Why a decline in church attendance isn’t the end of the story

The number of churchgoers has consistently fallen over the past several years. Studies by Pew Research, Barna, and other reputable surveys all confirm this trend.

But there’s two positive caveats: The number of adults who identify as Christian has actually stopped declining in recent years. And, perhaps more importantly, attendance is no longer the end-all-be-all of measuring engagement.

Your church is more than the number of pews you fill each Sunday. Still, understanding why attendance may be slumping is important for every leader seeking to know and grow their flock.

Why it’s happening

You can’t ignore the ongoing impact of the pandemic on church attendance. We all remember the difficulties of ministry during COVID, and while the restrictions that kept us apart are far behind us, certain patterns and engagement trends linger.

Your community probably became accustomed to receiving their spiritual content digitally. Online devotionals, content, and live streamed worship services changed the paradigm. Even after everyone was able to attend church in person again, many continued to rely on online ministry resources. That cultural shift isn’t going away anytime soon.

On top of that, younger adults engage with the world in wildly different ways than their parents. Reliance on technology is obviously a big factor, but there’s also a deep-seated desire for real engagement and genuine interaction. The up-and-coming generations (who will become the foundation of the Church) don’t consider showing up for Sunday service enough for true “connection.” They want to feel involved, have a sense of ownership in your mission, and to be intentionally brought into the life of your church.

Which is great news for you.

Opportunities hidden in the trend

Many church leaders need to adjust their definition of success. Admittedly, that’s easier said than done. But you can start by viewing this attendance pattern not as a problem, but as a jumping off point for realigning your approach to ministry.

Instead of grumbling about how times are changing, successful leaders ride the tides and take advantage of the new realities of church engagement. And that starts by identifying goals outside of attendance.

Where church health shows up beyond Sunday attendance

As you’ve hopefully gathered by now, you’re doing your ministry a disservice if you only measure growth and success by Sunday headcounts. Gauging your church’s health requires a holistic outlook.

Begin tracking trends in small group participation. This is often one of the surest signs of real engagement. Volunteers are also a critical measure—even if your current service needs are met, keep an eye on how many members offer to make themselves available. Nurturing a growing pool of support within your existing community is just as important as weekly attendees. And don’t discount giving trends. Even slow growth in donations signals buy-in to your church’s mission.

On top of all that, you can’t discount the amount of engagement you see online. Every time someone—especially a young adult—reads a blog post or watches a recording of a worship service, your church is helping them grow in their faith.

How thriving churches are pivoting

Every ministry should track all the above measures, but some stats are more important than others. It depends on the priorities of your individual church.

You know your church better than anyone, so ask yourself: what non-attendance measures are your best gauges of success?

Once you have that answer, you can begin allocating your resources with intention:

Do you prioritize developing volunteers? Double down on calls to service, and actively develop new, exciting programs in the community that speak to your congregation. And don’t worry about the expanded burden on your team, as a streamlined ChMS simplifies volunteer scheduling for church staff and your congregation.

Hoping to reach more young people? Take a second look at your online presence, especially your mobile app and live streaming experience. Meet them where they’re at—their phones—by providing a custom experience branded to your church, serving as an online extension of your ministry.

Want to boost donations? Start by ensuring your online giving platform is as simple and straightforward as possible, and always be completely transparent where funds are being directed. Related, consider a campaign where all funds are directed toward a specific project, something that the community can rally around.

The mission hasn’t changed

Did you notice that all those suggestions above are grounded in the ministry you already do?

In order to grow engagement—which includes attendance—in today’s Church, you must start by doubling down on engagement outside of Sunday. Your community wants to be invested in your mission. Provide them opportunities to serve and participate, the ability to give whenever they feel led, and connect with your ministry digitally seven days a week.

Do that, and increased attendance is sure to follow.

Explore how Pushpay’s tools can help you measure engagement, strengthen connection, fuel growth in this changing ministry landscape.