A Christian Post article trumpets an increase in worship service attendance. But the reality remains:
While the EPIC report described the 2025 numbers as “the first positive gain in median attendance in 25 years,” researchers warned that “it should be interpreted with caution.”
“The current median of 70 remains far below the median in 2000 when the typical congregation drew 137 attenders,” the report explained. “Therefore, this recent gain should be viewed within the much longer historical trajectory of decline.”
The decision to keep churches closed during Covid had almost catastrophic consequences for many of them. It was inevitable that many people would continue to regard church as optional.
An uptick in numbers showing church attendance is up is an encouraging sign.
I’d say : “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”
Fred, it would be interesting to see how many churches nationwide had to shut down because of Covid. Those that were marginal prior to Covid were most likely to be tipped over the edge in all likelihood. This was an attack on the church. Here in North Carolina, Roy Cooper was the demonic villain.
But the churches that acquiesced by remaining shut down longer than required are equally culpable. Horrible decision-making.
“churches that acquiesced by remaining shut down longer than required are equally culpable.”
Amen. Professional church people showed they cared more about Covid than about God. Message received.
And that pattern itself, J. Sobran, was epidemic with only occasional exceptions. It was truly shameful. It was a combination of bowing to certain pressures; and naivete regarding certain public messaging from the government and “higher” Christian entities and voices.
How did church leaders not understand that their congregations were going to dwindle dramatically? That sending the message that church attendance is optional was going to lead to disillusionment and abandonment?
And they were shameless enough to say keep on sending in your tithes, even though we aren’t doing anything to earn them.
That is definitely another dimension of what was occurring, J. Sobran. This was ultimately a failure of governance of those churches.