10 Myths About Church Quitters
Despite the almost mantra-like status of the statement “people are leaving the church” there still appears to be little understanding about who is leaving, when they leave, why they leave, and what happens to them and their faith after they leave. Of course everyone has their own view on these issues but few, especially our church leaders, have taken the time to sit down and talk with an actual leaver or two.
It is much easier dealing with stereotypes than actual people, even if the stereotypes don’t help us understand what is really going on. For those interested in moving beyond the stereotypes and asking: “Who are these people who are leaving our churches?” an examination of some myths about church leavers may prove helpful.
Alan Jamieson
I first came across Alan Jamieson’s work through Julia Duin’s book, Quitting Church.
Here is his list:
Myth #1
It is only the traditional mainline churches that have large numbers of leavers. While it is true that people are leaving the traditional churches people are also leaving evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal churches.
Myth #2
The people who leave are young adults, people on the fringe of our churches, and people who have not been in the church for very long.
Myth #3
Those with children are less likely to leave.
Myth #4
If Mom and Dad go to church, their children will grow up to be churchgoers too.
Myth #5
The people who leave lack commitment.
Myth #6
Leavers don’t have an adequate grounding in the faith.
Myth #7
They leave because of the increased pressure on people’s time today.
Myth #8
They leave because of personal issues and disagreements with church leaders.
Myth #9
They’ll be coming back.
Myth #10
They are backsliding and giving away their faith.
Read Alan Jamieson’s original article here.
I like this list for two reasons: 1) Alan has done a lot of research in this area and these myths are actually well-documented (see original post) and therefore, this list is anything but arbitrary; and, 2) I know of “church leavers” who have been hurt deeply and ostracized because their church “friends” actually believed many of these myths.
I hope that pastors and denominational leaders are listening!
Were any of these myths particularly enlightening for you?
Comments
Joel,
Alan’s sample size is WAY too small, and not randomized, and as as a result his results and many of his conclusions are completely wrong. I will posting on internetmonk.com in a couple of days with results from a survey of 16,000 people where you will see very different results.
For me, I was surprised by the myth that children will be churchgoers if their parents are (Myth #4). I was surprised that there were enough people believing this to qualify it as a myth? Do people actually believe that?
Also Myth #10 is particularly enlightening because it shows that many people associate faith with church attendance. This is a problem because it puts a mediator between us and God – the mediator being church. As if you have to attend church if you want to have faith in God.
What do you think?
Mike, I will totally be looking forward to that. Your posts are always informative and very well researched. Thanks by the way for the work you posted on you blog and iMonk earlier this year.
Mike, I see now what you mean. Alan does make this statement about his research in Myth #4 of the original article: ” . . . (albeit qualitative research and therefore involving a relatively small sample) . . . ” From Myth #2 (again in the original), Alan refers to 108 interviews. That does seem like a small sample. Good call. Mike!
Myth 10 is the big one in my opinion. I grew up being taught it!
Myth 4 is played out in my own life. My three oldest kids have great depths of faith, but they do not associate with a church. They study their bibles, try to live by Christs words, visit my blog and go to the occasional christian gathering. But church goers? Not one.
You don’t have to attend a public service of worship in a building that is referred to as a church in order to have faith that is true. However since the church described in the Bible is not a building but a community of people I would venture to suggest that meeting together with people who share your faith is an integral part of faith.
HFuller, thanks for your comment. I totally agree with what you are saying. No one is an island, right? Especially when it comes to spirituality. In my interview with Bruxy Cavey,
he said the same thing (even though he is a teaching pastor of one of the largest churches in Canada)
My post is now up at internetmonk.com
I will come back here later and add my own comments on the 10 myths.
Yes, Mike I already saw it. Thanks to Twitter. And I thought it was so good that I Retweeted it! I hope lots of people see it. I added a link to it in your above comment – I hope that’s OK.
Here are my thoughts on the Myths:
Myth #1 – It is only the traditional mainline churches that have large numbers of leavers.
Alan is correct, this is a myth.
Myth #2 – The people who leave are young adults, people on the fringe of our churches, and people who have not been in the church for very long.
I think for the most part this is not a myth as shown in my analysis at Internet Monk.
Myth #3 – Those with children are less likely to leave.
I also think that this is not a myth. In Protestant circles, only 15% of leavers are over the age of 23.
Myth #4 – If Mom and Dad go to church, their children will grow up to be churchgoers too.
I agree with Alan that this is a myth.
Myth #5 -The people who leave lack commitment.
I think we may be talking apples and oranges here. Alan is talking primarily about people leaving individual churches, while not necessarily leaving the faith. Some of these people are very committed. But my other question is, what does it matter. If someone lacks commitment, it shows (for the most part) that we have failed in our discipleship of that person.
Myth #6 – Leavers don’t have an adequate grounding in the faith.
See my comments in number 5. Are they leaving the church or leaving the faith. For those leaving the faith, for the most part this is not a myth, although there are of course exceptions.
Myth #7 – They leave because of the increased pressure on people’s time today.
I surveyed our community a few years ago. This came up time and time again as a reason why people don’t come to church. I have not seen it as a reason for people leaving.
Myth #8 – They leave because of personal issues and disagreements with church leaders.
According to the Pew Forum data, this is a secondary reason. Most leaving is passive rather than active.
Myth #9 – They’ll be coming back.
Some will, most won’t.
Myth #10 They are backsliding and giving away their faith.
See comment under 5 and 6. This is true of most who leave the faith, but not necessarily true of those who leave an individual church.
First time visitor. And fellow Canuckian. We’re tracking a lot of similar issues. Here’s a recent one where we looked at “real” church vs. online church.
http://paulwilkinson.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/church-community-versus-christian-blogging-community/
Also, thanks for posting the Paul Young (The Shack) link to The Hour on CBC. Missed that one live.
First timer too — and a Canuck (actually, Alberta redneck
Very interesting discussion here, and one I believe that should be taking place everywhere throughout the church universal. We’ve been grappling with many of these questions, and I keep finding out that many of my friends and family are as well. I have a theology degree and have been in “church” my whole life. I disagree with some of Michael Bell’s assumptions and analysis. I think that most of his stats are looking backwards. I think we’re on the cusp of a major shift, and many in my generation will push the stats around signficantly (I’m 45 — my two oldest love “going to church” even though Mom and Dad don’t). As evangelicals, we’re becoming very disallusioned with the leader-driven, pulpit to pew way of experiencing God and we’re ready for something that will actually result in transformational living.
Paul, thanks for commenting. I’m glad to have found your blog and have added it to the blogroll here. I hope many will go and visit your blog as well.
Brad,
Thanks for visiting. Alberta, eh? Are you a hockey fan?
I imagine that the reason why your children enjoy attending church is because of relationships and their friends, the people with whom they connect at the church. Unfortunately the leader-driven, pulpit to pew style does not really promote the kinds of relationships that we, as adults, need.
You are right in saying that we are “on a cusp”. I am continually amazed at all the people who are rethinking church (and I mean COMPLETELY rethinking church) and how their experiences are so similar. If this is a movement of God, then keep it coming!
Hey Joel,
Yup, I’m from Edmonton, an Oilers/Eskimos fan. I still play a little hockey in the winter, golf in the spring/summer/fall. I think God’s been moving in the hearts of people all along, and that it’s really only until recently that the disillusioned have reached a critical mass allowing the average questioning church-goer to realize it’s not just a choice of “in the church or out of the faith”. That’s what’s been so freeing to me. I really do believe that my faith is stronger and relationships deeper — but still in the testing stage… and wondering about our younger kids.