I used to lead, and now work with, LifeWay Research. Here’s
an interesting piece of research they just released. It’s a bit
counterintuitive in ways, so it caught my interest and I decided to share the
story with you!
Most churchgoers will put up with a change in music style or a different preacher.
But don’t mess with a church’s beliefs or there may be an
exodus, according to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.
The study of Protestant churchgoers found most are
committed to staying at their church over the long haul. But more than half say
they would strongly
consider leaving if the church’s beliefs changed.
Pastors often worry about changing church music and setting
off a “worship war,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay
Research. But few say they would leave over music.
Churchgoers are much more concerned about their church’s
beliefs.
“Mess with the music and people may grumble,” he said.
“Mess with theology and they’re out the door.”
Churchgoers stay put
LifeWay Research surveyed 1,010 Protestant
churchgoers—those who attend services at least once a month—to see how strongly
they are tied to their local congregations.
Researchers found most churchgoers stay put.
Thirty-five percent have been at their church between 10
and 24 years. Twenty-seven percent have been there for 25 years or more.
Twenty-one percent have been there less than five years, while 17 percent have
been at the same church for between five and nine years.
Lutherans (52 percent), Methodists (40 percent) and
Baptists (31 percent) are most likely to have been at their church for 25 years
or more. Fewer nondenominational (11 percent) or Assemblies of God/Pentecostal
churchgoers (13 percent) have such long tenure.
“Most church members have been at their church longer than
their pastor,” said McConnell.
More than half (57 percent) of churchgoers say they are
completely committed to continuing to attend their current church. About a
quarter (28 percent) are “very much” committed, while 11 percent are moderately
committed. Two percent are slightly committed, while 1 percent are not
committed at all.
The more people go to church, the more committed they are
to attending their same church in the future. Those who attend at least once a
week are twice as likely to be completely committed to attending their church
(62 percent) than people who go once or twice a month (31 percent). Those who
attend once or twice a month are more likely to be moderately committed (36
percent) than those who go at least once a week (7 percent).
Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs are more likely to be
completely committed (67 percent) than those who don’t have evangelical beliefs
(45 percent). Baptists (60 percent) are more likely to be completely committed
than Lutherans (47 percent).
About two-thirds (63 percent) of churchgoers who are 65 or
older are completely committed to attending their same church in the future.
That drops to 50 percent for those younger than 35.
Older
churchgoers are also least likely to want to leave
their church. When asked if they’ve thought about going to another church in
their area, 92 percent of those 65 or older say no.
Overall, 15 percent of churchgoers say they have thought
about going to another church in the past six months. Eighty-five percent say
they have not.
Of those thinking about going to another church, about half
(54 percent) have already visited another church. Forty-six percent have not.
“If people are thinking about leaving your church, chances
are they’ve already
started looking,” said McConnell. “So they’re probably halfway out the
door.”
Most feel their beliefs line up with the church
For the most part, churchgoers say they agree with their
church’s teaching. About half (52 percent) say their beliefs are completely aligned
with those of the church. Forty-two percent say their beliefs are mostly
aligned. Fewer than 3 percent say their beliefs are slightly aligned, not
aligned or they don’t know their church’s beliefs.
Education plays some role in how churchgoers view their
church’s theology. Churchgoers who have graduate degrees are less likely to
accept all their church’s teachings. Only a third (35 percent) say their
beliefs are completely aligned with those of the church. Sixty percent say
their beliefs are mostly aligned.
Two-thirds (62 percent) of churchgoers who have evangelical
beliefs say they are completely aligned with their church’s theology, while a
third are mostly aligned. By contrast, 39 percent of churchgoers who don’t have
evangelical beliefs say they are completely aligned, and about half (53
percent) are mostly aligned.
Sixty percent of churchgoers at big churches—those with
more than 1,000 attenders—say they are completely aligned with their church’s
theology. That drops to 46 percent at churches with fewer than 50 attenders.
Baptists (57 percent) and nondenominational churchgoers (61
percent) are more likely to say they are completely aligned with their church’s
theology than Lutherans (43 percent) or Methodists (25 percent).
