline Protestantism and historically black Protestantism) as they have been defined in this report.²⁷

Protestants were grouped into religious traditions based on the specific denomination with which they identify. For instance, all members of the Southern Baptist Convention have been classified as members of the evangelical Protestant tradition, those who belong to the American Baptist Churches USA are classified as members of the mainline Protestant tradition and those who belong to the National Baptist Convention are classified as members of the historically black Protestant tradition.

Protestant respondents who gave a vague answer to denominational questions (e.g., “I am just a Baptist” or “I know I am Methodist but don’t know which specific Methodist denomination I belong to”) were placed into one of the three Protestant traditions based on their race and/or their response to a question that asked if they would describe themselves as a “born-again or evangelical Christian.” This means that some groups may appear within more than one tradition. For example, independent Baptists appear in both the evangelical Protestant tradition and the historically black Protestant tradition, and a respondent’s placement into one or the other depends on the race of the respondent. These cases are noted in the detailed summary at the end of this appendix.

Overall, 38% of Protestants (including 36% of evangelical Protestants, 35% of mainline Protestants and 53% of those in the historically black Protestant tradition) gave a vague denominational identity, necessitating the use of their race or their born-again status (or sometimes both) to categorize them into one of the three major Protestant traditions.

The table below estimates the size of the largest Protestant denominations and identifies the Protestant tradition to which each belongs. Note that many denominational families include denominations that are associated with more than one Protestant tradition. For example, Baptists are found within all three Protestant traditions, Pentecostals belong to either the evangelical or historically black Protestant tradition and Lutherans belong to either the evangelical or mainline tradition.

Detailed Summary of Protestant Denominations by Tradition and Family

The denominations listed below represent answers given by survey respondents. Some denominations were offered to respondents as explicit answer categories during the interview, while others were volunteered by respondents. Respondents who gave vague denominational affiliations were assigned to a religious tradition based on their race and/or their response to a question that asked whether they would describe themselves as a “born-again or evangelical Christian,” as noted in italics.

Evangelical Protestant Tradition

Baptist in the evangelical tradition

Southern Baptist Convention Independent Baptist (if non-black) Baptist Missionary Association (if non-black) Baptist General Conference/Swedish Baptist Conservative Baptist Association of America Free Will Baptist General Association of Regular Baptists American Baptist Association Baptist Bible Church, including Baptist Bible Fellowship (if non-black) Primitive Baptist (if non-black) Reformed Baptist (Calvinist) Fundamentalist Baptist (if non-black) Seventh Day Baptist Baptist General Convention of Texas North American Baptist Full Gospel Baptist Association (if non-black) Evangelical Baptist (if non-black) United Baptist Church Evangelical Free Baptist Cowboy Church Baptist Pentecostal Baptist (if non-black) Traditional Baptist (if non-black) Ethnic Baptist (if non-black and born again) Baptist, not further specified (if non-black and born again) Baptist, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and born again)

Methodist in the evangelical tradition

Congregational Methodist Evangelical Methodist Independent Methodist (if non-black) Churches of Christ in Christian Union Southern Methodist Church Other ethnic Methodist (if non-black and born again) Methodist, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and born again) Methodist, not further specified (if non-black and born again)

Nondenominational in the evangelical tradition

Nondenominational evangelical Nondenominational fundamentalist Nondenominational charismatic Interdenominational (if born again) Community church (if born again) Nondenominational Protestant Nondenominational Christian Federated or union church (if born again) Association of Bridge Churches Ethnic nondenominational (if non-black and born again) Electronic ministries Nondenominational, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and born again) Nondenominational, not further specified (if non-black and born again)

Lutheran in the evangelical tradition

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Lutheran Church-Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Brethren Church of the Lutheran Confession Free Lutheran Apostolic Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ North American Lutheran Church Lutheran Church of the Reformation Conservative Lutheran Ethnic Lutheran (if born again) Lutheran, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Lutheran, not further specified (if born again)

