New England Churches at a Turning Point: Engaging the “Nones”

Editor’s Note: Some statements in this article have been amended by the author for clarification.

Across America, churches are struggling to engage younger generations. This trend is especially acute in New England, where less than 30% of adults under 30 now identify with a religion (Pew Research Center, 2015). As churches confront shrinking and aging congregations, they face a pivotal choice – reinvent ministry for the modern era, or risk fading relevance in one of America’s most proudly secular regions.

The “Nones”: Understanding Religious Unaffiliation 

Driving Christianity’s decline is the meteoric rise of religious “Nones” – those claiming no particular religious identity. Nearly one quarter of Americans fall into this group today, up from just 5% in 1972 (Desilver, 2018). Higher rates of college education correlate with a likelihood to disaffiliate. New England, with its academic bent, has become an epicenter of the None phenomenon. 

Nones object to Christianity for reasons ranging from rejection of miracles, to perceptions of hypocrisy among leaders, to science disproving scripture (Burge & Djupe, 2022). Political affiliations also play a role, with Nones significantly more likely to be liberal or Democrat. This helps explain weaker church ties in left-leaning New England.  

Most Nones still believe in God or a spiritual force, even as they reject organized religions (Pond et al., 2018). This openness to faith outside traditional churches provides hope for adapting ministry approaches. Religious communities that foreground tolerance, diversity, and intellectual dialogue may find space for growth by appealing to None values (Patrick & Sturgis, 2018).  

New England’s Crisis of Faith  

Nowhere have religious institutions felt the None phenomenon more acutely than New England. A 2021 study found less half of New England states still have majority Christian populations, compared to over 70% nationally (Wormald, 2021). Church closures abound in rural areas as aging congregations wither with few young people stepping up to fill roles (Bailey, 2022). By 2050, some project Christians will total less than 40% regionally.

Driving this trend, young New Englanders vastly outpace national None averages. Over 50% of Vermont adults under 30 today identify religiously unaffiliated (PRRI, 2021). New Hampshire and Maine approach nearly 40% None rates among youth populations (Wormald, 2021). Without revival, pundits warn centuries-old New England Christian culture faces extinction within decades (Masci & Lipka, 2015).  

Paths Forward: Crafting Contemporary Ministry  

Facing existential threats, experts argue New England churches must craft contemporary ministry more relevant to unaffiliated populations (Patrick & Sturgis, 2018). While no magic bullet exists, guidelines and best practices have emerged for better engaging Nones.  

Firstly, focus on ethical living and community better resonates than doctrine or salvation narratives (Patrick & Sturgis, 2018). Consider deemphasizing older methods of evangelism that worked in the past and thinking about what works now while addressing the ongoing desire for social justice programming. Secondly, consider supporting Biblical causes aligning with None values like inclusion, intellectualism, and cultural relativism (Burge & Djupe, 2022). Leaders should endorse developing positions on Biblical gender normalcy (Psalm 139:14), diversity, and halls of power. 

Programming should enable questioning and debate through book clubs, lectures by religious scholars, and open forums balancing faith with reason (Bailey, 2022). Allow doubts alongside beliefs to model tolerance and critical thinking to form conclusions that reflect Biblical frameworks.

Technological innovation in communication avenues is also key to spreading messages. Podcasts, social media engagement, and electronic communities build intimate connections with broad digital native audiences (Thumma & Bird, 2015). 

Finally, smaller community-centered models connecting congregants to shared regional identities show promise in rural areas and towns (Masci & Lipka, 2015). With sensitivity and courage, the seeds of New England’s revived Christian landscape await cultivation.  

What does all this mean? Pray, Give, or Go!

New England urgently needs a renewed Christian witness. As churches struggle at alarming rates across the region’s proud spiritual heritage fades increasingly distant. Yet hope remains for revival even in this new era of the “Nones” and secularism. 

I urge all believers – to pray fervently for our New England neighbors struggling to maintain age-old faith traditions. Pray the Holy Spirit kindles a new awakening in America’s spiritually darkest corner. Let heavenly grace stir conviction to get involved planting fresh seeds of faith despite the challenges. 

Especially those called to ministry - consider New England’s open door to make disciples where the Gospel light has dimmed. Study church planting in our Northeast states. Listen to where God may lead, stepping out in courage as 21st-century apostles to skeptical populations hungry for a deeper purpose. 

The path will not be easy, yet it yields a bountiful harvest struggling up New England’s rocky spiritual soil. Partner with dynamic young Northeastern leaders leveraging innovative models tailored for regional realities. Build bridges by ministering inclusively and open-mindedly as Christ did, embracing diversity and intellectualism characteristic of Nones while standing firmly on Biblical truth. Trust the Holy Spirit to ignite revival fires under new wineskins adapted for emerging generations.

I dream of an army of faith ambassadors called from across America to saturate New England campuses, neighborhoods, and rural areas with Christ-centered communities. The time has come to reinvent ministry in the cradle of American Christianity for an era of skepticism, science, and hunger for justice. May present and future generations in revived New England parishes proclaim, “We once were lost, but now are found.” Let’s pray for revival and revitalized churches.

Bibliography

Bailey, S. P. (2022). "Saving Our Steeples: Religion and Rural Community Crisis in New England." InterVarsity Press.  

Burge, R. P., & Djupe, P. A. (2022). Nones: Understanding religious “nones” and what they believe. Fortress Press.

Desilver, D. (2018, October 1). The share of Americans with no religious affiliation is rising significantly. Pew Research Center. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/.  

Masci, D., & Lipka, M. (2015, May 12). New England once was secular haven, but no more. Pew Research Center. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/.  

Patrick, D., & Sturgis, R. (2018). Will churches ever be the same post-pandemic? Trends in American Christianity that will shift your strategy. Prestonwood Press.  

Pond, A., Smith, G., & Clement, S. (2018, April 25). Religion among millennials around the world. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.pewforum.org/.  

PRRI. (2021). 2020 census of American religion. PRRI.  

Thumma, S., & Bird, W. (2015). Recent shifts in America’s largest protestant churches. Hartford Institute for Religion Research.  

Wormald, B. (2021, September 13). Religion in New England: Change in religious composition of states since 1951. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.pewforum.org/.

Dr. Gary Moritz serves as the church revitalization director at the Baptist Churches of New England.