The Post-Pandemic Shift in Evangelical Church Engagement

Research confirms what many pastors are feeling. After the pandemic, church engagement looks different for congregants.

By Mike Leake

I began my present pastorate in April of 2019. If memory serves, 114 people voted on whether or not I’d be their next pastor. Last Sunday, as I stood in the pulpit, I took a mental snapshot of the 178 faces staring back at me, and I thought back to that first Sunday in 2019. It’s almost an entirely different church.

It’s not only a different church because of the families we’ve added. It’s a different church because of the 114 original people, a little over half are still here. Many we’ve lost to death or moves.

But there’s another story alongside this one. For a couple months prior to the pandemic, we were averaging a little over 200 in attendance. And while we had 178 people in attendance last Sunday, the Sunday before was a meager 126. Our attendance can fluctuate on any given Sunday by 40%. If everyone came on the same Sunday, we would have close to 250 in attendance.

A recent study published by Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts on “Church After COVID” gives data which coincides with my personal experience. After the pandemic, congregants are engaging differently with their local congregations. This study reveals a significant decline in traditional in-person attendance alongside an increase in virtual attendance. It also shows that over 1 in 4 churchgoers started attending their church post-pandemic. These findings present unique challenges for congregations.

The decline in traditional in-person attendance

One of the most striking findings in the post-pandemic landscape is the decline in traditional in-person church attendance among evangelicals. According to the study, only 54% of Protestant evangelicals are currently engaging in the traditional model of in-person weekly church attendance. This marks a significant departure from pre-pandemic norms.

Another study from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts in fall 2021 found prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 9 in 10 American evangelicals (87%) were attending church at least semi-regularly.

Only 54% of Protestant evangelicals are currently engaging in the traditional model of in-person weekly church attendance, according to Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts. Share on X

Surprisingly, this year’s “Church After COVID” report reveals 22% of evangelicals do not attend worship even monthly. Regular church attendance is no longer defined as weekly attendance but one to three times per month. This confirms what many pastors are witnessing. We’re preaching to a different congregation each week, which brings a set of unique challenges.

If a pastor desired to do a six-week series outlining a new vision for the local church, how would it be accomplished? Over half of your congregation will likely only hear two of those sermons. If the in-person service is the primary means to set vision, this new dynamic will make it difficult.

Is it any wonder that many of our people are feeling disconnected from their local church? Or that 75% of pastors identified “people’s apathy or lack of commitment” as a significant concern in Lifeway’s Greatest Needs of Pastors study?

We might conclude people have disengaged from in-person service and are engaging online. While online-engagement has increased, many of those engaging online are the same folks who were attending the in-person service. One remarkable finding from this study was that “26% of evangelicals claim they attend both in-person and digital services weekly or more, and 41% say they attend both types of services monthly or more.”

The ever-changing congregations

Another significant trend that has emerged is the makeup of congregations in the post-pandemic era. The data reveals 26% of churchgoers started attending their current church after the pandemic began. This suggests churches have experienced substantial changes in their congregational identity post-COVID.

Lifeway Research found many of these new churchgoers are still in the process of settling into their current congregations, with half of churchgoers who have switched churches as adults saying they began attending their current church five years ago or less. This reality presents both opportunities and challenges.

The arrival of new members can infuse a church with the fresh energy of new relationships and energetic volunteers. But an influx of new members may also require churches to rethink their approaches to ministry and community building.

When combined with the reality of sporadic attendance, it can become rather difficult for church leaders to get everyone moving in the same direction. There are also challenges related to giving. It often takes new members, and especially new believers, some time before they begin giving regularly.

The ever-changing face of congregations is impacting how we do church.

“26% of churchgoers started attending their current church after the pandemic began. This suggests churches have experienced substantial changes in their congregational identity post-COVID.” — @mikeleake Share on X

The rise in online church attendance

Another notable shift in the post-pandemic church landscape is the increase in online church attendance. While the initial surge in online services was driven by necessity during the pandemic, it appears this mode of engagement has stuck around.

Many find the convenience of online worship more compelling than an in-person experience. The flexible hours offer people an opportunity to engage on their own time. This is particularly appealing to those who have non-traditional work schedules as well as those with health concerns. The availability of streaming has impacted more than churches. Movie theaters have also pivoted to compensate for loss of revenue brought on by the shift to streaming.