Presbyterian in the evangelical tradition

Presbyterian Church in America Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cumberland Presbyterian Church Orthodox Presbyterian Evangelical Presbyterian Reformed Presbyterian Congregational Presbyterian Bible Presbyterian Church Conservative Presbyterian Church Independent Presbyterian Covenant Presbyterian Church ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians Charismatic Presbyterian Ethnic Presbyterian (if born again) Presbyterian, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Presbyterian, not further specified (if born again)

Pentecostal in the evangelical tradition

Assemblies of God Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.) Four Square Gospel (Four Square) Pentecostal Church of God Pentecostal Holiness Church Church of God of the Apostolic Faith Assembly of Christian Churches Church of God of Prophecy Vineyard Fellowship Open Bible Standard Churches Full Gospel (if non-black) Calvary Chapel Apostolic Pentecostal (if non-black) Nondenominational, independent Pentecostal (if non-black) Missionary Church Elim Fellowship International Pentecostal Church of Christ Evangelical Pentecostal Church of God of Kentucky Charismatic (if non-black) Home church (if non-black) International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church Other ethnic Pentecostal (if non-black) Electronic ministries (if non-black) Pentecostal, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black) Pentecostal, not further specified (if non-black)

Anglican/Episcopalian in the evangelical tradition

Anglican Orthodox Church Evangelical Anglican/Episcopalian Anglican/Episcopalian, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Anglican/Episcopalian, not further specified (if born again)

Restorationist in the evangelical tradition

Church of Christ Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Restorationist, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Restorationist, not further specified (if born again)

Congregational in the evangelical tradition

Conservative Congregational Christian National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Evangelical Congregational Independent Congregational Church Ethnic Congregationalist (if born again) Congregationalist, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Congregationalist, not further specified (if born again)

Holiness in the evangelical tradition

Church of the Nazarene Wesleyan Church Free Methodist Church Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) Salvation Army Wesleyan Methodist Church Pilgrim Holiness Church Free Holiness Holiness, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black) Holiness, not further specified (if non-black)

Reformed in the evangelical tradition

Christian Reformed Church Sovereign Grace Evangelical Reformed Independent Reformed Reformed Church in the United States (German Reformed) Calvinist Protestant Reformed Church Reformed, ambiguous affiliation (if born again) Reformed, not further specified (if born again)

Adventist in the evangelical tradition

Seventh-day Adventist Advent Christian Worldwide Church of God/Grace Communion International Church of God General Conference Church of God (Seventh-day) United Church of God Living Church of God

Anabaptist in the evangelical tradition

Grace Brethren Church Brethren in Christ Mennonite Brethren Amish United Brethren in Christ, United Brethren Social Brethren Brethren, not further specified (if born again) Mennonite, not further specified Anabaptist, not further specified (if born again)

Pietist in the evangelical tradition

Evangelical Covenant Church (covenant) Evangelical Free Church (free church)

Other evangelical/fundamentalist

“Evangelical” “Born again,” “Bible believers,” etc. Evangelical Bible Church Plymouth Brethren Bible, Gospel, Missionary Churches Fundamentalist, not further specified “Charismatic,” “spirit filled” Electronic ministries

Protestant non-specific in the evangelical tradition

Home church (if non-black and born again) Mixed Protestants (if non-black and born again) Other Protestant non-specific (if non-black and born again)

Mainline Protestant Tradition

Baptist in the mainline tradition

American Baptist Churches USA Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; Baptist Alliance Liberal/progressive/moderate Baptist Ethnic Baptist (if non-black and not born again) Baptist, not further specified (if non-black and not born again) Baptist, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and not born again)

Methodist in the mainline tradition

United Methodist Church Evangelical United Brethren Methodist Episcopal Church Methodist Protestant Church Other ethnic Methodist (if non-black and not born again) Methodist, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and not born again) Methodist, not further specified (if non-black and not born again)

