TOWARD A TYPOLOGY OF PROTESTANT MARGINAL MEMBERS

Previous definitions of the unchurched combined persons who retain an identity as church members with persons who are non-member affiliates. Our research shows that the two groups are quite distinct and that pr evious efforts to type unchurched Protestants have hidden the unique c haracteristics of ''marginal members'' (inactive Protestant church mem bers). Using cluster analysis, four types of marginal members are iden tified The social characteristics and beliefs of individuals represent ing these types explain their low levels of church attendance and cont inued identification as church members.