May 3, 2024
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — When churchgoers find a new congregation, most say their reasons for change had a little to do with both their old and new churches.
Lifeway Research polled 1,001 U.S. adults who identify as Protestant or non-denominational, attend church worship services at least twice a month and have attended more than one church as an adult.
During the research screening process, it was determined 53% of U.S. regular churchgoers say they have attended more than one church as an adult. Among those who have switched congregations, 63% say they’ve regularly attended only two to three churches as an adult, while another 22% have attended four to five congregations. Fewer say they’ve been active at six to seven churches (8%), eight to nine (3%) or 10 or more (4%).
For most of those changing churches, changing homes was a factor. Three in 5 church switchers (60%) say a residential move impacted their decision to leave their previous church and begin attending a new one.
“The reason pastors and churchgoers talk about church switchers is because it is not a negligible number of people changing churches,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “However, chronic church switching is not the norm. The biggest group of churchgoers are those who have been at the same church throughout their adult lives, and the next biggest group are those whose church changes were necessitated by moving too far to attend their previous church.”
Still, 40% of church changes were driven by something other than a residential move. When examining reasons people switched to a new congregation without moving, several factors stand out.
More than 1 in 4 church switchers say they changed because some things changed about the church they did not like (29%), the church was not fulfilling their needs or reasons for attending church (29%), they became disenchanted in some ways with the pastor (27%) or they became disenchanted with the church (26%).
For 22%, the change happened because they could not agree with some of the church’s teachings or positions on issues or politics. Around 1 in 5 say they felt out of place at their previous church (20%) or changes in their life situation caused them to stop attending (18%).
Issues related to COVID-19 drove 13% of church switchers to find a new congregation. Around 1 in 10 say they left because they had problems or conflicts with someone else at the church or the congregation itself had a conflict (11%) or their beliefs or attitudes toward church and religion changed (9%). For 2%, they had to find a new church because their previous one closed. Another 23% say they stopped attending for other reasons.
“The typical person changing churches has multiple reasons for making this change,” said McConnell. “Broadly speaking people leave a church when they disagree with change, are disgruntled or disagree with the church’s positions. It is much less common to see people leaving because their own religious beliefs changed.”
For each of the reasons given by those whose church change was not the result of a residential move, more specific church-switching justifications exist.
Among the 29% who say they changed churches because the church itself changed, more than half (53%) say too many things in general changed. Around 2 in 5 (39%) say the church’s teachings on political or social issues changed in ways they didn’t agree with. For 1 in 3, the church’s religious teachings or beliefs changed in ways they didn’t agree with (34%) or the pastor or church staff they liked left the church (33%).
For the 29% who say they switched due to the church not fulfilling their needs, most (62%) say their previous church was not helping them to develop spiritually. For 2 in 5 (41%), they did not feel engaged or involved in meaningful work in the church. Around a quarter say they did not become friends or close with anyone at the church (27%), the church did not help them find happiness (26%), the church did not help them find answers to questions in their life (22%) or no one seemed to care about their situation or problems (22%).
The 27% who left their previous church due to the pastor have a mix of complaints. They’re most likely to say the pastor seemed hypocritical (36%). A third (33%) say the pastor was not a good preacher. Around 3 in 10 say the pastor was judgmental of others (30%) or seemed insincere (29%). Close to a quarter say the pastor had a moral or ethical failure (24%) or had no clear purpose or vision (23%).
Among the 26% who switched after being disenchanted with their previous congregation, 32% point to members being judgmental of others, 30% say members seemed hypocritical, 29% believe the church didn’t really seem to be a place where God was at work, 29% say the church settled for mediocrity and 26% believe the church was run by a clique that discouraged others from getting involved.
More than 1 in 5 (22%) of those who left a congregation for non-residential move reasons say it was related to the church’s teaching or position on issues. The specific reasons under that category paint a complicated picture. One in 3 (33%) say the pastor or church seemed aligned with a particular political party or ideology. Another 31% point to teachings on theological issues, 26% to teachings on applying the Bible to life issues and 24% to teachings on moral issues. For 28%, their previous pastor or church was too liberal for their taste, while 23% say their previous pastor or church was too conservative. Additionally, 22% say the church was too politically active, while 8% say the congregation didn’t engage in politics enough. More than 1 in 5 say their pastor expressed woke opinions (22%) or ignored injustice (22%). One in 5 (20%) say they felt judged based on their political views.
