Membership in the Southern Baptist Convention declined by more than 200,000 from 2014 to 2015, down to 15.3 million members, the denomination announced today.

It's the ninth consecutive year of membership decline.

"God help us all!" said the Rev. Frank S. Page, SBC Executive Committee president and CEO. "In a world that is desperate for the message of Christ, we continue to be less diligent in sharing the Good News. May God forgive us and give us a new passion to reach this world for Christ."

Average weekly worship attendance declined by 1.72 percent to 5.6 million worshippers.

Southern Baptists also experienced a decline in baptisms, down 3.3 percent to 295,212. Reported baptisms have fallen eight of the last 10 years. The ratio of baptisms to total members decreased to one baptism for every 52 members.

The number of Southern Baptist churches increased by 294 to 46,793. Membership went from 15,499,173 in 2014 to 15,296,764 in 2015, a drop of 1.32 percent.

The numbers were released in the denomination's Annual Church Profile.

The average size of a Southern Baptist church is now 327 members.

"The ACP report shows many faithful Southern Baptists continue to worship, share the Gospel, give generously, and live in community with other believers," said LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer, former pastor of Green Valley Baptist Church in Hoover from 1990-94.

"We praise God for these efforts every year," Rainer said.

"While a decrease in baptisms is very disappointing, we don't take for granted 295,000 baptisms," he said. "We should rejoice with each of those individuals who chose to follow Christ."

Southern Baptists remain the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, and the largest denomination in Alabama, with more than a million members in the state.

The increasing number of Southern Baptist churches and the denomination's church planting efforts is something to build on, Rainer said.

"People underestimate the importance of momentum," he said. "It only takes a few people in each church, being intentional about sharing their faith, for some new momentum to build."