Pew Study: Choosing a New Church or House of Worship

[ComplineSanFran]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

Fully 83% of Americans who have looked for a new place of worship say the quality of preaching played an important role in their choice of congregation. Nearly as many say it was important to feel welcomed by clergy and lay leaders, and about three-quarters say the style of worship services influenced their decision about which congregation to join. Location also factored prominently in many people’s choice of congregation, with seven-in-ten saying it was an important factor.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

pewforum.org/2016/08/23/choosing-a-new-church-or-house-of-worship/

 

[Sy_Noe]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

ComplineSanFran, would you happen to have a link to the study that you could post?

 

[Sy_Noe]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

ComplineSanFran, would you happen to have a link to the study that you could post? If not I am sure we can google it though to quickly find it. (Edit: Thanks for the link!)

An interesting topic. For me, there would be many considerations. The times of services and since a more progressive feel is something that resonates with me, I would look at where the place of worship fits in on such a scale, be it Catholic or another branch of the Christian church community. Even Catholic parishes themselves can vary somewhat in that regard and in the overall aura given off. The music would play a part. Certainly the clergyman or clergywoman. The priest or pastor I always think plays such a huge role. I’ve known of a church’s whole aura and persona to change simply as the result of a new priest or pastor taking the reins. A faith community’s outreach to the poor and needy. Location would be somewhat of a factor. It will be interesting if others share factors.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

pewforum.org/2016/08/23/choosing-a-new-church-or-house-of-worship/

I don’t know who you have been talking to.My home parish has greeters every Sunday.On any trip I have taken throughout the USA,this has been my experience in each and every parish.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I don’t know who you have been talking to.My home parish has greeters every Sunday.On any trip I have taken throughout the USA,this has been my experience in each and every parish.

It hasn’t been my experience in each and every parish. I know over the course of my lifetime, I for certain have attended Catholic parishes in 3 states. Multiple ones in 2 of those. Most of the time I’ve been able to go in, sit down, and not be noticed or given any greeting. My favorite Catholic parish in my area today has a priest who once greeted me and others around me before Mass with a “Good Morning!” He also once wished me a good day after Mass. He was not the celebrant on either occasion. At the same parish once during the Sign of Peace at a morning weekday Mass, a gentleman came from behind and walked in the aisle to greet me. Of course when I turned and saw him approaching me, I naturally met him in aisle to exchange handshakes. If I attended a Roman rite Catholic Mass today, it would surely be the one I’d attend.

 

[Phemie]

I don’t know who you have been talking to.My home parish has greeters every Sunday.On any trip I have taken throughout the USA,this has been my experience in each and every parish.

That has not been my experience in my travels across Canada unless I was a attending a particularly large city parish. As a military dependent I’ve been a member of many a parish through the years; not one had greeters.

Usually I attend the geographical parish in whose territory I reside.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I don’t know who you have been talking to.My home parish has greeters every Sunday.On any trip I have taken throughout the USA,this has been my experience in each and every parish.

It’s a common discussion here on CAF. Perhaps a search can take you to some of the many comments people have made.

My experience has been that when I go to a Catholic church, I see someone at the doors of the church who says ‘hello’ and hands me a program. That is usually the last time a person will speak to me (no, I take that back. People will say something during the Peace.) When Mass ends, people are out of there, lickety-split.

In my Episcopal church parish, we greet people at the door, ask them if they are visiting, and then try to introduce them to someone right away who will be there to answer any questions. After the Liturgy ends, we bring out the food and people will stay for at least half an hour, socializing as well as gathering for discussions or prayer groups. Hospitality is extremely important. Visitors are embraced and welcomed.

It’s just different. Not every congregation fits into a stereotype, but on the whole, Catholic churches are not as focused in welcoming the stranger, as it were.

 

[Jeanne_S]

It’s a common discussion here on CAF. Perhaps a search can take you to some of the many comments people have made.

My experience has been that when I go to a Catholic church, I see someone at the doors of the church who says ‘hello’ and hands me a program. That is usually the last time a person will speak to me (no, I take that back. People will say something during the Peace.) When Mass ends, people are out of there, lickety-split.

In my Episcopal church parish, we greet people at the door, ask them if they are visiting, and then try to introduce them to someone right away who will be there to answer any questions. After the Liturgy ends, we bring out the food and people will stay for at least half an hour, socializing as well as gathering for discussions or prayer groups. Hospitality is extremely important. Visitors are embraced and welcomed.

It’s just different. Not every congregation fits into a stereotype, but on the whole, Catholic churches are not as focused in welcoming the stranger, as it were.

Let’s see,just last week my husband and I were in San Diego for one of our gran baby’s bday We went to a lovely church where the pastor not only shook our hands as he processed up the aisle,after the Mass was ended he asked who in attendance were visiting and from where.Now this was a small parish,however I personally belong to a really large parish and we are very welcoming and embracing on a regular basis.So maybe your experiences are the exception rather than the norm. Lastly,re the Carholic Church,unlike Protestant faiths,the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.We can go anywhere throughout the world and the Mass will be the same,whether we speak the language or not.We as Catholics know what to expect.The homily while important,it is not the main emphasis of our worship experience,the way it is in Protestant faiths where the sermon is the main event so to speak.Therein lies the greatest difference.IMO

 

[eatpraylove11]

Lastly,re the Carholic Church,unlike Protestant faiths,the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.We can go anywhere throughout the world and the Mass will be the same,whether we speak the language or not.We as Catholics know what to expect.The homily while important,it is not the main emphasis of our worship experience,the way it is in Protestant faiths where the sermon is the main event so to speak.Therein lies the greatest difference.IMO

I love that mass is the same everywhere we go, even if the music or the environment is different…the readings and liturgy are the same, even if it is in a different tongue

 

[Jeanne_S]

I love that mass is the same everywhere we go, even if the music or the environment is different…the readings and liturgy are the same, even if it is in a different tongue

Yes the Catholic Church is the universal church!