For the 20% who say they felt out of place at their previous church, the top reason was because they had a different view of church or religion than the other members (43%). Many also said their home or family situation was different than most members (30%), they felt out of place in terms of social class or education (28%) or most other members were a different age than them (23%). Few say they left because most other members were of a different ethnicity (6%).
Among the 18% who say life changes pulled them away from their previous church, 26% say family or home responsibilities prevented them from attending, and 24% point to a work situation keeping them away. Relationship issues played a role for some, including 19% who divorced, separated or were widowed, 17% who were taking or going with someone else who no longer attended, and 11% who got married. Another 15% say illness or infirmity kept them away. Around 1 in 10 say they simply got too busy to attend (11%), they just wanted a break from church (11%) or their children’s activities were on Sunday (8%).
The pandemic contributed to the decisions of 13% of those who changed churches for reasons other than a residential move. The primary reason those churchgoers say they switched congregations is their previous church closed temporarily (55%), and 9% say their church closed permanently. Other reasons revolve around different responses to COVID-19. A quarter (25%) say their previous church focused too much on streaming services. For 21%, their church did not take COVID-19 seriously enough. Almost 1 in 5 (19%) say the church implemented COVID-19 policies they disagreed with, and 15% say the pastor or church expressed an attitude toward COVID-19 that differed from their own. Close to 1 in 10 say the church made no changes due to the pandemic (11%), and 9% say the church argued too much about COVID-19.
Church switchers are slightly more likely to say their decision to change congregations was motivated by a need or desire to join their current church (52%) than to leave their previous one (48%). Understandably, those who changed churches are likely to say their current church is performing better than their previous one.
When comparing their current church and the one they left, more than half of church switchers say their current congregation meets their needs more with sermons that are consistently engaging or enlightening (58%), preaching that is relevant to their life (58%), church members and pastors who seem authentic (57%), being welcoming or friendly (57%), fostering spiritual growth (56%), caring for the community in tangible ways (56%), having unity among members (55%) and doing things with excellence (55%).
Most church switchers also say that at their new congregation more than their previous one they see God at work in people’s lives (57%), find it easy to worship because of the style and elements of the worship service (54%), have developed deep relationships with fellow church members (52%) and agree with the teachings, beliefs or doctrines (52%).
Not quite half say their current church is better at making them feel like they don’t want to miss services (49%), providing them with opportunities to use their talents (49%), being actively involved (49%) and having worship services that are convenient for them to attend (48%).
Many say their current church and previous church are the same in those areas. Only on three topics do at least 1 in 10 church switchers grade their previous church higher—13% say they have fewer deep relationships with fellow church members in their current church; 13% say they are less actively involved; and 10% say their current church provides fewer opportunities to use their talents to serve.
“Almost half of church switchers are motivated by the need to get out of a church they are displeased with. But that doesn’t mean the change won’t impact them for the better,” McConnell said. “While the biggest improvements reported by church switchers are things they receive, large numbers also report that personal spiritual growth, deeper relationships, increased involvement and service resulted from their church move.”
Thinking specifically about preaching, church switchers praise their current pastor’s sermons more when compared to their previous one. Almost 9 in 10 (89%) say the sermons in their current church are clear and understandable, compared to 48% who say the same about their previous church. Similar percentages say sermons at their current church are interesting enough to hold their attention (88%) versus at their previous church (44%). For each issue, church switchers are far more likely to praise their current church’s sermons than sermons from their previous church, including being relevant to their life (85% v. 49%), challenging them to live and think as Scripture teaches (84% v. 43%), teaching them something they didn’t already know (84% v. 43%), focusing on a specific topic (82% v. 44%) and focusing on a specific text from the Bible (81% v. 44%).
