From The Desk of Deacon Judy

The Great Dechurching

From the Desk of Deacon Judy

This week the diocese held a continuing education workshop for clergy with authors Jim Davis and Michael Graham who discussed their book, The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take To Bring Them Back.

In the past 25 years, 40 million people in the United States have left religious institutions of all faiths. Now we have seen previous studies that show that over the past 15 years the “nones”, the religious unaffiliated (atheists, agnostics, nothing in particular), have increased from 16% to 28% of Americans, but this study focused on the population who had previously attended worship services and then stopped attending.

The research was highly data driven; the results were surprising. To summarize at a very high level, 30 of those 40 million left for mundane reasons such as they moved or just stopped going to church. 10 of the 40 million left because they were wounded in some way by the religious institution.

The study showed that most who left believed in God and acknowledged Jesus. The study showed that most who left longed for a sense of belonging and community.

The discussion was fascinating. We ended with the hope we (all of us, not just clergy) are called to meet people where they are. All of us (not just clergy) are called to listen to their stories. All of us (not just clergy) are called to invite folks into community. Those who have been estranged then begin to see and feel again the richness of the love and compassion of Jesus.

May we continue to be the body of Christ, his hands, his head, and his heart.

Blessings,

Judy Q+