Certainly, the call to gather in person with the body of Christ is different than a decision about watching a movie at home or with over-priced popcorn on a big screen. But we cannot underestimate the impact on demand viewing has had upon our psyche. The ability to watch recorded services at a later time or participate in online discussions is another perk—which might explain why some members are choosing to engage both.

This shift also presents challenges for churches. The physical gathering of believers has long been a cornerstone of Christian worship. The rise of online services presents a challenge for maintaining a sense of community as well as accountability. Church leaders need to find creative ways to integrate online and in-person worship gatherings.

Rather than wholly rejecting this form of engagement, perhaps churches can view online engagement as a potential expression of Acts 2:46. If everyone is online already, through social media and other forms, should the church not seek to reach into these avenues?

Changing criteria for church selection

The study by Grey Matter also found criteria churchgoers use to select their churches have also changed after the pandemic. What they found is rather intriguing:

Among people who started attending their current church post-pandemic, the theology/beliefs of the church were less important (47% pre-pandemic, down to 37% post-pandemic). Whether the sermons/teaching keep their interest is also less important today (46% pre-pandemic, down to 37%). Knowing people who attend that church has dropped in importance (43%, down to 30%), as has the importance of the Sunday school/Christian education programs (24%, down to 14%). Nothing has increased in importance.”

These findings are particularly true of those with low spiritual engagement. They tend to place less importance on almost every metric. This might indicate people are searching for something but aren’t exactly sure what. Those with low spiritual engagement most frequently cited knowing people who attended there as a decision factor in choosing their current church.

The programs a church offers are less important than in years past. The same is true of the “place” of worship. Only 9% of evangelicals cite having an appealing building or facilities as a factor for choosing their church. What matters, it seems, is whether or not the person finds relationships at their church location.

For those who have higher levels of spiritual engagement, the criteria are different. They are still likely to place great importance on theology and beliefs as well as the relevance and impact of the preaching. Knowing others who attend and furthering Christian education are also important.

This coincides with a recent Lifeway Research study which found beliefs and doctrines remain important to churchgoers, with 86% citing them as important factors in their decision to attend a particular church. Preaching quality is also highly valued, according to Lifeway Research, with 86% of respondents highlighting it as a key consideration.

However, other factors, such as the authenticity of church members and pastors (84%), the church’s care for the community (82%), and the unity among members (82%), also hold prominence.

Might it be as simple as preaching Jesus and loving people?

Where is the first engagement with your church?

One of the key findings across multiple studies is the importance of how churches welcome and engage newcomers. Lifeway Research highlights that nearly 4 in 5 (79%) church switchers agree that how the church welcomed visitors positively impacted their decision to attend regularly.

Personal welcomes from congregants and pastors were influential in shaping positive first impressions. Though first engagement because of personal invitation has dropped since 2006, it’s still the predominant way in which someone will find a new church.

But the research from Grey Matter provides a broader picture. Post-pandemic, almost 15% of evangelicals say they first engaged with the church through a digital service. Compare that to 5% who said the same pre-pandemic. Is this simply because more online church options are available? Perhaps. But it highlights another front door to our churches.

“Post-pandemic, almost 15% of evangelicals say they first engaged with the church through a digital service. Compare that to 5% who said the same pre-pandemic.” — @mikeleake Share on X

The rise of digital engagement gives churches a new path to welcoming and connecting with potential members. Church websites, social media, and online search tools are increasingly important in the church selection process. This is particularly true for people who have recently moved.

As churches begin to embrace strategic online engagement, utilizing these digital platforms, these numbers will likely only increase. Many are now saying that the front door to your church is now your website or social media presence.

The implications for church leadership

The data presents a clear message to church leaders: the post-pandemic church landscape is different. And it presents both challenges and opportunity.

The decline in traditional in-person attendance, the rise in online worship, and the changing criteria for church selection all point to the need for churches to adapt to new realities. This doesn’t mean we change the message but that we rethink how to engage this ever-changing terrain.

What will it mean for your church if fewer people are physically attending but more are attending online? Your local church will need to decide if it believes this is a battle to fight or an opportunity to be engaged. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in between.

People are still connecting to churches through personal engagement and relevant biblical teaching. Loving people and proclaiming Jesus is still “working.” Can that also work online?

This data indicates you will likely attend a “different” church each Sunday. Though the location may be the same, the internal makeup of the congregation will likely be markedly different each week. This provides a unique set of challenges.

As we find ourselves attempting to navigate online versus in-person, we must not let this question slip through the cracks. Knowing how to navigate this change will be critical in the days ahead.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.