--- "title": "Appendix B: Classification of Protestant denominations" "description": "In the Religious Landscape Study (RLS), we group Protestant respondents into one of three “traditions” – the evangelical tradition, mainline tradition or the historically Black Protestant tradition – based on the specific denomination they identify with. For instance, all respondents who identify with the Southern Baptist Convention are classified as members of the evangelical Protestant […]" "date": "2025-02-26" "authors": - "name": "Gregory A. Smith" "job_title": "Senior Associate Director, Research" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/gregory-a-smith/" - "name": "Alan Cooperman" "job_title": "Director, Religion Research" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/alan-cooperman/" - "name": "Becka A. Alper" "job_title": "Senior Researcher" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/becka-alper/" - "name": "Besheer Mohamed" "job_title": "Principal Researcher" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/besheer-mohamed/" - "name": "Chip Rotolo" "job_title": "Senior Researcher" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/michael-rotolo/" - "name": "Patricia Tevington" "job_title": "Research Associate" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/patricia-tevington/" - "name": "Justin Nortey" "job_title": "Former Research Analyst" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/justin-nortey/" - "name": "Asta Kallo" "job_title": "Research Analyst" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/asta-kallo/" - "name": "Jeff Diamant" "job_title": "Senior Writer/Editor" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/jeff-diamant/" - "name": "Dalia Fahmy" "job_title": "Senior Writer/Editor" "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/dalia-fahmy/" "url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2025/02/26/appendix-b-classification-of-protestant-denominations/" "categories": - "Atheism & Agnosticism" - "Beliefs & Practices" - "Buddhism" - "Catholicism" - "Christianity" - "Evangelicalism" - "Hinduism" - "Historically Black Protestantism" - "Islam" - "Judaism" - "Latter-day Saint (Mormon)" - "Mainline Protestantism" - "Muslim Americans" - "Non-Religion & Secularism" - "Orthodox Christianity" - "Other Religions" - "Pentecostalism" - "Protestantism" - "Religion" - "Religion & Abortion" - "Religion & Government" - "Religion & LGBTQ Acceptance" - "Religion & Politics" - "Religion & Race" - "Religion & Science" - "Religion & Social Values" - "Religious Commitment" - "Religious Demographics" - "Religious Identity & Affiliation" - "Religiously Unaffiliated" "datasets": - "name": "2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS) Dataset" "url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/dataset/2023-24-religious-landscape-study-rls-dataset/" --- # Appendix B: Classification of Protestant denominations In the Religious Landscape Study (RLS), we group Protestant respondents into one of three “traditions” – the evangelical tradition, mainline tradition or the historically Black Protestant tradition – based on the specific denomination they identify with. For instance, all respondents who identify with the Southern Baptist Convention are classified as members of the evangelical Protestant tradition; all who identify with the American Baptist Churches USA are categorized as members of the mainline Protestant tradition; and all who say they belong to the National Baptist Convention, USA, are classified as members of the historically Black Protestant tradition. Protestant respondents who give a vague answer to questions about their denomination (e.g., “I am just a Baptist” or “I am just Methodist” or even “I am just a Christian”) are placed into one of the three Protestant traditions based on their race and/or their response to a question that asks if they think of themselves as a “born-again or evangelical Christian.” Overall, 36% of Protestants (including 35% of those in the evangelical tradition, 32% of those in the mainline tradition, and 50% of those in the historically Black Protestant tradition) gave a vague denominational identity and were thus categorized into one of the three Protestant traditions based on their race, their born-again status, or both. The list below reports all the denominational identities given by Protestant respondents in the 2023-24 RLS – including all the denominations offered to respondents as explicit answer choices in the survey, as well as all the responses that were volunteered by respondents (who were given the opportunity to write in their religious identity if they chose not to check one of the boxes provided in the survey). The list shows which identities were placed in each Protestant tradition, and describes whether and how we used race and/or born-again status in categorizing responses. ### Baptist #### Baptist family in the evangelical Protestant tradition Southern Baptist Convention\ Independent Baptist (if not Black) ##### Volunteered responses American Baptist Association\ Baptist General Association of Virginia\ Baptist General Convention of Texas\ Converge/Baptist General Conference/Swedish Baptist\ Free Will Baptist\ Full Gospel Baptist (if not Black)\ General Association of Regular Baptists/Regular Baptist\ Missionary Baptist/Baptist Missionary Association (if not Black)\ Multiple Baptist mentions in the evangelical tradition\ North American Baptist\ Pentecostal Baptist (if not Black)\ Primitive Baptist (if not Black)\ Reformed Baptist/Calvinist Baptist\ Separate Baptist/Separate Baptist in Christ\ Venture Church Network/Conservative Baptist Association\ Baptist, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Baptist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Baptist family in the mainline Protestant tradition American Baptist Churches USA ##### Volunteered responses Cooperative Baptist Fellowship/Baptist Alliance\ Liberal Baptist/Moderate Baptist/Progressive Baptist\ Baptist, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Baptist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Baptist family in the historically Black Protestant tradition National Baptist Convention, USA\ National Baptist Convention of America\ Progressive National Baptist Convention\ Independent Baptist (if Black) ##### Volunteered responses Black Baptist\ Full Gospel Baptist (if Black)\ Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association\ Missionary Baptist/Baptist Missionary Association (if Black)\ Multiple Baptist mentions in the historically Black Protestant tradition\ Pentecostal Baptist (if Black)\ Primitive Baptist (if Black)\ Baptist, not