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Why Houston Area Christians Don’t Go to Church

By Sally Penning, Communications Ministry

St. Luke's UMC Houston

Burnout? Boredom? Changing priorities? The number of self-described Christians who do not attend church is an ironic reality in a city that offers a Bible-drenched menu of Christian denominations, worship styles, service times and locations.

To unpack this cultural mystery, the denominationally diverse Houston Coalition of Church Communicators (H3C) is hosting, Empty Pews: Why Houston Christians Don’t go to Church on Thursday, November 12, from 2–4 p.m., at Houston’s First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77024. 

Leading religion researcher George Barna will conduct the seminar, expounding on H3C’s commissioned survey. Seminar participants will receive the survey prior to the event in preparation for the interactive Q&A following the presentation.

Registration fee is $80 per person through November 12.  Additional survey questions and event information and registration are available at www.EmptyPews.com. “The goal of this customized research was to uncover concrete facts and reliable answers by consulting with the ultimate source—the people who profess Christianity but do not attend church,” says Steven Murray, who serves as president of the volunteer-run H3C organization. “Curiosity about inactive church members motivated our group to pool resources to obtain greater insight on how to facilitate greater member engagement with our community as a whole.”  

Barna’s report findings will be based on Houstonians of all ages and experiences, many who identify themselves as Christians yet choose to forego local church involvement. Qualifying participants are answering questions such as:

• What are your top priorities in life right now?
• What are your biggest life challenges?
• When considering attending church, what venue do you find most appealing (Sunday services, small groups, Sunday school, etc.)?
• What media source would you most rely on to learn about a church before attending?

H3C, which began in 2006 as a grassroots network among individuals working in communications-related roles in Houston area churches, secured status as a non-profit organization in 2008. The primary research-sponsoring churches include Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church of Sugar Land, Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston’s First Baptist Church, The MET (Metropolitan Baptist Church), The Church of St. John the Divine (Episcopal), and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Comments

1. Bruce Wood wrote on 10/30/2009 9:37:23 AM

I have said for quite, for every 1 professing Christian who is involved in a local church there are 10 people who have disconnected from the local church. The drop out rate is staggering. We are rapidly becoming a post Christian culture. The data Barna will provide will help us analyze the problem, but we will need solutions and a commitment to radically change the way we deliver the good news. Just this week I visited with a couple who professed Jesus. when I asked what local church they related to they said, "Well, none really, we just like to visit around from time to time." This couple is highly involved with "Young Life
Ministries." Jesus Yes/Church no! I can't wait to learn and grow.

2. Paula Ryburn wrote on 11/10/2009 9:18:48 AM

Will any of this information be shared online for those of us who cannot attend the event? I hope so!
Thank you for your consideration.