While working on an unrelated research project, I recently came across some data published by the Hartford Institute of Religion Research. Though the information was five years old, it still seemed highly relevant today. In essence, the data showed that non-denominational churches are now the second largest Protestant group in America. Only the Southern Baptist Convention is larger.
Here are some of the fascinating nuggets from that study:
- There are more than 12 million people who affiliate with non-denominational churches.
- The research found at least 35,000 non-denominational churches in America.
- Non-denominational churches are in 88% of the counties in the United States.
- Non-denominational churches are one of the top five largest religious groups in 48 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
In light of the growth of these churches, I conducted an informal Twitter poll and asked why people are moving to non-denominational congregations from churches affiliated with denominations. Here are the top eight responses in order. There is obvious overlap in some of the responses.
- Denominational churches have a negative reputation. Some respondents used the phrase “negative brand” to communicate this reason.
- Denominations are known more for what they are against than what they are for.
- There is too much infighting and politics in denominations.
- The denominational churches are too liberal. From what I can tell from these respondents, they are current and former members of mainline churches.
- There is a general waning of institutional loyalty in institutions such as denominations.
- Denominations have inefficient systems and organizations. They are too bureaucratic.
- Some of the respondents could see no perceived benefit to belonging to denominations.
- Denominations are not good stewards of their financial resources.
I plan on doing a second poll in the near future to see how respondents view denominations positively. In the meantime, let me hear from you.
Posted on April 22, 2015
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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191 Comments
Two deadly sins of this culture. Politics and accountability. If a denomination emphasize these too heavily folks head for the hills.
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What a great discussion! Thanks for getting it started.
My problem with conservative/evangelical denomination is that social justice issues are not addressed, not only not addressed, but given an amen and Jesus is an American.
Define “social justice issues”. Southern Baptists have been very vocal against the killing of the unborn, but people criticize that as “political”. You can’t have it both ways.
Last night I preached a message entitled “WDJD (What DID Jesus do?)”. In it, I brought up the problem with asked what Jesus WOULD do. That question leads to speculation and co-opting the message of Christ into a variety of areas that Jesus did not focus on…including “social justice”.
Jesus healed, taught, confronted the sin in people’s lives, and ultimately, sacrificed Himself for the sins of all. That’s the message that should be the focus of the church. Anything else is a distraction.
I wonder what would happen if you controlled for the age of the congregation – not the average age of the participants, but the age of that particular institutional manifestation of “church”. Churches, like any other human institution, tend to have lifespans. I suspect that if you put this control in your data, you’d find that what is really happening is that there are far more non-denominational startups than denominational churches, and that more of those churches are at an early state in their overall lifespan. Congregations are no less mortal than the people in them – they tend to grow, become established, and eventually decline. I suspect that simple lifespan issue plays a greater role in the phenomenon you’re observing than any of the other factors you’ve cited.
Great post. Thanks Tom for all of your hard work.
I was wondering if there is a correlation of moving away from denominations and generally being dissatisfied with institutions with areas that eventually become “church less” – for example Quebec City is kind of an area that had huge institutional church involvement throughout their history, but since has kind of resisted institutions and now there aren’t many churches up there. I wonder if this will be an eventual trend in the USA???? I guess what I am asking is this just the first step in a slow pattern of moving away from the church all together, or is this a healthy change? Just curious about your thoughts. I hope I’m making sense.
Denominations range from a structure like the United States (central government able to overrule local governments) to a structure like the United Nations (local governments able to overrule central non-binding government). If you are in a denominational church, you probably know where you fit on this continuum.
I have been through pastor searches in two churches at opposite ends of this continuum. The first was a bitter fight between various groups of the members trying to promote their favorite candidate brought forth from the search committee. The second was in a church where the head elder stood up in the morning worship service and announced that the elders had been elected to find and select the next pastor and that the congregation would have no part in the selection process.
In both cases, the process was within the rules governing the church. I think that most people see denominations as they view the latter church I described. The former church seems to them to be less denominational (and possibly non-denominational). The truth, however, is that both churches are in evangelical denominations.
Non-denominational churches are seen as rising about being told what to do by a higher human authority. But….
Ironically, even “non-denominational” IS a denomination since it denominated (split) from the original Christian Catholic (universal) Church that Christ founded.
