Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Many Americans who don’t attend church nevertheless have had connections to a local church in the past. More than six in 10 of those not actively attending today were regular churchgoers in their childhood, according to a new study from Church Answers Research.
The unchurched have an overall favorable view of churches, but this perception does not necessarily lead to local connections. Both churched and unchurched populations believe churches are generally good. However, the unchurched often struggle to connect with the congregations around them, with only 38 percent holding positive perceptions of local churches in their communities.
A surprising revelation from the study is that non-attendees view the church as more relevant today than do many churchgoers. However, although eight in 10 churchgoers trust their churches, only three in ten of the unchurched feel the same. This dichotomy speaks volumes about the challenge facing local churches in building credibility with outsiders.
READ: Church attendance down, according to another survey
The unchurched believe churches are still relevant but not trustworthy. Despite trust issues, the unchurched are open to making friends through church, though they are often intimidated to visit. Over half of non-attendees believe churches would be good places to make new friends, but many feel unwelcome or uncomfortable visiting alone.
Church rules are not a significant deterrent for the unchurched; confusion about what churches represent and how they operate keeps many unchurched individuals from attending. Both churched and unchurched respondents, more than 60 percent in both cases, agree that churches can be confusing for outsiders.
READ: Watch for these 7 church trends
“We were astounded by the insights this research revealed,” said Sam Rainer, Ph.D., president of Church Answers. “It’s easy to assume that those who don’t attend are opposed to the church, but what we found was much more complex — and hopeful. Many unchurched individuals see the value of the church but need a bridge of trust and personal connection to feel welcome.”
Church Answers Research believes these findings will spark meaningful conversations among churches, Christian leaders and Christian organizations, especially those interested in outreach and evangelism. With practical steps for bridging the gap between the churched and unchurched, this research will help churches rethink their strategies, embrace change and, ultimately, connect with more people.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
