Americans searching for a new house of worship look first and foremost for a place where they like the sermons and the tone set by the congregation’s leaders, according to a new Pew Research Center study.
About half of U.S. adults have looked for a new religious congregation at some point in their lives, most commonly because they have moved, the study found. And of those who’ve searched, 83 percent say the quality of preaching played an important role in their choice. Nearly as many say it was important to feel welcomed by clergy and lay leaders, and about 75 percent say the style of worship services influenced their decision, too.
Location also factored prominently in many people’s choice. Other factors include the quality of children’s programs, having friends or family in the congregation, and the availability of volunteering opportunities.
To make an informed decision, about 85 percent of those who’ve looked for a new house of worship say they attended services at a congregation they were considering, and 70 percent say they spoke with members of the congregation or to friends or colleagues before making a decision.
And though searching online may be growing more common, especially among young people (59 percent of adults under 30 say they have incorporated online searches when looking for a new congregation, compared with just 12 percent of those 65 and older), online information appears to be far less important than experiencing the atmosphere of the congregation firsthand.
The full report can be viewed at tinyurl.com/pew-choosing-congregation. — j. staff