Nondenominational in the mainline tradition

Interdenominational (if not born again) Community Church (if not born again) Federated or union church (if not born again) Emergent Church Liberal/moderate nondenominational Ethnic nondenominational (if non-black and not born again) Nondenominational, ambiguous affiliation (if non-black and not born again) Nondenominational, not further specified (if non-black and not born again)

Lutheran in the mainline tradition

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America American Lutheran Church/Lutheran Church in America Ethnic Lutheran (if not born again) Lutheran, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Lutheran, not further specified (if not born again)

Presbyterian in the mainline tradition

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Scotch Presbyterian United Presbyterian Presbyterian Church of Canada Southern Presbyterian; Presbyterian Church in the United States Ethnic Presbyterian (if not born again) Presbyterian, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Presbyterian, not further specified (if not born again)

Anglican/Episcopalian in the mainline tradition

Episcopal Church Anglican Church (Church of England) Church of Ireland Anglican/Episcopalian, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Anglican/Episcopalian, not further specified (if not born again)

Restorationist in the mainline tradition

Disciples of Christ Restorationist, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Restorationist, not further specified (if not born again)

Congregational in the mainline tradition

United Church of Christ Liberal/progressive Congregational Ethnic Congregationalist (if not born again) Congregationalist, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Congregationalist, not further specified (if not born again)

Reformed in the mainline tradition

Reformed Church in America (Dutch Reformed) Free Hungarian Reformed Church Reformed, ambiguous affiliation (if not born again) Reformed, not further specified (if not born again)

Anabaptist in the mainline tradition

Church of the Brethren Moravian Church Brethren, not further specified (if not born again) Anabaptist, not further specified (if not born again)

Friends in the mainline tradition

Society of Friends Friends/Quaker not further specified

Other/Protestant non-specific in the mainline tradition

Home church (if non-black and not born again) Mixed Protestants (if non-black and not born again) “Ecumenical” United Church of Canada Metropolitan Community Church Other Protestant non-specific (if non-black and not born again)

Historically Black Protestant Tradition

Baptist in the historically black Protestant tradition

National Baptist Convention Progressive Baptist Convention International Baptist Independent Baptist (if black) Missionary Baptist (if black) Baptist Bible Fellowship (if black) Primitive Baptist (if black) Full Gospel Baptist (if black) Evangelical Baptist (if black) Pentecostal Baptist (if black) Traditional Baptist (if black) Black Baptist Other ethnic Baptist (if black) Electronic Baptist ministries (if black) Baptist, not further specified (if black) Baptist, ambiguous affiliation (if black)

Methodist in the historically black Protestant tradition

African Methodist Episcopal African Methodist Episcopal Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Independent Methodist (if black) Black Methodist Methodist, ambiguous affiliation (if black) Methodist, not further specified (if black)

Nondenominational in the historically black Protestant tradition

Black nondenominational Other ethnic nondenominational (if black) Nondenominational, ambiguous affiliation (if black) Nondenominational, not further specified (if black)

Pentecostal in the historically black Protestant tradition

Church of God in Christ United Pentecostal Church International United House of Prayer for All People Black Pentecostal Apostolic Pentecostal (if black) New Testament Church of God Nondenominational, independent Pentecostal (if black) Full Gospel (if black) Deeper Life Bible Church/Deeper Christian Life Ministry Other ethnic Pentecostal (if black) Electronic ministries (if black) Pentecostal, ambiguous affiliation (if black) Pentecostal, not further specified (if black)

Holiness in the historically black Protestant tradition

Independent Holiness Apostolic Holiness Church Holiness Baptist Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God Church of the Living God Black Holiness Holiness, ambiguous affiliation (if black) Holiness, not further specified (if black)

Protestant non-specific in the historically black Protestant tradition

Home church (if black) Mixed Protestants (if black) Other Protestant non-specific (if black)