Assessment of Factors Contributing to Low Church Attendance and Absenteeism: A Case of Methodist Church in Kenya Nyambene Synod, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Regular Church attendance is often an indicator of Christians’ commitment and faith in God. Right from the New Testament, the Church has been symbolic, an assembly of followers of Christ who congregate regularly with an aim of worshipping God together in faith. It follows then that the Low Church attendance and absenteeism undermines Christian faith and the ability of the Church to meet ministry goals. The study sought to investigate the contribution of home based factors, the socio economic factors, and Church based factors that contribute to Low Church attendance and absenteeism. A study was guided by secularization theory under postmodernism philosophy which advocates that as science and technology continue to shape the world social changes in power and class structure tend to persist in similar forms as well (Heywood 2012).The data for the study was mainly quantitative. Simple random and purposive sampling was used to collect the data .The target population comprised of 28,015 men, women and youth members in MCK Nyambene Synod. A descriptive research design was employed for this study with a sample of 379 respondents who were selected through random sampling. Data was collected using two questionnaires, one for the youth and the other for adult members. Prior to the main study, a pilot study with a sample of 38 respondents was conducted in Miathene Synod. Analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 25) in which the researcher performed descriptive statistical analyses to determine and rank specific factors that affected Church attendance in line with the study’s objectives. Two variables were considered that is Low Church attendance and absenteeism. It was established that Home based factors and Church based factors were significantly associated with Church low attendance and absenteeism. In respect to home based factors, poor family background, lack of monies to channel during fundraisers, unfriendly relationship between youth and parents, and lack of parental guidance greatly contributed to church absenteeism.Thus, parents should endeavour to inculcate a warm and cordial relationship with their children to increase the prevalence of their children’s Church attendance.In regard to Church based factors, lengthy sermons, non involvement of youth in Church activities and lack of uniformity in treatment of members led to church absenteeism. Hence, ministers of the word should strive to ensure that their sermons are precise and straight forward. Socio economic factors were not significantly associated with Low Church attendance and absenteeism. School/work engagements were not a major hindrance to Church attendance and absenteeism however the Church leadership should organize team building activities for the respective Church groups to ensure harmonious relationship and avoid stigma and criticism that is ignited from difference family economic status.In addition, Church leadership should devise creative ways of engaging the youth since inactive youth engagement is associated with Church absenteeism. Since the study focused on Churches under the Methodist Church in Kenya, it is suggested that the study be extended to other Churches to assess whether different findings may be reached regarding factors contributing to Low Church attendance and absenteeism