Can Church Attendance Bounce Back?

Albertan sociologist, Reginald Bibby, has been studying trends in the churches of Canada for many decades. One of his latest books, Restless Gods: The Renaissance of the Church in Canada, was published by Novalis in 2004. This work asserted that although church attendance "had bottomed out," there were visible signs that Canadians were indeed "hungry" for an experience of God in their lives.

Bibby postulated that should churches begin to address current and relevent issues for people in their demographics a rebound effect could be experienced in the Canadian Church.

This has been something I have often felt in my own life. I see quite often how many people of my own age group struggle with finding a place in church today. For some it may be over ritualized, for others too formal, others still find the authority of the Church today a bit overwhelming and far from the humble beginnings that Christ had forseen. Whatever the experience is it strikes to my heart as a pastor.

This latest article by Joe McMorrow in the Western Catholic Reporter follows up where Bibby left off and is something to think about. You can view the article here.