More than 1 in 5 churchgoers left a congregation because they couldn’t agree with some of its teachings or positions on issues or politics.
By Marissa Postell Sullivan
A church’s teachings and positions on issues are factors for some churchgoers in determining whether they stay at that congregation or look for a new one. But there’s not broad consensus as to which teachings and issues are most problematic for churchgoers. Still, understanding churchgoers’ motivations for leaving a church can offer pastors insights into how to best lead and care for their congregations.
As churchgoers leave your church to find a new one, most are doing so because of a residential move (60%), but some will end up at a church across town (40%), according to Lifeway Research. Of the churchgoers who left a congregation for a reason other than a residential move, most say they changed churches because of changes at the church they did not like (29%) or because the church was not fulfilling their needs or reasons for attending (29%). But 1 in 4 simply became disenchanted with the pastor (27%) or church (26%). And more than 1 in 5 (22%) left a congregation because they couldn’t agree with some of its teachings or positions on issues or politics. This is down from 27% who said they left their previous church because of disagreements over teachings or positions on issues or politics in 2006.
More than 1 in 5 (22%) churchgoers who switched congregations for a reason other than a residential move left their previous church because they couldn’t agree with some of its teachings or positions on issues or politics. Share on XWhere does disagreement happen?
Of the 22% who say they switched churches because of disagreements over their previous church’s teachings or positions on issues, 1 in 3 (33%) say they left their previous church because the pastor or church seemed aligned with a particular political party or ideology. Another 31% point to teachings on theological issues, 26% to teachings on applying the Bible to life issues, and 24% to teachings on moral issues.
For 28%, their previous pastor or church was too liberal for their taste, while 23% say their previous pastor or church was too conservative. Additionally, 22% say the church became too politically active, while 8% say the congregation didn’t engage in politics enough. More than 1 in 5 say their pastor expressed woke opinions (22%) or ignored injustice (22%). One in 5 (20%) say they felt judged based on their political views.
Current church comparisons
In many cases, churchgoers feel more aligned with the teachings at their current church than their former one. Churchgoers who switched churches because they disagreed with teachings or positions on issues and politics commonly say they disagreed with teachings on theological issues at their previous church.
But among churchgoers who switched churches for any reason, most say they agree with the teachings, beliefs, and doctrine of their current church more (26%) or much more (26%) than their previous one. Specifically among those who moved churches without moving homes, 60% say they agree with the teachings, beliefs, and doctrine of their current church more or much more than their previous church.
Other churchgoers who disagreed with their previous church’s teachings or positions say they left because they disagreed with teachings on how to apply the Bible to life issues. But most churchgoers who changed churches say the preaching at their current church is more (31%) or much more (28%) relevant to their lives than the preaching at their previous church. Among those whose church switch was not accompanied by a residential move, 69% say the preaching at their current church is more or much more relevant to their lives compared to that at their previous church.
Some churchgoers who left their previous church because they disagreed with its teachings or positions say they felt judged based on their political views. But among churchgoers who found a new church, most say their current church is more (29%) or much more (29%) welcoming and friendly than their previous one. Specifically, among those who switched churches while staying in the same community, 65% say their current church is more or much more welcoming and friendly than their previous one.
Among those whose church switch was not accompanied by a residential move, 69% say the preaching at their current church is more or much more relevant to their lives compared to that at their previous church. Share on XIdentifying gaps
Churchgoers ages 30-49 are among the most likely to say they feel more aligned with the teachings at their current church, saying they agree more or much more with the teachings, beliefs, and doctrine of their current church (62%); the preaching at their current church is more or much more relevant to their lives than the preaching at their previous church (65%); and their current church is more or much more welcoming and friendly than their previous one (68%).
Those with evangelical beliefs are also more likely than those without such beliefs to say they agree more or much more with the teachings, beliefs, and doctrine of their current church over their previous church (54% v. 45%) and the preaching at their current church is more or much more relevant to their lives than the preaching at their previous church (64% v. 52%).
Additionally, those who attend a worship service four or more times a month are among the most likely to say they agree more or much more with the teachings, beliefs, and values of their current church than their previous one (54%). And those who started attending their current church six to 10 years ago (63%) are among the most likely to say the preaching at their current church is more or much more relevant to their lives.
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