Is the Ethnic Profile of DC /Baltimore Adventists Changing?

Professor John Gavin (pictured) recently presented the results of a study on Seventh-day Adventist demographics in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area at an Adventist Community Action Council’s (ACAC) meeting. ACAC is a group of Adventist church and organization leaders who coordinate efforts and resources to address key community issues. Although the study was completed in 2009, the results were again presented to help new ACAC members better understand Adventist demographics and perspectives as they plan activities for 2015.

Gavin, a professor and chair of the Social Work Department and director of the Center for Metropolitan Ministry, conducted the initial study six years ago, and compared data with previous studies from 1987 and 2004. The study included a telephone survey in 2008 of 379 randomly selected Adventist families in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. More than 22,000 Adventists lived in the area in 2009, with the highest concentration along the Route 29 and Interstate 95 corridors.

“This information provides a clear profile of Adventists in the Baltimore-Washington area, along with candid responses from members about Adventist education that is vital for school leaders and educators who are members of the ACAC,” reports Gavin.

In comparing the data with previous studies, the ethnic profile of the local Adventist membership is clearly changing. Between 1987 and 2009, the percentage of parents who are white dropped by half, while all other ethnic groups grew. Nearly half of the families reached (44 percent) included at least one parent who is an immigrant to the United States.

The study was commissioned by the ACAC and funded by Washington Adventist University; along with two nearby Adventist schools, Takoma Academy and Sligo Adventist School.

For more information about the ACAC, contact Erwin Mack at eandsmack@aol.com. For copies of the study, contact Gavin at jgavin@wau.edu.