Statistics

From Barna Research: "60% of pastors put

work cooperatively with other churches

as a top or secondary priority for next year"

Barna research on the unchurched

May 4, 2004
(Ventura, CA) Since 1991, the adult population in the United States has grown by 15%. During that same period the number of adults who do not attend church has nearly doubled, rising from 39 million to 75 million – a 92% increase!

These startling statistics come from the most recent tracking study of religious behavior conducted by The Barna Group, a company that follows trends related to faith, culture and leadership in America. The latest study shows that the percentage of adults that is unchurched – defined as not having attended a Christian church service, other than for a holiday service, such as Christmas or Easter, or for special events such as a wedding or funeral, at any time in the past six months – has risen from 21% in 1991 to 34% today.

April, 1994
Today's Pastors
George Barna
bartoda.bk
A revealing look at what pastors are saying about themselves, their peers and the pressures they face.
Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1993, 172 pp., purchased
About pastors and churches as viewed by pastors. Analysis by Barna of
strengths and weakness and some suggestions for ensuring churches have
leaders, not just managers and teachers.
The main conclusion I got from this book is that most churches lack leaders and
the many failures of the church result in one way or another from ineffective
leadership.
Barna is considered as critical and pessimistic. (13) Even so, much of the data is
more dismal that he expected. (15) I noted that a "minority" of the churches
surveyed would be labeled "evangelical." (103)
The book is full of statistics based on Barna's survey research of more than 1,000
senior pastors in 1992 (p. 17, 20).
(We have simply picked out a few stats and comments.)
The average (median) church is about 100 in attendance and slightly growing (24,
76) 65% of churches have grown, but less than population growth (76)
It is rare for a church to have comprehensive plans and strategies for ministry
(25)
Pastors are among the most highly educated professionals in the nation (35)
the average tenure of senior pastors has dropped from 7 to 4 years. (36) But
changing churches frequently is not a characteristic of effective pastors (36)
The smaller the church, the more likely for a short tenure (37)
50% of "self-described Christians" attend two weekends per month or less (45)
2/3 of church attenders attend 3 weekends per month or more (45)
1/7 church attenders rotate among a handful of churches (45)
About 40% of the population attend churches on any given weekend. (46) This is
a static number.
Most Christians cannot effectively share their faith with others (69)
"Pastors almost universally admit that churches do not work cooperatively but as
competitors." (69) [but see p. 101]
"The organizations that maintain a significant influence are those that adapt to a
changing environment without losing their essence. Entities that resist change,
rather than understand the change and constantly reinvent themselves within the
new context, inevitably lose their impact and die." 75
10 new converts in the past year (median) as reported by pastors (84)
The rate was proportionately much higher in churches of 100-200. (84)
>25% of pastors had no idea how many conversions there had been (84)
Dividing the number of converts by total church income "shows that the average
cost per conversion was nearly $8,000." 85 [Interesting]
90% of pastors believe their congregation is friendly.
2/3 of churched adults believe their congregation is friendly.
53% of unchurched agree (91)
60% of pastors claim their church is accepting of people with different ideas
40% of churched adults concur.
23% of unchurched agree (91)
"Until we have visionary leaders at the helm, the chances of our churches gaining
ground are minimal. Without such visionaries, the chances are slim that
churches will take risks to incorporate drama, seeker teaching, video and other
novel approaches to communicate with a population that is increasingly illiterate
and overwhelmed by information.
Until serious risks are taken in our strategic approach to gain a fair trial for the
gospel, churches can expect to encounter disinterest and rejection. Relevance is
critical in the methods as well as in the messages we utilize." 97
60% of pastors put "work cooperatively with other churches" as a top or
secondary priority for next year (101)
Less than 1/4 of all pastors have a clear, well-articulated notion of their target
audience. (105)
American churches have many managers and few leaders as pastors (118)
Fewer than 4% of all senior pastors were able to communicate a clear vision for
their ministry." (118)
All churches have the same mission, but each church has a special "call" based
on the resources and gifts in the church, the ministry environment, and the
special anointing of the people. (119)
Not even in entrepreneurial businesses in which the founder operates solo is
such a broad range of demands placed upon the person (pastor). (128) For most
pastors there are a few jobs they treasure and some are killers (129)
The pastor needs to be a visionary and a leader. (131)
100 million Americans attend church every weekend (133)
They give more than $50 billion per year to churches.
There are more than 300,000 churches. (134)
There are billions of dollars worth of real estate and facilities available for ministry
purposes.
The Christian media (TV, radio, book publishers, magazine publishers, music
producers, video) reach tens of millions of people every month.
Approximately 6000 Christian retail stores.
Yet the impact of all these realities pales in comparison to the job that remains
and the overall trend in people's values, beliefs and lifestyles.
Most adults are not Christian in a biblical sense.
Pastors feel poorly prepared.
Pastors' tenure is declining
Most churches are growing slightly but are limited in ministry objectives by lack of
commitment, budget, and plans.
Lay members are largely ignorant of the basic tenets of their faith and are at best
moderately committed.... (135)
"the problem is that the Christian church is not led by true leaders." (137)
Requirements for a pastor: (156-7)
1. a passion for ministry
2. a clear sense of what he has been called to do in ministry
3. ample evidence of having served the local church in significant ways
4. evidence of fruit