Commentary: Music Style Adaptation and Decline or Growth

I sometimes use AI to obtain data and carefully check sources given for any validity. So, as an experiment I asked OpenAI ( the original AI site) two questions about music in the Churches of Christ. Question 1: Does the style affect attendance Question 2: If Changing music styles increases attendance ( however marginally) why is attendance still declining.  I post this after my own comments. 

First, it seem obvious from their analyze that the root cause is not adaptation of music, but a lack of sharing the gospel message in a cultural adaptive way. The 2024 Religious Survey states that 40% of the U.S. have no religious affiliation at all.  Of the remaining 60% most are not committed Christians. So… no amount of music adaptation is going to solve the root problem whether you are a member of a mainline church like the Presbyterians or member of the Church of Christ. 

Impact of A Cappella Music on Attendance in Churches of Christ
Impact on Attendance
While a cappella congregational singing is deeply beloved for its simplicity, biblical grounding, and participatory harmony, it can be less engaging for younger people, particularly those not raised in the tradition. In Flavil Yeakley Jr.’s extensive survey of former members, many cited uninspiring or outdated worship music as a contributing factor to their departure from Churches of Christ. Among respondents under age 35, worship style was among the top five reasons for leaving.¹

Furthermore, national attendance trends show ongoing decline among Churches of Christ, especially in congregations that resist musical adaptation. According to Stan Granberg’s 2018 census study, Churches of Christ experienced a steady 1–2% annual decline, with decline most pronounced in churches maintaining traditional-only music formats.² Similarly, a 2020 report by Carlus Gupton found that congregations that adopted younger song leaders, diverse repertoires, or praise team models tended to either stabilize or slightly grow, particularly among younger families.³

Despite this, singing schools and shaped-note harmony singing still attract significant interest, especially in regions with strong musical heritage like Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee. An article in Restoration Quarterly documented how such events continue to draw hundreds of attendees annually, preserving a unique aspect of Church of Christ identity.⁴

Why Churches of Christ Decline Despite Musical Adaptation
While some Churches of Christ have made modest adaptations to worship music—such as adding praise teams or using newer songbooks—these changes have not been sufficient to reverse long-term trends of declining attendance. This section explores evidence-based reasons why Restorationist churches continue to decline, even when music ministries are updated.

1. Cultural Shifts Override Musical Adjustments
Music is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Cultural disengagement from organized religion—especially among Millennials and Gen Z—plays a stronger role than worship style alone. Flavil Yeakley Jr. noted that in his survey of former members, most younger respondents cited reasons like lack of relevance, weak leadership, or rigid teaching—not music—as the cause of departure.⁵ The Pew Research Center’s 2007 Religious Landscape Survey confirmed that only a small percentage left due to dissatisfaction with music.⁶

2. Decline in Evangelism and Discipleship
A historic strength of Churches of Christ was their evangelistic zeal. As Yeakley and Granberg have documented, this emphasis has weakened considerably since the late 20th century.⁷ The book *Why They Stayed* highlights that churches with strong outreach and discipleship structures have a better chance at growth, regardless of musical style.⁸

3. Theological Polarization and Resistance to Change
The autonomous nature of Church of Christ congregations means change is inconsistent and often contested. Everett Ferguson has noted that internal fragmentation prevents momentum toward unified reform.⁹ John Mark Hicks similarly argues that disputes over music often reflect deeper tensions about identity and theology.¹⁰

4. Demographic and Geographic Realities
Many congregations are located in rural areas with aging populations and few incoming families. As Yeakley points out, these churches struggle not because of music, but because their communities are shrinking.⁵ Pew’s 2015 report supports this, showing a national trend of religious decline in rural and conservative areas.¹¹

 
Citations (Chicago Style)
1. 1. Yeakley, Flavil Jr. *Why They Left: Listening to Those Who Have Left Churches of Christ*. Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 2012.
2. 2. Granberg, Stan. “Churches of Christ in the United States: 2018 Religious Census.” Kairos Church Planting, 2018.
3. 3. Gupton, Carlus. *Churches of Christ in the 21st Century: Growth Patterns and Challenges*. Harding School of Theology Lecture Series, 2020.
4. 4. “Singing with Understanding: Shaped-Note Singing and Cultural Identity in Churches of Christ.” *Restoration Quarterly* 53, no. 1 (2011): 35–49.
5. 5. Yeakley, Flavil Jr. *Why Churches Grow: A Study of Restoration Movement Churches*. Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 2003.
6. 6. Pew Research Center. *U.S. Religious Landscape Survey*, 2007.
7. 7. Yeakley, Flavil Jr. *Church Growth: Is There an App for That?* Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 2011.
8. 8. Granberg, Stan and Tim Woodroof. *Why They Stayed: Sustaining Faith in an Age of Disengagement*. Nashville: Leafwood Publishers, 2015.
9. 9. Ferguson, Everett. *The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today*. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
10. 10. Hicks, John Mark. *Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord’s Supper*. Abilene, TX: Leafwood Publishers, 2002.
11. 11. Pew Research Center. *America’s Changing Religious Landscape*, 2015.