 

[jane_doe]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

pewforum.org/2016/08/23/choosing-a-new-church-or-house-of-worship/

It is sad how Truthfulness doesn’t register high.

 

[Dorothy]

It is sad how Truthfulness doesn’t register high.

Perhaps because new people experience different things.

In my own parish and neighboring parishes I have attended there is welcoming. The welcoming is done also by the priest who is not celebrating the Mass, as well as those who open the door.

Then, those who wish to go to the hall do so, and share coffee, tea, cookies or donuts and chat together.

When Mass is over, the priest exits the church first, and then stands outside to shake hands with and chat briefly with whoever wishes to.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I love that mass is the same everywhere we go, even if the music or the environment is different…the readings and liturgy are the same, even if it is in a different tongue

As is within the Anglican Church also. It’s wonderful to travel the world and find the readings and liturgy the same.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Perhaps because new people experience different things.

In my own parish and neighboring parishes I have attended there is welcoming. The welcoming is done also by the priest who is not celebrating the Mass, as well as those who open the door.

Then, those who wish to go to the hall do so, and share coffee, tea, cookies or donuts and chat together.

When Mass is over, the priest exits the church first, and then stands outside to shake hands with and chat briefly with whoever wishes to.

Exactly this is the norm for I assume all Catholic Parishes.I have visited many over the years this seems a consistent pattern to me.

 

[jane_doe]

(I mean this with the most respect for Catholics as possible)

My experience, varying many Catholic churches as an outsider: no one talks to you. They usually get freaked if you talk to them. If you ask questions about thier faith, they deflect to someone else and some time a weeks or months away. A lot of people don’t even stay till the end of Mass. They seem very much in a hurry-get-it-done-I’m-done mindset. Doesn’t feel very welcoming or family like at all.

 

[Jeanne_S]

(I mean this with the most respect for Catholics as possible)

My experience, varying many Catholic churches as an outsider: no one talks to you. They usually get freaked if you talk to them. If you ask questions about thier faith, they deflect to someone else and some time a weeks or months away. A lot of people don’t even stay till the end of Mass. They seem very much in a hurry-get-it-done-I’m-done mindset. Doesn’t feel very welcoming or family like at all.

Wow!

 

[pensmama87]

See, I actually liked going to Catholic churches after growing up a “none” and having people mostly smile at you or ignore you/go about their own business. Maybe say “hello” if they knew you from somewhere else. I felt smothered and embarrassed if people, especially strangers, lavished attention on me when I went to a new church (and I tried many.) But I liked to try it out and just watch first so I could learn what was going on. I disliked being 'put on the spot."

And what did appeal to me about Catholicism at first, before I knew much about theology at all, was that Catholics worship the same everywhere. Once I figured out what to do at one church, imagine that - it was the same everywhere else, within certain parameters.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I’m curious about the other top 3 criteria: Sermons, location, and style of worship. Does it surprise you? Make a difference to you? In the study, Pew says that Catholics respond 75% to the location. But I would think that style of worship plays a role in that too. If your closest parish is 5 blocks away and it is mostly another ethnic group with mass in another language, does that factor into choosing to go there or not?

Most non-Catholic churches are not geography bound, so church shopping is quite common.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Catholic churches are not the same the world over. I wouldnt expect them to be. I appreciate the unity in diversity between the various particular Churches in the Catholic Communion. The Holy Mass in Italy is splendid and a Divine Liturgy in South India is also amazing. Not the same at all, but equally awe inspiring. If there were 10 Latin Roman Rite Catholic Churches in an area, Id expect the best preacher, most active and most friendly parish to be the most populated. However, the study is a little misleading, as it doesnt take it to account those who would only choose from among one Communion or one Tradition

 

[MichaelP3]

Pew Research released a new study today: ‘Choosing a New Church or House of Worship’

So how do people choose a new church? Top factors: preaching, welcoming, and style of worship.

I’ve read over the years here on CAF that many people who visit Roman Catholic services are not always greeted and or made to feel welcome. That seems to make a difference, according to Pew. Different denominations have different worship styles and it appears that makes a difference too. And of course preaching. I don’t think I was surprised by these results, but it is good to see my experiences confirmed.

pewforum.org/2016/08/23/choosing-a-new-church-or-house-of-worship/

Having a Catholic family in law, I have been to more Catholic services I could count. I can say I have always found it very receiving and friendly, I have been from impressed to very disappointed with the homily. Not because the priest didn’t say what I wanted to hear, rather he didn’t say anything at all (Coming from a denomination where a Minister can talk for an hour on just one verse I would expect a bit more). But also, I have heard Priests (One I am very fond of) do the same. So it depends.