The main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of religious participation on the depression of elder adults in USA. Specifically, this study examined how the influence of religious participation varied according to continuity or discontinuity of participation. Data from N=1,658 adults aged 65-90 who were respondents to two waves of the U.S. National survey of Families and Households 1987-1993 were used for these analyses. Depression was measured with a 12-item (of the original 20) modified version of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression). Multivariate regression models controlling for several demographic variables were estimated. Some clear evidence was found supporting activity theory and continuity theory That is, participating in a religious organization role at Time 2 but not Time 1 (T1 No - T2 Yes) and being continuously involved in religious organizations both at Time 1 and Time 2 (T1 Yes -T2 Yes) were associated with reduced depression, compared to continuous nonparticipation in religious organizations (71 No -72 No).