Non-denominational churches are split from “denominations” not THE church of Jesus. Denominations are just one part of the church. Thankfully, we all gain entrance into the universal, catholic church by the work of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:13).
Is there less loyalty to any church or pastor in a modern church? With neighborhood small groups and no denomination the number of lines of connectedness in our faith relationships falls.
I think that in this trend our younger generation is losing a lot of the joy of a church affiliation. For me these affiliations yield more connectedness, more relationships, and more joy in my walk of faith.
Faith is a relationship, and I think having lots of connectedness yields a more joyful faith journey and then a more fervent and winsome faith.
Thom,
All your reasons are pretty accurate from my experience. I’d add a couple nuances.
Fewer church attenders today know enough doctrine to be able to articulate denominational differences. They don’t know Calvin, Zinzendorf, anabaptists, Zwingli or Wesley, so they don’t know their denominational off-shoots, or how it affects church polity, doctrine, practice, etc. Denoms have less value in attracting church goers.
As well, those who are not churched only know church “brands” most often based on bad experiences. They didn’t like a neighbor who was “Baptist” so they associate negative feelings with all baptists of all stripes from Free Will to SBC, National Baptists to Adventist Baptists. If our culture and audience are unable to differentiate, the local church feels a pull to disassociate.
All of this has given rise to church networks across denominational ties and beyond that SERVE the local church in their mission like Acts29, ARC, New Thing, and the WillowCreek association. These networks provide value to churches, allow for cooperative efforts on some fronts, and don’t tie them into “brands” that people object to or muddle with local autonomy….nor tell them they don’t own their local property.
Denominations will continue to decline until the denominational leaders begin to focus their efforts and services on making local churches more effective at building the Kingdom of Christ. That this is not now their main focus means we have gone far from the roots of the reformation.
Thom,
It might be instructive to parse out what is meant by too liberal. What I’m hearing in the United Methodist Church from disaffected members is that the church becomes too cause focused and not Jesus focused. It’s the misinterpretation of what John Wesley meant by Social Holiness. This focus can become destructive when members who joined because of the last pastor and now have a new pastor sent to them who is involved in or supports members involved in a justice ministry that’s currently a polarizing social issue, and it can be any one of them. The church becomes divided like the public is divided by that issue. The church has becomes seen as liberal or conservative depending on who stays and who leaves. On top of that, new people don’t come because the church is for or against a social issue depending on who left or stayed. Jesus tells us to do mercy and love justice, but first love people and not divide the community of the faithful.
Steve
My husband and I were both born and bred in our denomination. My husband’s father held leadership roles in our denomination. I love church as a whole, and I have always been proud of our denomination, specifically. I never imagined a day would think of leaving it. I assumed our children would follow in our footsteps. However, we have reached a place where denomination is no longer the primary thing we look for in a church. Aside from doctrine, we look at the church’s vision, leaders and people. We still attend a church in our denomination and aren’t looking to leave. But attending that church- and the one before we moved to IL- both of which are not prototypical of church’s in our denomination has led us to reevaluate things. On a local and state level the denomination tends not to support us, presumably because we are different and don’t conform to traditional molds. Yet our church is one of the largest givers in the area. Aside from these personal observations, my husband and I are often frustrated by our denomination on a national level. It seems we focus on the minor rather than the major. We definitely seem to be known for what we are against as opposed to love. We appear angry. This is frustrating when it comes to reaching people who ask what type of church we attend. Walls immediately go up. My son is now in seminary- not a denominational one. He may or may not choose to become a pastor within our denomination. At first I was heartbroken. My husband and I stay in part- for now- because we hope to change things from within. It saddens me that so many young leaders, like my son, are leaving or may leave the convention. How do we grow, hear new voices, remain strong and change where needed when so many are leaving? This is a problem. Denomination aside, any organization experiencing such a mass exodus of good people must ask themselves why. They must be willing to consider they might be a part of the problem. Again, I grew up proud and loving our denomination. I went so far as to think we were the best. Right even. I have learned the church is Christ’s not ours. We are fallible. He is not. My loyalty must align with him rather than a denomination. That not so subtle shift in my heart has made me, I suppose, less loyal and open to what other church’s are doing. I know this was long. Thanks for listening and initiating the conversation.
I am speaking in LifeWay chapel this morning and I have several appointments throughout the day. I plan to rejoin the discussion later this evening.