Over the past few months, I have been reading and reflecting on a book titled “The Great Dechurching.” The data and stories in that book have caused me to pause and ask hard questions:
Why are so many people stepping away from the church?
What role might we be playing — and what role can we play — in inviting people back?
This edition of our newsletter is dedicated to exploring insights from the book. My hope is that these reflections will stir our hearts, sharpen our mission, and deepen our love — not just for those who are already here, but for those who once were, or who might be in the future.
Let me just make things clear here, I know and recognize that this is a book written by two men, and they have done a lot of work researching and writing for this book. I appreciate and honor their work. Within this newsletter are a lot of my own takeaways, but I also lean on others and their research as well. Please take that into consideration while reading this newsletter.
Nevertheless, there is a pandemic within the church and we have to do something about it. Are you ready?
What is “The Great Dechurching?”
- The authors argue that America is undergoing the largest and fastest religious shift in its history — but in reverse of revival.
- Roughly 40 million Americans have left church attendance over the past 25 years.
- For the first time in decades, the number of adults who do not belong to a church outpaces those who do.
The book’s project is not just diagnostic — it’s also strategic. It seeks to understand who is leaving, why, and what might lead some to return.
Profiles of the Dechurched
One of the strengths of The Great Dechurching is how it uses research and composite profiles to make the trends more human. The authors identify several major “types” of dechurched evangelicals.
| Profile | Description | Key Features / Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Christians | The largest subset | They often hold weak doctrinal convictions, drifted out through life rhythms more than crisis, but many are open to returning. |
| Dechurched Mainstream Evangelicals | Lifelong believers who stopped attending | They retain orthodox beliefs, but lost the habit (especially after life transitions like moving). |
| Exvangelicals | Intentional, sometimes permanent, departure | Many cite deep hurt, trauma, or disillusionment with church culture. |
| Dechurched BIPOC | Those whose dechurching is shaped by race, culture, and identity | Their experience may include feeling marginalized, culturally out of place, or unheard. |
| Dechurched Mainline / Catholic & Protestant | Not exclusively evangelical | The broader shift includes those from mainline and historic churches too. |
Takeaway: The reasons people leave are varied — not all hurt, not all rebellion. Many simply drifted. And for many, an invitation or relational bridge could make all the difference.
Why Are People Leaving? (and What’s Pulling Them Away)
The authors categorize motivations into beliefs, behavior, and belonging — the three “Bs.”
1. Beliefs
- Some feel the church no longer answers their doubts or questions.
- Others see inconsistency between what the church preaches and how it acts.
- Political polarization and misuse of authority have also driven disillusionment.
2. Behavior
- Life transitions (moving, jobs, marriage, kids) disrupt habits.
- Attendance became inconvenient.
- The “inertia effect” — once someone steps away, it becomes easier to stay away.
3. Belonging
- Many left because they never felt loved, accepted, or known.
- Some say the church felt foreign or culturally distant.
- The deepest barrier may not be theological, but relational.
One especially sobering insight: “casual dechurching” is more common than one might expect. Many people slide away, not because of a crisis of faith, but simply because life changes gradually pull them apart from the church.
Reasons for Hope
Despite the sobering trends, The Great Dechurching is not a book of despair. It offers hope and direction. Here are some of the key encouragements:
- About 51% of dechurched evangelicals say they might return someday.
- Many maintain orthodox beliefs; the shift is often more about habit and relational connection than doctrinal abandonment.
- Belonging, more than persuasion, is often the “hinge” on which a return decision rests.
- The authors call for relational wisdom — posture marked by quiet, calm curiosity — as a better way to engage than debate or coercion.
- The church is invited into exile — to lose its grip on power, to serve from the margins, and to rediscover dependence on God’s grace.
Questions for Reflection for our Families
- Can you think of someone in your life who has drifted away from church? What might be their story?
- Which of the three “Bs” (believe, behave, belong) do you sense we struggle with most as a congregation?
- What might it look like for us to cultivate relational wisdom in how we talk and live together?
- How might we re-imagine our practices so that belonging is built in, especially for newcomers or those unsure?
- As a church, are there places where we’ve prioritized power or prestige over humility and service?
What You Can Do
How you can help:
- Identify one person in your social circle who has drifted away, and extend a personal, low-pressure invitation — “I miss you; would you come with me this Sunday?”
- Be intentional about friendships across generations. Invest time in people who are less familiar or less like you.
- Pray for humility in our church — that we would listen more than lecture, serve more than command.
- If you have gifts in hospitality, visitation, or relational ministry, Please let the Pastoral team know.
Closing Word
Let us not approach this moment with fear or despair, but with humility, hope, and resolve. If The Great Dechurching can teach anything, it is that much of what divides is healed through presence, listening, and steadfast love. The church is not a show, but a family. And every member matters.
After seeing these reports, I’m thrilled to share that our story looks very different. We are in the midst of revival! It may not match what others define as revival, but lives are being changed, people are coming home to the church, and hearts are being awakened to a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
May God in his grace continue to draw many back, and may he continue to draw us ever more deeply into his heart of compassion and wisdom.
Don’t forget to Be The One!
Pastor Shannon