Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

The journey to finding a spiritual home is a deeply personal one. For many, The Episcopal Church has become that place of refuge, growth, and community. Understanding how people discover our church can help us extend a more effective and heartfelt welcome. That’s why one of our Episcopal Pulse members suggested that the research team publish a survey on the diverse paths that lead individuals to our congregations.

From being raised in the faith to the influence of personal invites, and the active search for progressive and inclusive communities – the insights are telling. As we reflect on these findings, we recognize a few steps we can take to make our churches more discoverable and welcoming to all seekers.

How People Find The Episcopal Church
Over 1 in 3 Pulse Members state that they were raised Episcopalian. Another quarter of Pulse Members say they found their way to an Episcopal Church through an invitation from a friend or colleague (sometimes a priest), highlighting the power of personal connections and invitations.

The story is slightly different for those age under 40. This younger demographic is less likely to have been raised in the Episcopal tradition and more likely to have actively sought The Episcopal Church. Many of these younger seekers used a general search for a church, or specifically looked for "progressive churches."

What does this mean for Episcopal Congregations?
Given that those younger folks are more likely to seek the church, our congregations need to be easily reachable. Here are some practical steps to ensure your congregation is findable, especially for those who are actively seeking a progressive faith community:

1. Step one: ensure your congregation has a website! This point tends to scare us, but it is a crucial first step. It can be addressed in simple steps: ensure your church’s website is up-to-date, includes worship times, and has a way for folks to get in touch with congregation leaders by phone or email.
2. Go further with your online presence. Have members of the congregation test for user-friendliness. Learn how to optimize for search engines to keywords like “progressive” and “inclusive community” – this will align with what younger seekers might be searching for. Engage with social media platforms to reach a broader audience.
3. Highlight Your Unique Identity: Clearly communicate your church’s values, mission, and community activities. Showcase what makes your congregation a place of worship. You can do this both online on your website, and also through signage for neighbors to see as they pass by.
4. Foster Community Partnerships: Take a more active approach to being findable by collaborating with local organizations and community groups. Being visible and active in these circles can create natural pathways for individuals to find and connect with your congregation.

Our work doesn’t end with “welcome”
Ultimately, these “seekers” are looking for places where they can grow in their faith and find belonging and attracting them to our congregations is just the first step. Previous survey findings indicate that Pulse Members seek faith formation for daily life, particularly through meaningful worship experiences, opportunities for discipleship, and an overall strong sense of community. Our work of increasing visibility and welcoming members should lead them to build their faith and engage the community.

We invite you to delve deeper into these findings and explore ways to make your congregation more accessible and welcoming. Together, we can ensure that those seeking a spiritual home can easily find a place within The Episcopal Church.

Source:

• Worship & How Found TEC, Episcopal Pulse Survey, July 2024; Q2. How did you find The Episcopal Church? (Select the option that best applies); Base: N=391; Margin of Error: ±5% at 95% Confidence

This post draws from findings collected in The Episcopal Pulse Survey, a research initiative by The FaithX Project in partnership with ECF. Want to be a part of the Episcopal Pulse? Click here to join today!