Study Finds Exodus of Canadian Youth

Christian Reformed Church youth leaders in Canada say that they are alarmed by the results of a new study -- the first of its kind for Canada -- that finds young people are leaving churches across the country in record numbers.

Titled Hemorrhaging Faith: Why and When Canadian Young Adults are Leaving, Staying and Returning to Church, the study by the Evangelical Free Church in Canada (EFC) found that one out of three young adults who attended church weekly as a younger person have dropped out of church.

The EFC study, conducted in partnership with other faith groups, also found that three out of five young adults who stop attending church will also drop their affiliation with any Christian tradition altogether.

What is more, the study findings indicate that only half of young adults even continue to identify with the Christian tradition they were raised in.

While there are hopeful aspects to the study, the findings are troubling, especially because of the scope of the data compiled, says Peter Schuurman, a youth ministry instructor at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

“The Hemorrhaging Faith study is of huge significance to the church in Canada ...it is a Canadian study of young people and their relationship to church—something that has been rigorously studied in the USA, but has not got the same attention in Canada,” says Schuurman.

“A certain percentage of youth have always exited from the church, but the rate of exodus is accelerating ...,” says Schuurman.

Youth leaders are paying close attention to the study, especially to examine why young people are leaving and to consider some of the suggested solutions to stem the flow.

And the overall church, not just youth leaders, needs to pay attention to the study and seek ways to respond, says Schuurman.

One of the ways in which Redeemer is responding will be to hold a panel discussion from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, April 22.

Among the reasons for the gathering will be for “the purpose of encouraging each other on the road of courageous and creative faithfulness,” says Syd Hielema, chaplain and  associate professor of religion at Redeemer.

The event, Hemorraging Faith: a night of presentations and discussion for those in ministry, is especially for church leaders, members, and youth.

Registration for the event  is $20 per person, but any church that registers five persons can bring as many participants as they wish. Attendees will also receive a copy of the entire   Hemorrhaging Faith study.

“We envision an evening of clear and honest analysis followed by prayerful reflection concerning the way forward. Our prayer is that all who come will leave feeling encouraged and hopeful, with specific ideas concerning steps to take in our churches,” says Hielema.

Schuurman says the panel discussion “will give us not only a forum to see the larger sociological picture and ask questions about the trends, but to learn from each other as youth workers, parents, and church leaders about creative ways to make a difference in the lives of youth in this country.”

Redeemer University College offers a Youth Ministry Certification, under the leadership of Hielema, that seeks ways not only to equip youth workers in the church for their task, but to challenge the church—and every member of Christian congregations—to engage young people to pursue the world-changing mission  of Christ.

“It is our conviction that youth ministry is not the exclusive work of youth leaders; it is the calling of every parent, elder, deacon, musician—every breathing adult soul—that graces our community of faith,” says Schuurman.

Besides the Evangelical Free Church in Canada, sponsors of the study included The Great Commission Foundation, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Canada, Stronger Together 2011 and Youth for Christ Canada.

The study relies in part on findings from a survey conducted in the summer of 2011 by Angus Reid Forum, which heard from 2,049 Canadian young adults (18-34) who had indicated that they were raised in the church – either in the Roman Catholic, mainline or evangelical traditions – and in which they discussed their spiritual lives as children, teens and young adults.

Along with looking at church attendance, the EFC study explores, among other things, family of origin, immigration status, rites of passage and practices of spiritual disciplines.

Other issues are addressed, such as the importance of providing young people with meaningful ways to participate and lead in the life of the church, and also the tendency of youth and young adults to leave at pivotal turning points in their lives, e.g., the transition from elementary to high school, family breakdown and the loss of key mentors.

While the study found alarming aspects of declining attendance, it also discovered some signs of hope and suggested ways to reach youth:

• Among young people still engaged with faith, 56 per cent reported a summer camp experience.
• 71 per cent of those still engaged said their faith came alive on a short-term missions trip.
• 60 per cent of young people, who consider themselves disengaged with faith, said they would study the Bible with a friend.
• 46 per cent of young people still engaged with faith say their faith came alive because of a friend.