Are Church Pews in Your City Full?

Used to be a church.
Is now a community centre.

We've all been on a wild ride lately. I've stayed tuned to hurricane updates twice now with Helene and Milton. The disaster photos, and photos of needed clean up later is so hard to watch. Hearing about loss of life is dreadful. 

I live in Ontario, Canada, and today October 8, 2024, we are having our own tropical storm--a mix of on again, off again rain, and hail. 

I've also been on a wild ride where my feelings go while reading a book I've been blogging about. I encourge you to check out the posts on this new blog which are conveniently numbered as I attempt to write in a bit of order as I go through the book and process my thoughts. 

I picked up this book because I keep hearing that church attendance in North America is dwindling. I've tuned into some online church services and seen empty pews too. 

My Story

My husband and I have been spotty in our church attendance. I write some of the reason in the new blog. I attribute it to me trying to manage my increased Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Just showering, some days, is exhausting. 

You could say I can't get up to be at church for 10 or 11 am due to ME/CFS, or you could say I'm chosing not to. Not every day is the same.  I do have spurts of energy. My ME/CFS is in the mild to moderate range. I am not bedbound. 

Backing away from in-person church attendance isn't just a personal choice for my husband and me; it's happening across many denominations and locations. I'm on a journey to uncover the reasons behind this trend and explore how churches are planning to address it. This is also a personal pilgrimage, as I'm searching for what will work best for us personally, moving forward.

One issue I've noticed is that every church in our area holds services at times like 9:30, 10:00, or 11:00 AM. For those dealing with chronic illness or reversed circadian rhythms, this poses a real challenge. I first noticed this with older teens and university students who struggled to get up for Sunday services. I wondered what shift workers do to get to church. This makes me wonder: 'Why aren't there more options?' 

Troubling Trends 

Much of the world took to online interaction during the pandemic. Many still work from home. In person business meetings are rare saving the cost of flights and hotel stays. Office space can be reduced as more professionals work remotely. 

Perhaps the rise in online church broadcasts plays a role in the decline of in-person church attendance. It’s certainly easier to enjoy a coffee in your pajamas while watching from home, and you don't even have to tune in live—you can catch the service whenever it’s convenient.

These are all valid reasons for the decline in church attendance. But the book highlights more troubling thoughts. Many adults are now questioning or rethinking what they truly believe, even challenging the role of rituals. 

Historically, much to pastors' chagrin, people have asked, 'What’s in it for me?'—and that hasn't changed. Now parishioners are asking, "What will it cost me in time and energy?" 

Some people openly admit they now question whether they want to return to church and be around others whose views they feel are fundamentally different from their own on many levels. It’s a dilemma that I think many are quietly wrestling with. 

They are also asking if the Christians they once knew are people they even want to associate with. I've noticed a real divide in people, especially during COVID. Some were staunchly anti-mask, questioning whether churches should even shut down, while others abided by imposed rules. Some pastors lost their lives due to Covid due to their stubborness. Churches have been fined. 

This divide extends beyond just public health views—it raised deeper questions about values and who we feel comfortable sharing spiritual space with. And in the US, politics has carved an even deeper chasm.

Questions to Ask

All this aside, perhaps, the more important questions should be, 'How can I best keep my relationship with Jesus/God renewed and refreshed? Where, how, and when can I nurture my soul? Is a church service on Sunday the best way to do that? What does God want me to do?