Still, churchgoers don’t like to see changes in their
church’s doctrine. More than half (54 percent) say they’d seriously consider
leaving if church doctrine changed.
Researchers asked about other factors that might cause
churchgoers to switch churches. Nearly half (48 percent) would change churches
if the churchgoer moved to a new home.
Some churchgoers would leave if the preaching style changed
(19 percent), if the pastor left (12 percent) or if a family member wanted a
new church (10 percent). Nine percent say they would leave over politics. Fewer
would leave if they didn’t feel needed (6 percent), if the music style changed
(5 percent), if they had a conflict (4 percent) or if a friend stopped
attending (3 percent).
The survey shows churchgoers care about doctrine, said
McConnell.
“Still, pastors can’t assume everyone in the pews agrees
with their preaching,” McConnell said. “Overall, 94 percent believe most or all
of their church’s teaching. But there’s still substantial wiggle room.
“Every time a
pastor gets up to preach, there’s a good chance more than a few people
in the pews are going to disagree,” he said.
Most find church
programs helpful
Researchers also looked at how effective churches are in
helping people grow spiritually.
Most churchgoers think their church is doing a good job.
Three-quarters (76 percent) think their church has been either extremely
helpful (36 percent) or very helpful (40 percent) in their spiritual growth.
Sixteen percent say the church is moderately helpful.
Relatively few say the church has not been helpful (1
percent) in their spiritual growth or are not sure (2 percent).
Churchgoers did have some suggestions on ways churches can
help them grow. Among them:
27 percent want their church to help them understand more
about God and the Bible.
20 percent want their church to help them find new ways to serve.
19 percent want their church to provide more Bible study groups.
16 percent want their church to help them get to know more people in church.
14 percent say their church could provide forums to answer their spiritual questions.
13 percent want their church to give them more chances to serve.
13 percent want their church to provide worship experiences that fit their needs.
9 percent want their church to provide more interaction with the pastor.
8 percent want their church to provide them with a mentor.
20 percent want their church to help them find new ways to serve.
19 percent want their church to provide more Bible study groups.
16 percent want their church to help them get to know more people in church.
14 percent say their church could provide forums to answer their spiritual questions.
13 percent want their church to give them more chances to serve.
13 percent want their church to provide worship experiences that fit their needs.
9 percent want their church to provide more interaction with the pastor.
8 percent want their church to provide them with a mentor.
Even though most churchgoers are staying put and are relatively happy, there’s some reason for concern, McConnell said.
At any given church, about 15 percent of the congregation
is thinking about leaving. If they go, the church could suffer.
“The average church in the United States has less than 100
attenders,” McConnell said. “Losing 10 or 15 people could make a huge impact.”
-------------------------------------
Methodology:
LifeWay Research conducted the study Aug. 22–30, 2017. The
survey was conducted using the web-enabled KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based
panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population.
Initially,
participants are chosen scientifically by a random selection of telephone
numbers and residential addresses. People in selected households are then
invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled
KnowledgePanel®. For those who agree to participate but do not already have
internet access, GfK provides at no cost a laptop and ISP connection.
For this survey, a nationally representative sample of U.S.
Protestant and nondenominational adults (18 and older) who attend religious
services once a month or more often was selected from the KnowledgePanel®.
Sample stratification and base weights were used for
gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, metro/non-metro, home ownership, education
and income to reflect the most recent U.S. Census data. Study-specific weights
included for gender by age, race/ethnicity, region and education to reflect GSS
2016 data. The completed sample is 1,010 surveys. The sample provides 95
percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.1
percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
Evangelical beliefs are defined using the NAE/LifeWay
Research Evangelical Beliefs Research Definition based on respondent beliefs.
Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements
using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Respondents are categorized as having
evangelical beliefs if they strongly agree with all four statements:
The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
LifeWay Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches.
Find the original article on Lifeway’s website.
This article originally appeared here.
Bob Smietana is a senior writer for Nashville-based Facts
& Trends magazine. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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