If you were to mention the words, "Sunday Best" you might get a few raised eyebrows in 2016. As greater informality is being embraced in churches, fewer members make dressing for it a priority anymore.
CBN News uncovered the findings of the National Congregations Study that was conducted by Duke University this year. The NCS found that over the last 17 years many churches have undergone an emphasis on experience and emotion, while moving away from belief and doctrine.
On the surface it means many churches are opting for worship bands, sermon notes and shouting "amen" instead of taking cues from the organ, bulletin, and the choir. The likelihood of hearing personal testimony during a service is up 7 percent with jumping or shouting increased by 8 percent.
On a more profound level, there is less denominational affiliation. "The number of congregations that aren't affiliated with a denomination rose from 18 percent in 1998 to 24 percent in 2012. White evangelical (30 percent) and black Protestants congregations (25 percent) have the highest rate of non-denominationalism."
The face of the American church has become more ethnically diverse since 1998. The authors of the study found that "The percentage of people attending congregations in which no ethnic group constitutes at least 80 percent of the regular attendees increased from 15 percent in 1998 to 20 percent in 2012. This is a steady and notable increase in the percent of congregations in which no one group has an overwhelming majority of the people."
As for changes in the gender gap, women in senior or solo pastor l roles occurred in only 11 percent of congregations, with only 6 percent making up those who attend religious services.
In general, more worship is on the rise in conjunction with more congregations embracing greater informality over traditional formats. The authors of the study reported that they don't know what accounts for this.
"We are not in a position to sort all this out," they said. "Whatever the causes, informal worship has increased in American congregations, and its rise does not seem to have peaked."