further specified (if Black)\ Baptist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black) ### Methodist #### Methodist family in the evangelical Protestant tradition Global Methodist Church ##### Volunteered responses Congregational Methodist\ Independent Methodist (if not Black)\ Primitive Methodist\ Traditional Methodist\ Methodist, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Methodist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Methodist family in the mainline Protestant tradition United Methodist Church ##### Volunteered responses Methodist, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Methodist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Methodist family in the historically Black Protestant tradition African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)\ African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion)\ Christian Methodist Episcopal Church ##### Volunteered responses Independent Methodist (if Black)\ Multiple Methodist mentions in the historically Black Protestant tradition\ Methodist, not further specified (if Black)\ Methodist – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black) ### Nondenominational Protestant #### Nondenominational in the evangelical Protestant tradition Nondenominational evangelical\ Nondenominational fundamentalist\ Nondenominational charismatic\ Nondenominational – interdenominational (if born-again/evangelical) ##### Volunteered responses Association of Bridge Churches\ Community church (if born-again/evangelical)\ Federated or union church (if born-again/evangelical)\ Multiple nondenominational mentions in the evangelical tradition\ Nondenominational Cowboy Church (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Nondenominational electronic ministries\ Nondenominational, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Nondenominational – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Nondenominational in the mainline Protestant tradition Nondenominational – interdenominational (if not born-again/evangelical) ##### Volunteered responses Community Church (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Federated or union church (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Liberal nondenominational\ Nondenominational Cowboy Church (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Nondenominational, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Nondenominational – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Nondenominational in the historically Black Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Black nondenominational\ Nondenominational Cowboy Church (if Black)\ Nondenominational, not further specified (if Black)\ Nondenominational – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black) ### Lutheran #### Lutheran in the evangelical Protestant tradition Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod ##### Volunteered responses Apostolic Lutheran Church of America/Old Apostolic Lutheran Church/Laestadianism\ Church of the Lutheran Confession\ Free Lutheran\ Lutheran Brethren\ Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ\ North American Lutheran Church\ Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)\ Lutheran, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Lutheran – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Lutheran in the mainline Protestant tradition Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ##### Volunteered responses American Lutheran Church (ALC)/Lutheran Church in America (LCA)\ Lutheran, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Lutheran – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Presbyterian #### Presbyterian in the evangelical Protestant tradition Presbyterian Church in America ##### Volunteered responses Associate Reformed Presbyterian\ Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches\ Cumberland Presbyterian\ ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians\ Evangelical Presbyterian\ Independent Presbyterian\ Orthodox Presbyterian\ Reformed Presbyterian\ Presbyterian, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Presbyterian – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Presbyterian in the mainline Protestant tradition Presbyterian Church (USA) ##### Volunteered responses Presbyterian, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Presbyterian – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Pentecostal #### Pentecostal in the evangelical Protestant tradition Assemblies of God\ Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) ##### Volunteered responses Apostolic (if not Black)\ Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ\ Calvary/Calvary Chapel\ Christian Assemblies\ Christian City Church International\ Church of God of Kentucky\ Church of God of Prophecy\ Electronic ministries (if not Black)\ Elim/Elim Fellowship\ Evangelical Pentecostal\ Foursquare\ Free Will Pentecostal\ Full Gospel Pentecostal (if not Black)\ Independent Pentecostal/Nondenominational Pentecostal (if not Black)\ La Luz del Mundo\ Multiple Pentecostal mentions in the evangelical tradition\ Open Bible/Open Bible Churches\ Pentecostal Church of God\ Pentecostal Holiness\ United Pentecostal/United Pentecostal Church International\ Vineyard/Vineyard Churches\ Pentecostal, not further specified (if not Black)\ Pentecostal – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not Black) #### Pentecostal in the historically Black Protestant tradition Church of God in Christ (COGIC) ##### Volunteered responses Apostolic (if Black)\ Church of God by Faith\ Church of Pentecost/Church of Pentecost USA\ Electronic ministries (if Black)\ Full Gospel Pentecostal (if Black)\ Independent Pentecostal/Nondenominational Pentecostal (if Black)\ Pentecostal Assemblies of the World\ Redeemed Christian Church of God\ Pentecostal, not further specified (if Black)\ Pentecostal – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black) ### Episcopalian/Anglican #### Episcopalian in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Anglican Church in North America\ Evangelical Anglican/Evangelical Episcopalian\ Independent Anglican\ Reformed Episcopal Church\ Episcopalian/Anglican, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Episcopalian/Anglican – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Episcopalian in the mainline Protestant tradition Episcopal Church ##### Volunteered responses Anglican/Anglican Church/Church of England\ Episcopalian/Anglican, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Episcopalian/Anglican – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Restorationist #### Restorationist in the evangelical