Three Reasons People Leave a Church
People vote on value, and they vote with their feet. When your values are in alignment, they're engaged—their giving increases, their participation increases. But when your values are divergent, things begin to change.
It's rarely the obvious reasons—a move, a new job—that explain why engaged members fade away. Richard Reising names three quieter reasons leaders often miss. Which one is happening in your church right now?
There are only three reasons people leave a church.
Number one, misaligned values. The second reason is they feel devalued. The third is they feel undervalued.
People vote on value, and they vote with their feet. When your values are in alignment, they're engaged—their giving increases, their participation increases. But when your values are divergent, things begin to change.
Now, that's outside of someone having to get another job in another city and move for that reason. The reason they became part of your church in the first place is because they believed you value what they value.
Number one, misaligned values.
All of a sudden they see changes in the church that make them believe what the church values doesn't match their values anymore. Maybe it's something being said from the pulpit.
"I feel like my church is changing. Its values aren't aligned with my values anymore."
The second is they feel devalued.
They reached out and said, "Hey, I want to volunteer." No one called them back.
The third reason is they feel undervalued.
"I missed a whole month back then because I was really sick. I don't even think anyone noticed."
Any time we see seasons where people are showing a value difference between where we are as a church and where they are in their daily lives, those are clues. They help us understand where we're disconnecting with people, and which areas of ministry we might need to shore up to bring back value alignment—so people feel highly engaged and invested in the life of the church.
Thank you for what you do for the King and the kingdom.