Church switchers are most likely to say their current church is the same size as their previous church (56%). Among those who changed church size, however, they’re more likely to move to a larger one (27%) than switch to a smaller church (17%). A statistically significant number moved to a church with more than 250 in worship attendance (27%), compared to those who previously were in such a church and switched (22%).
Half (49%) of church switchers say their previous church had a traditional style of worship, while only 38% say the same about their new congregation. Most of those who switched worship styles made their way to a congregation with a mix of contemporary and traditional, as 30% say that mix described their previous church and 39% say it describes their current one. Additionally, 20% say their previous congregation was contemporary, and 23% say the same about their new one.
Those who have left one church and joined another seem to be as bought in or more so in their current congregation as their previous one. Almost 3 in 4 (73%) say they formally joined or became members at their current church, similar to the 71% who say they did the same at their previous congregation.
Church switchers are more likely to say they are involved in their current church compared to their previous one in several ways, including attending worship services in person (76% v. 59%), being a consistent financial supporter of the church (66% v. 51%), volunteering when opportunities arise (60% v. 43%), attending a small group (56% v. 41%) and holding a non-leader position with regular responsibilities (47% v. 35%). They are just as likely to say they held a leadership position at their previous church (34%) as they are to say they are holding a leadership position at their current church (34%). Church switchers are more likely to say they serve on a church council or board at their current church (33%) compared to their previous one (25%).
Most church switchers seem to believe their switching days are behind them now. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) say they plan to continue attending the same church in the foreseeable future. Close to 1 in 5 (19%) say they plan to continue attending the same church, but they’re open to switching in the future. Few (3%) say they are actively looking for a new church.
“The lack of engagement among members often concerns pastors. Ironically, one thing that appears to spur some people to get more involved at church is leaving to go to a new church,” said McConnell. “While few pastors would encourage such a move, challenging people to focus less on what displeases them and instead investing in relationships and serving others is a journey worth taking.”
Navigating transition
Whether impacted by a residential move or not, 41% of those who have switched churches say they stopped attending church for more than three months between churches, up from 28% who said the same in 2006. Nearly half of churchgoers said they began actively searching for a new church after leaving their previous one (48%), and 21% said they do not recall actively searching for a church. But some began the search for a new church before leaving their previous one (31%).
With a variety of resources available to churchgoers looking for a new church, fewer church switchers today than in 2006 rely on in-person visits to churches (69% v. 83%), recommendations from family, friends, neighbors or colleagues (56% v. 64%) or a phonebook or local advertisements (10% v. 19%). And they are more likely today to rely on church websites (37%), social media sites (29%) or online search tools (27%) than they were in 2006 to rely on “Internet websites/online search tools” (21%).
Both those changing churches locally and those making residential moves rely heavily on in-person visits (71% v. 69%). Meanwhile, movers are more likely to use online resources including church websites (40% v. 31%), social media sites (32% v. 24%) and online search tools (30% v. 21%).
“Shopping for a new church is more of a hybrid search today, with most of those who are switching churches relying on both personal visits and referrals as well as electronic information and discussions,” McConnell said.
Introductions to current church
Around 3 in 10 churchgoers who have changed congregations were first introduced to their current church because a friend or acquaintance invited them to attend (31%), they heard about it through word of mouth (29%) or a family member invited them to attend (27%). Others had always been familiar with the church (25%) or had driven by it before (23%). Fewer were first introduced to their church by finding the church website (15%), finding out about it on the internet (15%), seeing it on social media (10%), asking for recommendations online (8%), finding out about it from an ad (7%) or finding out about it through a media story (6%).
Church switchers who have made a residential move are more likely than those who have not to have been first introduced to their current church online—through the church website (20% v. 8%), the internet (19% v. 9%), social media (12% v. 6%) or online recommendations (11% v. 5%).
Among those who were first introduced to their church through the church’s website, more than 2 in 3 (67%) said the church’s beliefs and mission were the most helpful thing on the website. Churchgoers also found simple and practical information such as church location (66%) and worship times (64%) to be helpful. Others found ministries or events (50%), sermons (42%), contact information (39%), staff profiles (33%) and social media contacts (26%) to be helpful.
