Health of Congregations - Church Encourager

This article, “Health of Congregations: A View from Christian Churchgoers,” summarizes the third section of a recent report by the PRRI’s 2022 American Values Atlas titled “Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval” (you can access the full report here https://www.prri.org/research/religion-and-congregations-in-a-time-of-social-and-political-upheaval/).

American churches are facing challenges amid social and political upheaval and the pandemic. Still, most Christian churchgoers have retained their loyalty, attending the same congregation for over a decade. Yet, while attendance seems to have weathered the storm, diversity within congregations remains limited.

The “Health of Congregations: A View from Christian Churchgoers” report surveys Christians who attend church at least a few times a year. It provides interesting insights into church attendance patterns, congregation size, and the racial and ethnic makeup of these communities.

According to the report, 59% of Christian churchgoers have been attending their church for over ten years. This trend holds across various Christian traditions, with a majority from white Catholics (70%), other Christians (69%), Hispanic Catholics (64%), white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (56%), Black Protestants (56%), to white evangelical Protestants (52%) showing a decade or longer membership. Lower but still significant, 39% of Hispanic Protestants have attended the same church for over ten years. Age plays a role here, with senior churchgoers (71%) and those aged 50 to 64 (65%) more likely to have such long-term attendance compared to those aged 30 to 49 (50%) and 18–29 (43%).

Most Christian churchgoers are part of congregations with less than 500 members. Around 31% of churchgoers attend churches with less than 100 members, and 42% attend churches with memberships between 100 and 500. A smaller number attend larger churches, with 12% in churches of 500-1,000 members and 13% in those with over 1,000 members. This trend is consistent across most religious groups, with less than three in ten from any group attending churches with over 500 members.

Despite increasing racial and ethnic diversity across America, this diversity isn’t reflected within congregations. Most churchgoers report their congregations are largely monoracial. Around 75-80% of white Christians report their churches are predominantly white. Among Hispanic Protestants, 47% report their churches are primarily Hispanic, while 74% of Black Protestants say their churches are mainly Black. Similarly, 74% of Hispanic Catholics report that their congregations are predominantly Hispanic.

These findings reveal the steady loyalty of Christian churchgoers amidst turbulent times and the persistent lack of racial diversity within congregations. As churches navigate this era of change, these insights can be invaluable in fostering inclusivity and adapting to societal transformations.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.