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…decline in attendance, a significant decline in volunteering, the closure of various programs, and no fellowship activities that knit people together. At the same time, you had an institution not…
…aren’t in the church.” Suddenly I remembered where I was. As much as Americans gripe about our dwindling church attendance, our membership statistics would make European Christians weep for joy….
…any change and someone is not going to like it. Life changes and relationships often impact a person’s church attendance. Misunderstanding and unmet expectations cause some people to leave. Some…
…confronted with the challenges of a culture that no longer regards Sunday as sacred space to be set aside for religious activities, we whine and complain about Sunday attendance rather…
…adults will be providing an important social function — and are more likely to bolster attendance. Staying connected with young adults. Many early young adults do not easily find a…
…and somebody always says, “Everybody I know already goes to church,” which takes them off the hook for inviting new people. Statistically speaking, the range of weekly church attendance is…
…of the U.S. in recent years. And do not be misled by the polls showing that over 40 percent of people worship each week. The actual attendance numbers do not…
…less often. One cannot underestimate the economic motivations for such reforms. Congregations are feeling financial strains after both the worship attendance decline and economic reversals of the last decade. While…
…Eve services rival Easter in attendance, and the Christmas Eve offering is often the largest of the year. What has changed? Churches discovered that asking for money on Christmas Eve…
…ongoing worship attendance recession that began in 2002 and continues today. A new report from the Faith Communities Today research project provides data to substantiate this changing landscape. Based on…
In North America, many denominations have declined in worship attendance and membership for decades. Some churches have closed; others have fewer people attending. Over these same decades, however, internet usage…
…with those they do not know before speaking to family and friends. These ideas are excerpted from the Lewis Center’s 50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance prepared by Dr. Crossman….
…large an area also reduces the energy of the service. If attendance is far below your sanctuary’s seating capacity, some portion might be roped off. Paying special attention to times…
…size, usually with fewer than 100 members. (The median worship attendance for all United Methodist churches now is less than 50.) But there are also differences. Their constituencies are often…
…its people. Worship attendance figures tell us a great deal, but not everything, about how people are responding to our ministries. Having up-to-date information on the changing mindset of laity…
…since 1997, average worship attendance at First UMC has increased from just over 100 to 857; and its membership has grown from 498 to 1,040, with sixty-five percent of the…
…any other, perhaps because it is so counter-intuitive to our attendance and event-driven models of ministry. It is too easy for the church to wag its finger and tell people…
…has found that pastors between the ages of 24 and 35 were the most successful in founding churches that reach 250 or more in worship attendance within seven years. An…
…at www.stbarts.org. To read more about the principles used at St. Bart’s, go tohttps://www.stbarts.org/howarewedifferent.asp. Related Resources Avoiding a Summer Drop in Worship Attendance by Ann A. Michel Worship Leadership Requires…
…their unique history and culture, while also bearing hope for the future. According to the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, the average worship attendance of a U.S. church is 90 persons;…
…and preacher engage in one of those ritualistic dances of good intentions, little action. Looking at church attendance patterns across the country, it seems very few church folk actually invite…
…Control Conflict. Churches experiencing major conflict are likely to have declined in attendance. Congregations with no major conflict during the previous two years are most likely to grow. Spiritual vitality….
…To the Point of this article to share with others. Related Resources: Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results by Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin Congregational Attendance Profile …
…and communion Sunday now has the highest attendance of the month. Listening to people’s concerns and informing people in advance of what would actually happen in worship were critical factors…
…Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results by Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance and Bear More Fruit by Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin…
…with an average attendance of 50 each Sunday morning, was discerning whether to remain in its current facility or relocate. The church building, constructed in 1858, needed a variety of…
The church wonders why regular worship attendance is now being redefined for many churches as once a month, rather than once a week. Leaders are disappointed at the eroding levels…
…their job to mingle to make sure people are enjoying themselves, feeling welcome, engaged in light conversation, and receiving a true sense of appreciation for their attendance. We want to…
…world is not as safe as it was when we were growing up. Sometimes in our institutional need for attendance, volunteers, pledges, and relevance, we miss the needs and realities…
…are right before us.sociological data on religion in America over the last 60 years. We paid particular attention to mainline denominations, including their declining attendance and size. Over the course…
This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free e-newsletter from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary available at churchleadership.com.
