Burgoyne, Stephanie, Kevin N. Flatt, and David MIllard Haskell. “Going the extra mile: the impact of theological orientation and other congregational factors on the drive times of growing and declining church attendees.” Journal of Cultural Geography 34 no. 3 (2017): 324-51.

Abstract

This study is part of a larger research project that collected and analysed data from 22 Mainline Protestant churches in Canada, 13 declining and 9 growing. Nearly 30 clergy and over 2000 church attendees were surveyed. Survey questions from the previous research explored the demographic and religious characteristics of these churches. In this paper, we analyse and compare the travel distance of the declining church and growing church attendees and then explore which characteristics of the attendees, clergy, and the church correlate with longer attendee drive times to worship. Through regression analysis, we conclude that theological conservatism of attendees, contemporary worship style, and greater emphasis on youth programming are predictors of longer drive times for attendees; while greater age of attendees is associated with a shorter commute to church.


Publication Information
Author(s):
Dr. Kevin Flatt
Publisher or Title:
Journal of Cultural Geography
Publication date:
2017
Category:
Article - Refereed Journal
Related Program:
History