Dear friends,
Although it is widely believed that the story of religious practice in America is one of inevitable decline, a number of our congregations are experiencing sustained year-over-year growth since re-opening following Covid lockdown. Twenty-nine of our congregations have grown by 10% or more between 2022 and 2025. Five of our congregations have a larger Average Sunday Attendance in 2025 than in 2019, the last full pre-Covid year. Anecdotally, we are seeing a number of Vestry members and active lay leaders who are new to their congregations since re-opening in 2022.
In reviewing these numbers and observations, we began to explore what lessons might be learned and what factors might be replicable in other congregations across the diocese. We were curious about what was bringing new people to our churches and what was nurturing those who were already attending, whether that church was growing or not. This was the genesis of our diocesan-wide survey last Spring. We gratefully received 232 responses from parishioners in 71 congregations. Additionally, we hosted 7 focus groups organized around generational groups or faith background pre-Episcopal Church to learn more about spiritual disciplines and priorities that drew members of these groups to their current congregation.
Embedded above and available for download here is a report of our findings – presented in three sections: What? So What? Now What? We encourage you to read this personally, as a congregation, Clericus, and/or as a Mission Region. Diocesan staff members are willing to assist in facilitating such conversations and consulting with you about next steps where you find energy and passion to integrate your gleanings from this report into the life, mission, and ministry of your congregation.
We want to thank all who shared your time and perspective towards the creation of this report. We are inspired by what you told us. In gratitude, we now offer this report back to the diocese. May the Holy Spirit work through all of our offerings as we seek to strengthen our congregations and share God’s love and grace with others.
Faithfully yours,
The Diocesan Staff
The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes