Ask a pastor about those who have grown inactive in the life of a congregation and one is likely to hear about some unfortunate misunderstanding where the church failed to live up to someone’s expectations. The result was lingering animosity that caused a member to drift away from the church or simply withdraw from participation in protest.
Unfortunately there are so many versions of this story that it has come to be accepted as the primary reason for inactive members. But research now indicates that up to 20 percent of church members may be headed toward declining participation in congregational life, and it has little to do with animosity.
Research also indicates that those who opt to leave a local church may be among the strongest Christians in that congregation.
The 2009 U.S. Congregational Life Survey found that after the second year of church membership, the percentage of members indicating increased participation in a local church began a steady decline. Just over half of the participants indicated increased participation in their first and second year of membership. That percentage fell to about 40 percent for years 3 through 5 and fell another 10 percent between years 6 through 10.
Likewise, the percentage of members indicating their participation lessened grew steadily after the second year, rising from about 10 percent after the second year to about 20 percent for years 11 through 20.
Changes in life situations were major factors for part of those declining in participation. Some felt embarrassment or disappointment about changes in their families. Some did not know if they would be accepted because of their own actions or the actions of other family members. Change in job status, illness and available time all impacted participation. None of those findings are surprising.
What is surprising is the finding that a strong catalyst for declining participation was rotating off a church committee or office. It seems a place to serve provides stimulus for continued participation. Those involved felt needed, appreciated and able to use their time and talents in the service of God.
When that opportunity was completed and another place of service was not offered, opposite emotions often sat in. The result was a downward slide in participation.
Most insightful was the finding that “less-involved people are marked by a lack of motivation.” In other words, their commitment to their church declined.
When participants in the Congregational Life Survey offered reasons for declining behavior they most often marked: faith had gotten weaker, had less time, ended office or position service, or had more negative view of the church.
Interestingly, respondents expressed a desire for help in identifying individual spiritual gifts and talents that could be used through service in the church. They asked for training to use their gifts and opportunities for service.
The majority of those drifting away from the church still wanted to be connected. They wanted their church to inspire them and to offer them opportunities to be tied to the church’s mission.
Researchers concluded, “This decline in participation is tied statistically most strongly to a diminished sense of spiritual growth and a stronger perception that spiritual needs are not being met.”
For the majority of those drifting away from participation, it is not because of a bad experience or because of some circumstance. At its core, it is a spiritual problem.
An exhaustive multiyear study by Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., adds additional understanding to this topic. That study found about 17 percent of members in the average congregation are dissatisfied with the church’s role in their spiritual development. The majority are in the earliest stages of following Christ.
But more than 40 percent of those dissatisfied in their spiritual growth are marked by signs of Christ-centered living that most churches desire. They tithe. They serve through the church. They talk to people about faith in Jesus Christ and invite people to become Christians. They serve the needy of the church and community. These could be called mature Christians.
What happens to a church when this type of member — the best evangelist, the best volunteer, the best donor — leaves?
These are the type of members for whom their spiritual life is so important that if they feel spiritual emptiness one place, they will seek it somewhere else.
Meaningful worship
Because declining participation in church life is a spiritual problem it must have a spiritual solution. That begins with meaningful worship, the study found.
Remember, the worshipper is the one in the pew and the experience must be meaningful for that person.
Again the Willow Creek research is helpful. After reviewing their studies, the church concluded that concentrating on getting people to the church through worship did not result in mature Christians. That realization led to wholesale changes in the church’s approach to worship.
And like Willow Creek, many congregations seem more interested in attracting people to the church than in keeping them involved once they get there. In most churches much more attention is placed on outreach than on making disciples.
A church that wants to reverse the slide toward inactivity will have to be intentional in its discipleship program. Helping people identify talents and passions will become a priority. Training programs will be ongoing and the church will be catalytic in helping people plug into service opportunities through the church and in the community.
Of course, there is no substitute for walking with people through life’s challenges. Even when one cannot change the circumstances, it makes a difference just to know that someone cares, that someone is there praying for you. A bond forged by walking together through troubled times is a hard bond to break.
The statistics of about 20 percent of church members drifting toward inactivity can be changed. By aggressive actions aimed at solving spiritual problems the drift can be stopped.
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