What Kind of Church Member Am I?

Scott Thumma of Hartford Institute for Religion Research and Dave Travis of Leadership Network did a study of more than 1,000 churches. Among their findings was an innovative way of grouping those who attend churches into five categories. The research team also shared some observations about how churches relate to these groups of attendees that are worthy of consideration.

The names of the five groups are not that unusual. They are: the core; the committed; moderate members; marginal persons; and infrequent attenders, visitors and spectators. But when the authors begin to describe each group, one can see the differences between them and begin to ask, “What kind of church member am I?” 

The core group is the “leadership elite” of the church. These are the folks with the greatest involvement in the life of the church and the greatest sense of loyalty to the church. Loyalty to the church is usually an expression of a deep commitment to living a Christian life. Core members lead the church’s ministries and missions groups. They contribute well over 10 percent of their income to the church and other charities. Many spend 40 hours or more each week in church-related activities. The church is intertwined in the daily life patterns of core members. 

The core group usually includes staff members, ministry leaders, some extended family members and others with a profound loyalty to the church. Thumma and Davis say that about 5 percent of those present on any given Sunday morning fall into the core group category.  

The committed group also reflects high involvement in church life. Members of this group may attend several functions each week at the church. They volunteer to serve in church ministries. They tithe. They participate in small groups. They are concerned about their Christian walk with the Lord. Even most of their close friends come from the church. About 15 percent of attendees fall into this group.

Together, the core group and the committed group illustrate the long-held truism that “20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work” in any church. 

Moderate members would be considered desirable members by most congregations. They are active and supportive but less than they could be. Moderate members attend regularly. Occasionally they volunteer for leadership roles but most of the time they prefer to participate without responsibilities. They contribute financially but less than a tithe of their income, usually between five and 10 percent. Some of their best friends are from church. 

Moderate members make up about 40 percent of those present at worship on any given Sunday.

The marginal persons category is the largest group related to the church numerically. But the attendance patterns for members of this group keep them from being the largest group attending worship on a given Sunday. Marginal persons attend church once or twice a month. Still they make up 30 percent of a typical congregation, the researchers found. 

Marginal persons are seldom involved in church ministries. They contribute little financially and, interestingly, almost always give cash. They may know people at church but have few good friends there. This group does little to support the church but freely partakes of the benefits provided by the church.  

The final 10 percent of a given congregation is composed of infrequent attenders. Lumped into this group are those who show up a few times a year, tourists and visitors. Thumma and Davis point out that it is important to remember that some in this group are moving away from the church for whatever reason while some are making the first steps toward eventually becoming solid participants in the church.

Obviously these descriptions indicate that people with a variety of commitments to Christ and to the church are present on any given Sunday. 

Unfortunately pastors seem to preach to only one group. Thumma and Davis said most pastors either speak primarily to the unbelievers whom they hope are present or they speak to the core group. One approach results in a series of calls for first-time commitments to Christ, the other in a “club of the saved” with the language best suited for longtime believers. 

In some places a new approach is emerging. Some churches are beginning to recognize that the infrequent attenders and the marginal persons group provide an internal missions field that can result in moving members from spectators to participants and from nominal commitment to Christ to a devoted lifestyle. 

Instead of condemning members of these groups as “freeloaders,” some churches are aiming their ministries, fellowship building activities and even sermons directly at them. Already members of these groups have openness to the gospel evidenced by their occasional participation. 

This approach is part of the recognition that Jesus commanded His followers to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). Discipleship begins with a commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. But that is the starting point, not the finish line. A growing number of churches are intentionally trying to move attendees along the commitment scale from infrequent attendee to committed member or even into the core category. 

Christian believers can increase their commitment to Christ and the church as they grow in their understanding of the Christian life but this seldom happens in isolation. It takes the intentional encouragement, support and guidance of a church as well as the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. 

For a church, the question becomes whether to recognize the missions field already inside the influence of the congregation and respond with a program to help people become Christian disciples or to concentrate primarily on one aspect of the Christian message. 

For the individual, the first question may be, “What kind of member am I today?” However, a more important question is, “What kind of member do I want to be tomorrow?”