Lifeway Research: Christianity in the U.S. Reaches Point of Stability After Years of Decline
New research from Lifeway finds that the share of religiously unaffiliated Americans has plateaued, suggesting the long decline of Christianity in the U.S. may be leveling off. Pastors, however, still face challenges including stagnant giving and difficulty tracking discipleship.
New research from Lifeway Research suggests that Christianity in the United States has reached a point of stability after more than a decade of steady decline.
The study, released in June 2026, found that the share of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated has stopped growing. Researchers say this plateau could signal that the long-running trend of "dechurching" is slowing down.
"We are not seeing the same rate of departure from faith that we saw in the 2010s," said one Lifeway researcher. "That does not mean the church has solved its problems, but it does suggest the floor may be closer than many feared."
Despite the stabilization, pastors surveyed in the study reported ongoing challenges. Economic uncertainty has outpaced church giving in many congregations, leaving budgets tight. Many pastors also said they lack clear, measurable ways to track whether their members are growing in their faith.
The research also found that trust in the church as an institution saw a slight rebound in 2025 and 2026, though the percentage of Americans who say religion is vital to their daily lives remains near historic lows.
Church leaders say the findings are encouraging but not a reason for complacency. "Stability is not the same as health," said one pastor quoted in the report. "We still have a lot of work to do to reach people who have walked away."
The Lifeway study surveyed more than 1,000 Protestant pastors and drew on data from the General Social Survey and other national polling sources.
