New Study: 1/3 of Church Goers Say They “May Not Continue Attending the Same Church̶
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, March 01, 2007
- Viewed 31
- (5) comments so far
According to the survey, which polled 1,184 adults who attend a Protestant church at least once in a typical month, the average length of time adults have been attending the same church is 13.7 years. Also, the researchers found no strong differences in denominational loyalty between people in mainline and evangelical churches, but did discover distinct differences among different major denominational groups.
For example, according to Ellison Research, 52 percent of Lutherans polled said they would only consider attending a church within their current denomination. On the other hand, the survey found the least denominationally loyal churchgoers are those attending Pentecostal, Presbyterian and non-denominational churches.
Ellison Research president Ron Sellers says the data from this survey can help pastors better understand their own congregations. He observes that many pastors, when they look out at “the sea of faces” in their congregation, tend to think of that population as fixed and fairly stable.
“Whether there are 30 people there or 3,000” in that congregation, Sellers asserts, “there’s a tendency [among pastors] to say ... ‘this is our congregation, and I’m expecting to see the same people here next week as I do this week.’”
However, the research firm president points out, that is often not the case. “It’s really important [for church or denominational leaders] to realize that you’ve got one-third of those people, one out of every three people, who are not necessarily fully engaged and not necessarily fully committed to coming back next week,” he says.
Based on the results of the recent survey, Sellers says it would be a mistake for churches or denominations to assume a certain level of loyalty among attendees. “People tend to get into a mindset of [thinking] these are our donors, these are our churchgoers, these are our customers,” he notes. “We have to continually remind people that’s not necessarily so.”
The church and denominational loyalty survey was conducted for Facts and Trends, a bimonthly magazine published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SOURCE: One News Now
A recent survey conducted by Ellison Research examined loyalty to denominations and specific churches -- along with length and frequency of attendance -- and found that one-third of all Protestant churchgoers in the United States are not positive they will continue attending the same church in the near future...
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Camey on Thu, March 01, 2007
Pastors: “when they look out at “the sea of faces” in their congregation, tend to think of that population as fixed and fairly stable.” Does this REALLY describe YOU?
Maybe a little off topic but this inquiring mind really would like to know.
Gary on Thu, March 01, 2007
As a pastor of a small town Baptist church when I look out at the people I don’t think that as a whole their are fixed and stable. Certainly, I see many who are but the 1/3% ratio is not too far off base to me. Even 1/3 of the people that I have ministered to in a crisis situation have left. I have sense of obligation to minister to and with the people in the pews but I also realize that some of them are not committed to membership, to church leadership, to any particular beleif system, especially if there is a conflict between what they beleive and what they are taught from Scripture. Then you have to factor in the mobility of people today, I have moved twice in three years and will probably move again in the future.
Peter Hamm on Thu, March 01, 2007
This explains some of what is happening in our church right now.
Andy McAdams on Thu, March 01, 2007
I found this to be somewhat true, but certainly not 1/3. We understood early on that people are less committed these days, especially in Southern California, the mega-church capital of the world.
We found that helping people through a process to be able to enter into the church and take some ownership seemed to keep the majority fixed on the church, its ministry and purpose in the community. That process included discipleship (one to one) early on as new people came to our church. That helped build a spiritual maturity in them, gave them a “true close friend”, and a certain gratitude and loyalty for assisting them in their journey to walk closer with Jesus. After the discipleship took placed they were encouraged to disciple some one else, and so on and so on and so on.
It wasn’t long before most of those that had gone through the discipleship process were serving in other areas of the church and taking places in leadership.
I will have to admit that those that did not avail themselves to this simple process seemed to be somewhat temporary. Those that did…for the most part stayed.
When I looked at faces each Sunday I could tell those that were “getting it” and growing. That alone told me that those that were not would sooner or later look for a reason to go find a new place to sit on Sundays.
Jan on Sat, March 03, 2007
Camey
“Pastors: “when they look out at “the sea of faces” in their congregation, tend to think of that population as fixed and fairly stable.” Does this REALLY describe YOU?
Maybe a little off topic but this inquiring mind really would like to know. “
NO! We have just about a different congregation every week. It’s one of our biggest frustrations. Just about 2/3 rd’s of our regular attenders, attend once a month, all on different weeks. And we’ve had over a hundred decsions made in the last 6 months.
But they are skeptical of organized church.
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