Searching For The ‘Unchurched’
Published: July 16, 2008
As churches, both large and small, continue to map out their local mission in order to reach those who are 'unchurched' in their respective communities, the Ellison Research group has recently completed a study that provides a more clearer picture for churches as to who the 'unchurched' really are.
"There's a whole industry seeking to help clergy reach the unchurched, with seminars, books, videos, training centers, and consultants," says Ron Sellers, president of the Ellison Research group. "However, many people don't really have a basic notion even of just what it means to be ‘unchurched.' There's often an assumption that people either do attend worship services, or they don't."
According to the findings of the Phoenix-based research firm, people who attend worship services at least once a month or on a regular basis have been considered as "churched," while those who don't attend frequently enough have often been labeled "unchurched."
"But what we find in this study," says Sellers, "that up to one out of every five Americans is attending worship services at least occasionally during the year, even though they are not regularly involved. That has huge implications for local congregations who are trying to attract new people."
The newly performed study by the Ellison Research Group, which was released on Monday, helps divide the American population into a more accurate picture of church attendance.
Their study concludes that those Americans many have labeled as "unchurched" do in fact visit attend church or worship services occasionally, just not regularly. Only 60 percent of those labeled as "unchurched" do not attend worship services at all, according to the Ellison study.
Overall, 29 percent of Americans do not attend a church or worship service at all.
The study linked worship attendance to a number of factors, such as family history of attendance and parental religious involvement. Also, for those parents who have committed to attend worship services occasionally, there is a 62 percent chance that their children are now regularly attending services as an adult.
The odds for children to regularly attend worship services dramatically decrease to 21 percent if they never attended prior to turning 18.
With these new survey results, Sellers wonders if churches are really paying attention to newcomers.
"We estimate that up to 43 million adults who do not regularly attend worship services will visit a church or place of worship at some point during the year, to say nothing of children and teens who visit with their family or on their own," Sellers said. "Are those congregations and clergy members ready for them?"
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Searching For The ‘Unchurched’
Published: July 16, 2008
New study provides some insight into today's church attendance trends.
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