Wired Word Lesson of the Week
Topic for Sunday, November 2, 2025:
Churches Are Losing Senior Adults: In the year 2000, about 60% of Americans over the age of 65 attended church weekly, according to Gallup. By 2020, that figure had dropped to 45%. These losses are having a profound effect on the life of the church and the welfare of senior citizens. We will focus on the disappearance of older adults from congregational life and what churches can do about it.Â
In the News
Individuals are encouraged to read the news below related to this topic before the November 2nd bible study to be prepared for an engaging conversation:
Many news stories are written about people leaving the church, but one trend that rarely makes the headlines is the exodus of older members. These losses are having a profound effect on the life of the church and the welfare of senior citizens.
"Unlike younger generations, seniors don't typically leave with dramatic announcements or angry social media posts," reports Religion Unplugged. "They simply fade." A faithful couple disappears from worship, a Sunday school teacher does not return to the classroom, and a widow stops attending when her friends die. Instead of confrontation and uproar, there is simply a void when an older member quits the church.
This exodus matters, because seniors are the backbone of weekly attendance in vast numbers of congregations. In many churches, particularly those with less than 200 in attendance, seniors make up the majority of faithful members, and most churches depend on them to be faithful givers and consistent volunteers. When older members leave, churches are hurt by the disappearance of money, energy and talent. Losses among younger generations are certainly significant and concerning, but the disappearance of seniors is a trend that cannot be ignored.
A pastor named Bob Ferguson recently asked a group of 12 older men about their church participation. Writing in Ministry Architects, he reports that they had all been heavily involved in church leadership at one time, participating in what would be called "mainline" or "moderate" churches. Ferguson asked, "How many of you attend church more than one time per month?" The answer: zero. Then he asked, "How many of you once attended church three Sundays or more a month and were active on boards, committees, etc.?" The answer: all 12.
Then Ferguson asked, "Why do you not attend church like you once did?" Their answers centered around three categories:  (1) "I usually go out on Saturday evening; I am just too tired or lazy to get up and go." (2) "I don’t have children or young people at home to take to church." (3) "I've been there, done that ... and don't need it anymore." For these 12 men, church attendance no longer affected their life in a significant way, nor did it give them a vital sense of community.
Ferguson concluded, "These men were not angry or upset at church. They had heard nothing politically that had pushed them away. The women-in-leadership issue was a non-starter -- they were glad that women were fully involved in leadership positions. Music choice did not bother them." The reason for their absence was, quite simply, "that church provided little or no meaning to their lives. They were glad the church existed and felt that churches helped children, youth and families -- but had nothing to offer them."
According to Religion Unplugged, recent data confirms that senior adults are slipping away. In the year 2000, about 60% of Americans over the age of 65 attended church weekly, according to Gallup. By 2020, that figure had dropped to 45%. This is a 15-point decline in 20 years. Pew Research, which has followed the Silent Generation (people born before 1946) and older Baby Boomers, reports a similar drop of nearly 10 percentage points in religious attendance within the past decade.
This is a significant trend, and it should not be seen as an inevitable consequence of aging. Yes, health challenges and mobility issues are a factor, but are not the whole reason. Many seniors drop out when their peers pass away and loneliness sets in. Others feel ignored when the church focuses most of its attention on children's ministries, youth events and young families. And some feel sidelined by changes in worship styles and leadership.
The impact of these losses is significant, especially in the areas of finance and ministry strength. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has found that adults over 65 contribute about 40% of all donations to churches in the United States. When they drop out, the loss of offerings affects daily operations, missions and outreach efforts.
The impact on ministry is equally significant, since seniors are among the most dependable volunteers. They teach Sunday school classes, work in the church kitchen, help in the office, and provide service behind the scenes. "It is not an exaggeration to say that when seniors drift, churches weaken," concludes Religion Unplugged. "If the church does not intentionally draw seniors back in, we will forfeit one of God's richest resources for discipleship and growth."
An example of continuous engagement is found in the life of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who died recently at age 106. A nun who taught at numerous Catholic schools, she became famous as the chaplain to the Loyola University men's basketball team. According to NPR, "she prayed with student athletes, encouraged them, gave advice about the team's performance and even gave scouting reports about other teams." TWW Team Member Bill Tammeus says that Christians should focus not just on long life but on "how God calls us to live it. And part of that has to do with having some fun along the way."
More on this story can be found at these links: