USA today has an unsurprising survey on the reasons while people change churches. Clearly only the people who changed churches without moving home are worth investigating and the reasons were mixed;
Most of the switchers who changed their house of worship without making a residential move (58%) say their old church failed to engage their faith, or put their talents to work, or it seemed hypocritical or judgemental.
But 42% of the people say they switched because another church offered more appealing doctrines and preaching or the preacher and church members’ faith seemed more “authentic.”
But the writers identify restlessness as the key point. In other words, either ‘I am not getting what I want here’, or ‘the grass is greener on the other side’.
There is some hope though. Brad Waggoner, LifeWay’s vice president of research and ministry development says:
There’s no simple answer why people are so restless … [but] we have a biblical responsibility to care for every person in our flock.
Found via: Think Christian
Previously: Changing churches
2 comments
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26 April 2007 at 11:46 pm
Reformer
Very interesting survey. I think it is in human nature to think the grass is greener everywhere else than where they are, heh.
27 April 2007 at 12:37 am
hephzibah
Push factors and Pull factors operate in any big decision to move. It’s positive that so many quoted the pull factors. Push factors eventually force you to make a move, pull factors help you choose where to go. I’ve been through it and so have of lot of my friends.
But we have moved, not left.
Jesus himself said “There are many rooms in my Father’s House,” and I always reckon this leaves room for personal needs and abilities as well as tradition and doctrine; also as you get older, your family-needs pass through different stages, from Baby-friendly to good with youth to more mission-oriented to more liturgical (not necessarily in that order) -