September 2018 – A survey conducted by LifeWay Research of 1,010 Protestants found that most churchgoers are strongly tied to their local congregations. “Most church members have been at their church longer than their pastor,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. However, this does not mean churchgoers will stay with a church no matter what.
LifeWay asked churchgoers what are the top reasons they would consider leaving a church. Nineteen percent said they might leave if the preaching style changed; 48% said that they would leave if they moved; and 54% said they would leave if their current church changed its doctrine. The latter was by far the most prevalent reason for leaving a church among those surveyed.
