church decline
Across US, houses of worship struggle to rebuild attendance
By David Crary — December 20, 2021
(AP) — When Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston resumed in-person services late last year, after a seven-month halt due to COVID-19, there were Sundays when only three worshippers showed up.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church celebrates paid-off debts at major meeting
By Adelle M. Banks — July 28, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Livingstone College, Hood seminary, and Clinton College — debts have all been satisfied,’ announced AME Zion Bishop George Edward Battle Jr.
Looking for radical solutions to decline, Church of England debates lay-led house churches
By Catherine Pepinster — July 9, 2021
LONDON (RNS) — A proposal published on the eve of the Church of England's General Synod shows the growing influence of evangelicalism.
Study: More churches closing than opening
By Yonat Shimron — May 26, 2021
(RNS) — The study, which analyzed church data from 34 Protestant denominations and groups, found that 4,500 churches closed in 2019, while about 3,000 new congregations were started.
As a pastor I pray my flock comes back. As a religion demographer I’m more realistic.
By Ryan Burge — March 9, 2021
(RNS) — Secularization is like globalization. Before we were aware of either, they had become impossible to stop.
Study: Religious attendance flatlining, but giving remains strong
By Yonat Shimron — October 16, 2019
(RNS) — The study from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University finds that nearly half of America’s estimated 360,000 congregations saw an increase in giving from three years ago.
Are churches willing to love their young people more than their politics?
By Scott McConnell — January 15, 2019
(RNS) — When asked why they stop going to church regularly, young people are increasingly prone to answer, 'I disagreed with the church’s stance on political/social issues.'
A church closes, but where does its pipe organ go?
By Holly Meyer — May 5, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A glut of organs up for grabs is in part a consequence of declining church membership across denominations.
Organists declining but still in demand for Easter
By Adelle M. Banks — April 13, 2017
(RNS) One organist had to decline three out of four invitations to play the instrument on Easter Sunday: 'I simply can only sit on one organ bench at a time.'
Where have all the grown-ups gone?
By David P. Gushee — April 26, 2016
About the scary decline of all major American institutions.
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