Executive Summary
- The initiative outlined here is an effort from Men in Balance to lower the rate of decline in church attendance, particularly attendance by men. We know that when men attend church, there is a much higher likelihood that the entire family will attend. That fact alone is a clarion call to get men back in church. This decline is especially concerning because religious participation has historically served as an important source of social support, family stability, volunteerism, moral development, and community engagement. Here are some statistics that make this an urgent and compelling priority:
- As documented by faith organizations themselves, U.S. church attendance has declined significantly over the past two decades, with weekly or near-weekly attendance falling from roughly 42% in the early 2000s to about 30% in 2021–2023[1].
- Christian identification has also declined, dropping from 78% in 2007 to 62% in 2023–24, but recent Pew data suggest this decline may be stabilizing.
- The traditional gender gap in religious participation appears to be narrowing, particularly among younger adults, creating a strategic opportunity to engage men more intentionally (with their partners).
- Family faith practices remain strongly linked to long-term religious engagement, suggesting that men’s participation can influence marriage, parenting, and intergenerational faith transmission.
- Many men may not reject spirituality itself but instead perceive churches as irrelevant, overly institutional, insufficiently practical, or disconnected from real-life challenges.
For Men in Balance, we are convinced that we can serve as a trusted bridge to spiritual growth and community by partnering with congregations of faith to:
- Offer authentic, practical, relationship-centered experiences that genuinely resonate with men’s needs and interests
- Encourage men to initiate or return to church attendance
- Encourage family attendance and involvement where that has been absent
Bottom line
Men in Balance seeks funding to launch the Get Back in Church Initiative, a community-based partnership effort designed to increase men’s participation in faith communities, strengthen family relationships, foster intergenerational spiritual engagement, and improve social connectedness among men.
- The proposed initiative will create innovative pathways for men to reconnect with spiritual community through discussion groups, leadership development, mentoring relationships, service projects, family-oriented events, digital content, and partnerships with local congregations.