First visit
By far, when churchgoers are visiting a new church, the first event or activity they will likely attend is a worship service (68%). However, this is down from 2006 when nearly 9 in 10 (88%) said a worship service was the first thing they attended at their current church. Church switchers who are not making residential moves are more likely than those who are to attend a worship service first (73% v. 64%).
Fewer than 1 in 10 say the first event or activity they attended at their current church was a Bible study class or small group at the church (6%), a social get-together among church members (6%), a streamed worship service (5%), a Bible study class or small group in a home (4%), a class other than a Bible study that interested them (4%), a service ministry of the church (4%) or a musical event (2%).
Among the small sample who attended a streamed service first, 54% said they streamed worship services four or more times before visiting in person, with 15% saying they watched a streamed service four or five times and 39% saying they watched a service more than five times.
“A church’s worship service is still the front door of the typical church, but a third of first-time visitors will use a different door today,” McConnell said. “It is important that every ministry within a church realizes they may have the first contact with someone who needs a church.”
For more church switchers today than in 2006, it only takes a few visits to decide that’s the church they will attend regularly. Today, more than 7 in 10 (71%) decide to regularly attend their current church after visiting worship services three times or less. Half of churchgoers who changed churches (50%) said it took them two or three visits to decide, compared to 38% in 2006. And 20% say it took one visit, compared to 16% in 2006.
Welcomed or not
When visiting their current church, most church switchers say they were personally welcomed by congregants before or after the service (56%). Close to half say they were personally welcomed by pastors or ministers before or after the service (48%). More than a third were asked to fill out an information card by hand (36%). Fewer were invited to attend social events outside of service (23%), formally recognized during the service (19%), asked to fill out an information card electronically (12%), encouraged to introduce themselves (10%) or asked to text the church (6%). And 3% of churchgoers said they were not welcomed in any of these ways.
Church switchers today are less likely than those in 2006 to say they were personally welcomed by congregants (56% v. 67%), asked to fill out a card by hand (36% v. 62%) or contacted by a welcoming team (21% v. 28%). Switchers in 2006 were not asked about the option to provide information electronically or by text.
Nearly 4 in 5 (79%) of those who have switched churches agree that how the church welcomed visitors positively impacted their decisions to attend regularly, with 49% strongly agreeing and 30% somewhat agreeing. More than 3 in 4 churchgoers who experienced each of the welcoming approaches said it positively impacted their decision to attend regularly.
“Personally welcoming visitors, inviting them to social events and contacting them after the worship service all coincide with better impressions of a church’s welcoming approach than churches that did not do these things,” McConnell said. “You can’t take a week off when it comes to genuinely welcoming newcomers.”
Important factors
For most regular churchgoers who have changed churches, their current church’s beliefs and doctrines (86%) and preaching (86%) were important in their decision to attend that church, with 56% saying its beliefs and doctrines were extremely important and 50% saying the preaching was extremely important.
Although fewer identify these factors as extremely important, at least 4 in 5 churchgoers say factors including the authenticity of church members and pastor (84%), care for community (82%), unity among members (82%) and worship style (80%) are important or extremely important factors.
Many also say the evidence of God’s work and changed lives (78%), building relationships with members (76%), learning biblical truth (74%), music (68%), worship times (68%), location (67%), denomination (64%), opportunities to serve (62%), low pressure to commit (61%), acquaintances among church members (61%) and church members similar to them (59%) were at least important factors in their decision to attend their current church.
Other factors were less important for churchgoers looking for a new church. Less than half (49%) said age-appropriate children’s programs were important or extremely important, and 27% said it was neither important nor unimportant. Many were also neutral (34%) about the importance of the church’s size, while 40% said it was important or extremely important. More than 2 in 5 (42%) churchgoers said little use of religious jargon was neither important nor unimportant to them, and 37% said it was important or extremely important.
Those whose church switch accompanied a residential move were more likely than those whose did not to say location (70% v. 62%), denomination (67% v. 60%) and church members similar to them (62% v. 53%) were important or extremely important factors in choosing their current church.
