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March 29, 2009 - WHY CHURCHES ARE LOSING MEMBERS

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

A recent survey about religion reported on said that nearly all religious groups in the United States lost followers in the last 10 years. People are less affiliated with traditional denominations. The only group that grew in numbers was the Evangelicals, who are spread out among a few denominations. And, so, I was thinking, why has this happened? And will the trend continue? For starters, I think we have to keep in mind that this survey was conducted during a period when we were riding the high wave of an economic boom. When people have more money, they often pay less attention to God. The illusion of self-sufficiency allows one to think that we can get by on our own prowess. But now that the economic tide has turned, I already see more people in church on Sunday. And I suspect when the next survey is done we’ll see an INCREASE in church attendance and affiliation. Unless of course the stock market rebounds a lot quicker than anyone anticipates.

I also think that as we advance in technology and media sophistication, people expect more of their places of worship. Lackluster homilies, off-pitch music, drab liturgy, and uninspired worship spaces no longer satisfy a culture where the more inspirational is merely a click away. Churches and synagogues need to get their acts together and make liturgy more inviting and transcendent if people are to be drawn to it. Sometimes when I don’t have to say Mass and I sit in the pews and attend, I’m bored out of my mind by a preacher who doesn’t know when to shut up. And I think to myself: Could I sit here every week? I’m not so sure. That’s one of the advantages we have here at The Sunday Mass. Because we are only a half hour Mass, we try to provide the best liturgical prayer, preaching, and music that we can. We don’t always please everyone, but we have heard from you that you like the direction of The Sunday Mass. We’re happy to help create and attractive and prayerful environment for liturgy and prayer that brings you back to worship on a Sunday.

Maybe this explains the solitary growth among Evangelical Christians, especially the mega-churches. They have charismatic, if not always biblically sound, preaching. Their places of worship are well-lit, pleasing to the eye, have great acoustics, AND they offer day care. They also break down the large assembly into smaller community groups that share faith and support one another on a deeply personal level. That’s what people are looking for when they come to church. They want to be connected. They want to be cared about. And if we churches that have been around for centuries don’t GET that message, we might be putting out the same FOR SALE signs that a lot of American homeowners are. And don’t be surprised if the Evangelicals are the ones lining up to make the down payments.