Protestant tradition Church of Christ/Churches of Christ ##### Volunteered responses Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Restorationist in the mainline Protestant tradition Disciples of Christ ##### Volunteered responses Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Congregational #### Congregational in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Conservative Congregational Christian Conference\ Evangelical Congregational\ Independent Congregational\ National Association of Congregational Christian Churches\ Congregational, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Congregational – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Congregational in the mainline Protestant tradition United Church of Christ ##### Volunteered responses Liberal Congregational/Progressive Congregational\ Congregational, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Congregational – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Holiness #### Holiness in the evangelical Protestant tradition Church of the Nazarene\ Free Methodist Church ##### Volunteered responses Apostolic Holiness Church (if not Black)\ Christian and Missionary Alliance/Alliance\ Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)/Church of God Ministries\ Church of God of the Union Assembly\ Holiness Baptist (if not Black)\ Independent Holiness (if not Black)\ Missionary Church/Missionary Church USA\ Salvation Army\ Wesleyan/Wesleyan Church/Wesleyan Methodist Church/Wesleyan Holiness Church\ Holiness, not further specified (if not Black)\ Holiness – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not Black) #### Holiness in the historically Black Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Apostolic Holiness Church (if Black)\ Church of the Living God International\ Holiness Baptist (if Black)\ Independent Holiness (if Black)\ Holiness, not further specified (if Black)\ Holiness – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black) ### Reformed #### Reformed in the evangelical Protestant tradition Christian Reformed Church ##### Volunteered responses Acts 29\ Calvinist (if born-again/evangelical)\ Evangelical Reformed\ Protestant Reformed Church/Protestant Reformed Churches in America\ Reformed Church in the United States/German Reformed\ United Reformed Churches in North America\ Reformed, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Reformed – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical) #### Reformed in the mainline Protestant tradition Reformed Church in America ##### Volunteered responses Calvinist (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Reformed, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Reformed – Other/Refused/Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Adventist #### Adventist in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Advent Christian/Advent Christian Church\ Church of God (Seventh Day)\ Grace Communion International/Worldwide Church of God\ Seventh-day Adventist\ United Church of God ### Anabaptist #### Anabaptist in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Alliance of Mennonite Evangelical Congregations\ Amish\ Brethren, not further specified (if born-again/evangelical)\ Brethren in Christ\ Church of God in Christ, Mennonite\ Covenant Brethren\ Grace Brethren\ Mennonite, not further specified\ Mennonite Brethren\ Old Order Mennonite\ United Brethren in Christ/United Brethren\ Other Anabaptist (if born-again/evangelical) #### Anabaptist in the mainline Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Brethren, not further specified (if not born-again/evangelical)\ Church of the Brethren\ Moravian Church\ Other Anabaptist (if not born-again/evangelical) ### Pietist #### Pietist in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Evangelical Covenant Church/Covenant\ Evangelical Free Church/Free Church/Evangelical Free Mission Church ### Friends #### Friends in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Evangelical Friends Church/Evangelical Friends #### Friends in the mainline Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Friends/Quaker\ Society of Friends ### Other evangelical/fundamentalist #### Other evangelical/fundamentalist in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Bible Church/Gospel Church/Missionary Church\ Born-again/Bible believer, etc.\ Charismatic/Spirit-filled, etc.\ Evangelical\ Fundamentalist\ Plymouth Brethren ### Other/Nonspecific Protestant #### Other/Nonspecific in the evangelical Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Electronic ministries (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Home church (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Just a Christian (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Just a Protestant (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Mixed Protestants (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Protestant – no particular denomination (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Sabbath keeper (if not Black)\ Gave name and/or location of congregation (if born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Other/Not interpretable/Refused (if born-again/evangelical and not Black) #### Other/Nonspecific in the mainline Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Electronic ministries (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Ex-vangelical\ Home church (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Just a Christian (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Just a Protestant (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Liberal Christian\ Mar Thoma\ Metropolitan Community Church\ Mixed Protestants (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Protestant – no particular denomination (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Gave name and/or location of congregation (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black)\ Other/Not interpretable/Refused (if not born-again/evangelical and not Black) ### Other/Nonspecific in the historically Black Protestant tradition ##### Volunteered responses Electronic ministries (if Black)\ Home church (if Black)\ Just a Christian (if Black)\ Just a Protestant (if Black)\ Mixed Protestants (if Black)\ Protestant – no particular denomination (if Black)\ Sabbath keeper (if Black)\ Gave name and/or location of congregation (if Black)\ Other/Not interpretable/Refused (if Black) --- **Next:** [Appendix C: Comparing the Center’s religion trends with those of other major surveys](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2025/02/26/appendix-c-comparing-the-centers-religion-trends-with-those-of-other-major-surveys/markdown)