CLEVELAND — As the ways Americans worship and prioritize religion continue to shift, many faith leaders across Northeast Ohio are reflecting on how churches can adapt to a changing spiritual landscape.
According to the Pew Research Center, 51% of U.S. adults identified as Protestant in 2007. Today, that number has fallen to about 46%. What has risen is the number of Americans who do not affiliate themselves with any religion. And that has faith leaders across Northeast Ohio concerned, but also reflecting on how the church can navigate these changes.
A New Vision of Church
At South Euclid United Church of Christ, music fills the sanctuary as congregants sing along.
Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins, who leads the congregation, has embraced change, both in how the church operates and how it defines itself.
“I just choose to believe as an African American woman pastor that, after 2,000-plus years, if God wants to do something different, God can,” Jenkins said.
For South Euclid, being a “church” doesn’t necessarily mean adhering to traditional definitions. Jenkins said her congregation strives to move beyond assumptions tied to the word itself.
“We are really trying to move away from the term 'church,'” she said. “I think when people hear the word ‘church,’ there are a lot of big assumptions and small assumptions that come with that statement.”
Instead, South Euclid United Church of Christ identifies as a “sacred community” -- one that is progressive, inclusive and multigenerational.
“One of the things I love about the United Church of Christ is that it says each generation has the right to make the faith its own,” Jenkins said.
The congregation has been growing.
“We’ve been going through a growth spurt here at the church,” she said. “We’ve welcomed about over 175 new members this year.”
That growth is fueled by programs like high school mentoring, workforce development training, small group sessions and Jenkins’ life-application style of preaching, which aims to connect faith with everyday experiences.
Technology’s Role in Worship
At Avon United Methodist Church, Rev. Micah Holland has also seen changes. While national trends show declining church attendance, Holland said his congregation has doubled in size over the past decade -- from about 100 attendees to between 250 and 300, including those who join online.
Technology has been pivotal for both churches, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when many turned to virtual worship. Jenkins estimates that South Euclid has about 100 online attendees weekly.
While technology has extended the church’s reach, Jenkins said it also comes with downsides, like losing personal connections.
Holland echoed that sentiment, calling digital communication a “blessing and a curse.”
“The church is more than a building,” he said. “The church is a people. And so phone calls, text messages, Zoom meetings -- all those kinds of things happened in some capacity.”
In addition to navigating digital worship, churches are confronting divisive social issues, from abortion and immigration to LGBTQ inclusion. Both pastors said their congregations strive to hold space for differing perspectives.
“No one group is gonna have everything that they want, but each group is willing to sacrifice a little bit so that another group can feel seen, heard, viewed and safe,” Jenkins said.
She noted that while South Euclid welcomes LGBTQ individuals, it also includes members who hold opposing beliefs.
"This church welcomes LGBTQ folks, right? There are also people in this congregation that are not affirming of LGBTQ. Folks watch this. And they're both existing in this place. And that is the beauty of South Euclid. That, in that moment, you understand whether you agree or not, that is not your role. Your role is to be here, to grow, to learn for you to be on the long walk and for that couple or individual to be on the long walk as well. So we are constantly expanding. What does it mean to have extravagant hospitality and what does it mean for me to think creatively," Jenkins said.
Holland approaches societal issues, like abortion, with a measured balance of grace and truth.
"The scripture teaches us that we are knit in our mother's womb together," Holland said. "And that God is present in that. And so we hold onto that truth, but at the very same time we know that there are husbands and wives, or women who are caught in places where its desperate. It's so difficult and that they have nowhere to go and they can't see a future. And so in the midst of those kinds of moments, how do we have both grace and truth? This is more than just like casting a ballot. This is more about how do we flesh the challenge of our world to live that out."
What both pastors strive to teach is how to have relationships with people who are different than us.
"When I look at this congregation, we're a purple congregation. We're both Democrats and Republicans and everything in between. And in the midst of that reality, in a way, we get to be with folks who are different than us and spend time with them," Holland explained.
The Future of Faith
As faith communities grapple with change, both pastors believe the church’s role remains vital, even if it looks different than before.
“When I stop and think about the future of faith, I’m not worried,” Holland said. “But I think the church is gonna change a lot. What we used to do won’t be what we do in the future.”
For now, churches like South Euclid United Church of Christ and Avon United Methodist are finding ways to grow, adapt and welcome people from all walks of life -- proving that faith, while evolving, continues to resonate.
Learn more about South Euclid United Church of Christ HERE.
Learn more about Avon United Methodist Church HERE.
