Date
3-21-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)
Chair
Baylor Whitney
Keywords
attrition, decline, Pentecostalism, post-Christian, retention, revitalization
Disciplines
Religion
Recommended Citation
Gurley, Lawrence Kendall, "Addressing Church Retention in a Post-Christian Age: A Multi-faceted Approach" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6596.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6596
Abstract
Declining and shuttered churches in America have become the norm in the past several decades. Congregations and church organizations have witnessed a steep decline while the average age of members and clergy continues to rise. Interventionist efforts to alter the calculus of these trends have been underway for many years in both mainstream and evangelical circles. Only recently have Pentecostal organizations begun to address this decline. The research shows that church decline and attrition, although pervasive, are not inevitable but require concerted and sustained efforts to restore health and a sense of mission to local churches. This dissertation builds on a biblical and theological foundation while investigating leadership and educational theories that serve Christian leaders in revitalizing churches and reversing the trends. The researcher analyzed scholarly research, case studies, and programs that brought vitality to local churches and church organizations and offered windows for further exploration. As a member of the United Pentecostal Church International Strategic Growth Initiative, the researcher is tasked with developing a comprehensive program in concert with collaborating ministry partners to address church attrition. The results of such a program would be measured over time, but raising awareness and providing resources to organizational leaders and pastors are two of the near-term measurable outcomes. Using a mixed-method assessment, the researcher gauged the initial effectiveness of this program. An effective program restores hope and light in a despairing, dark post-Christian culture. It also benefits future research within Pentecostalism.
