Where are the faithful?: Major church membership decline

houses of worship have been struggling to grow membership over the past several years tonight new numbers show just how bleak that reality is according to a new gallup poll set 47 percent of americans say they are a member of a church synagogue or mosque that's believed to be an all-time low 7 eyewitness news senior reporter eileen buckley explores why so many are stepping away from houses of worship at face value it's alarming and disheartening that record low membership number of 47 percent is down from 50 percent in 2018 and down considerably from 70 percent in 1999. researchers say fewer americans are choosing to align themselves with a particular church or religion some say they don't believe in church teachings others say they don't believe in god what would you tell somebody who walked in right now and said i don't believe in god i would invite them to to discuss why and i would simply listen at first and then if it seemed applicable uh and appropriate i would respond with why i do believe in god derek fetts is the dean of saint paul's episcopal cathedral in downtown buffalo where the disconnect is is that organized religion the church christianity or judaism or islam i think there's sometimes a disconnect in terms of listening to people in terms of what they need but despite the decline in church membership church leaders say it's a chance for them to entice more people back to the pews we have to do our homework we have to humble ourselves we have to listen to what people actually need because i think there is a hunger for meaning and purpose we need to find ways to engage with people in different ways but of course i think nothing can replace community and coming to church at annunciation greek orthodox church in buffalo father christos christakis says the decline in church membership is challenging but you cannot force people to follow god or religion and i think the challenge we have as people of faith is to really reach out and clarify some misunderstandings the gallup research shows church membership is also linked to age those born before 1946 make up 66 percent of church membership baby boomers 58 percent generation x 50 millennials just 36 percent in the greek orthodox it's about family tradition we are really connected over many generations and we have a very strong sense of identity and tradition and faith and continuation of the faith at saint paul's not all church goers are members but attend regularly we have a lot of people who we can't actually officially say they are members but they are affiliated and they are active and they're doing god's work in powerful ways church leaders say their goal this easter season and beyond is to keep people connected and help lead them in life and faith in buffalo eileen buckley 7 eyewitness news

Channel: WKBW TV | Buffalo, NY

Views: 2,379

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Keywords: Major, Where, church, decline, faithful, membership

Id: aYJifO_J24E

Length: 3min 5sec (185 seconds)

Published: Tue Mar 30 2021