Post 10 - Are Seats at Your Church Empty?

 Post 10

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

Are Seats at Your Church Empty?

I said in my last post that I'd done a bit of a brain dump when starting to write on this topic of deconstruction and church decline. It is an important topic to investigate.

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 the book I've been blogging about. 

I picked up this book about those questioning their faith or stepping back from church because I kept hearing that church attendance in North America is dwindling. I've tuned into some online church services and have noticed empty pews in the camera angles shown too. 

My Story

My husband and I have been spotty in our church attendance. I write some of the reason in other posts. 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 choosing not to. Not every day is the same.  I do have energy spurts. My ME/CFS is in the mild to moderate range. I am not bedbound as some with chronic illness are. 

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.

Sunday Mornings

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, these time slots pose 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?' 

My spouse has worked from home since the pandemic.

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 church 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?" 

Effects of the Pandemic 

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 noticed a real divide in people 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 for staying open.

The relationship divide extends beyond just public health views—it raised deeper questions about values and who we feel comfortable sharing spiritual space with. Do I want to share space with a family who ignored the local rules and had parties when I myself didn't spend time indoors with extended family during my own mother's funeral in 2020?

And in the US, politics has carved an even deeper chasm. Churches got too involved telling their congregants who to vote for. 

Questions to Ask

All this aside, perhaps, the more important questions I should ask include:

• How can I best keep my relationship with Jesus/God renewed and refreshed? 
• How can I best manage my health issues while keeping my faith built up?
• Where, how, and when can I best nurture my soul? Is attending a church service on Sunday the best way to do that? If not, what other options are there?
• What does God want me to do?
• What else is bugging me so much that I don't want to push myself out the door to sit in church? Is there more to it?

Proceed to POST 11