Congregational Switching in an Age of Great Expectations

Abstract

A majority of the American laity has switched congregations at least once in their adult lives, and more than two-thirds of U.S. congregants have previously attended a different congregation (Schwadel in Rev Relig Res 54(4):543–54, 2012). In contrast to religious tradition switching, we know little about the individual-level correlates of congregational switching. In this paper, we provide a framework for understanding congregational switching that emphasizes the role of congregational legitimacy in a social context of expressive individualism, the “spiritual marketplace,” and a competitive religious field. This social context leads to evaluations of congregations according to individually defined spiritual needs and meaningful interpersonal relationships. The salience of religion to the individual, for example, makes the link to a particular congregation more precarious as individuals seek the best fit for their perceived religious and spiritual needs. Using the 2006 and 2012 Portraits of American Life Surveys, a national panel survey of U.S. adults, we find that meaningful social ties, religious salience, leadership roles, meeting perceived religious and spiritual needs, and views of congregational decision-making influence switching. These factors remain even after accounting for residential mobility. We draw implications for theories of religion and understandings of congregational dynamics.