(RNS) — All the available hard evidence shows that religious congregations are declining. But a new nationally representative study from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy finds that revenue is not necessarily declining along with attendance.
As mainline denominations face a precipitous decline, To service those remaining, some churches close or merge. And in an increasing number of places, rural and even urban, pastors are bringing back an old-fashioned concept: the circuit preacher.
The 18-to-29-year-olds missing from predominantly white evangelical churches span two generations. While some of these young people do eventually return, two-thirds of young adults go missing, some for more than a decade.
Rural churches, often the bedrock of the community, are facing declining membership. They are increasingly teaming up in hopes of surviving — with clergy sharing programs.
More Americans went to church yesterday, Mother’s Day, than any other day in the past year besides Christmas and Easter. And thanks to church photo booths, more families than ever have the pics to prove it.
“I don’t really go to church.” This sheepish, hushed confession broke the ice. The rest of us at the table for an invitation-only consultation on leadership and the church responded with grateful nods and murmurs of understanding.
(RNS) — African-American young adults are more likely than their white counterparts to drop out of Protestant churches during their early adult years, new research shows.
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Church pews may be full of teenagers, but a study released Tuesday (Jan. 15) suggests college students might be a much rarer sight on Sunday mornings.
Telling teenagers that faith is irrelevant to real life will not keep them from leaving the church. It may hasten their exits.
(RNS) -- The Boys of Summer are back and another baseball season is underway, but the game is declining in popularity, losing ground to endless digital