In recent years, societal shifts including COVID-19 and social unrest have been defining factors in many people’s lives. One area includes religion. Are people seeking solace in God and the fellowship of the church? There are congregants who remain dedicated to attending service (in-person or virtually) every Sunday. They also go during the week for Bible study. However, others find that the church isn’t meeting their needs and could use a massive change. So, it begs the question of whether the church needs rebranding?

Attitudes Surrounding Church

According to research from Gallup, 47 percent of Americans reported that they’re a part of a church or another religious organization in 2020. This number is lower than the 50 percent seen in 2018 and 70 percent in 1999.

However, this decline doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Scott Ball, Vice President and Lead Guide of The Malphurs Group, elaborates on this in his article “15 Reasons Why Committed Christians Stop Attending Church.” Here are four key factors that he listed:

• Preferring to receive the Word via a Christian podcast
• Unsure of “good” churches in their area
• Feeling bored by church services
• Church hurt

These sentiments suggest that many Christians feel that the church needs a shift. The church needs a change in order for them to start attending regularly again.

The Impact That Rebranding the Church Could Have

The congregation is vital to the church—and the Word highlights this in 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV): “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Operating a body of Christ means moving in oneness and unity for the Lord.

For this to happen, each church member has to feel like their needs (physical, mental, spiritual and emotional) are being met. This would bolster God’s Will. Otherwise, people may feel excluded or that they’re not valued. This may result in them turning away from church entirely.

A rebrand wouldn’t involve changing God’s Word because that stands the test of time and doesn’t need adjusting. However, rebranding how pastors spread the good news and how church clergy addresses situations could create a judgment-free environment that reaches people from all backgrounds.

This may sound vague, but the church taking a hard look at the areas in which improvement is needed would be a valuable first step. Society is ever-changing: Virtual churches are becoming popular and hour-long sermons are being edited into 30-second clips and posted online to offer a more accessible church experience.

But, if the church doesn’t restructure itself in some way to truly serve the needs of the people, those attendance percentages could continue to decline.