Church shoppers—many newcomers in the pews

Christian Century, Jan 30, 2002 by John Dart

Relying on a unique poll of nearly 300,000 worshipers sitting in pews on or about April 29 last year, a nationwide survey found that nearly a quarter of them had switched congregations in the past five years.

The high ratio of "switchers" surprised researchers but may confirm the suspicions of some pastors who watch the ebb and flow from one church to another.

"A pastor told me once that there are always people on a continual shop for the right church," said Deborah Bruce, project manager for the $1.3 million U.S. Congregational Life Survey funded by the Lilly Endowment and the Louisville Institute. The poll, which included relatively small numbers of non-Christian congregations, sought answers from members and nonmembers--whoever was at services on the weekend of April 29 or a nearby convenient time.

The "newcomers" attending services reach one-third when the numbers of lapsed returnees and first-timers are added to those in the pews who have been coming only in the last five years, said Project Director Cynthia Woolever, who, like Bruce, works in the research department of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Some clergy may be disappointed in the relatively low numbers of previously unchurched who have only started attending services in the past five years, Woolever said. Of the 34 percent newcomers at a house of worship during this giant snapshot of people attending services last April, only 7 percent on average had no earlier involvement with a faith community.

Evangelical and charismatic churches often put major emphasis on reaching the unchurched. "But a preliminary look at the data shows no large differences between those churches and mainline congregations," said Woolever. Surveyed congregations affiliated with the mainline PCUSA had an average of 8 percent previously unchurched--right at the national average.

In the other three categories of newcomers, 18 percent were returnees after an absence from worship attendance and another 18 percent were switchers who changed denominations, such as Lutheran to Catholic. The biggest group--57 percent--were transfers from another congregation in the same denomination.

Among other data released for the first time, 83 percent of those in the pews said they attend services regularly, nearly every week. However, only 38 percent said they took part in groups in the congregation such as Sunday school, Bible study and social groups. The figures may prove to vary widely by denomination; 63 percent of Presbyterians said they were involved in at least one church group.

Consistent with other poll findings, the average worshiper is well educated--38 percent with a college degree, compared to 23 percent of the U.S. population. They are more likely to vote than are most Americans. In the November 2000 presidential election, 72 percent said they voted, compared to 50 percent of Americans polled in other surveys.

Woolever and Bruce said that the project provided incentive for congregations to take time from their services for worshipers to fill out questionnaires by promising to send the results from their own church and comparative figures nationally. Most completed the forms on the weekend of April 29. A book on the study will be published in April by Westminster John Knox Press.