Most Americans are satisfied with their churches' efforts to promote spiritual health and help them understand the Bible, but confidence in churches and pastors varies significantly by gender and level of Scripture engagement, a recent study suggests. The American Bible Society (ABS) released the fifth installment of its “State of the Bible: USA 2026” report last month.
The latest chapter, titled “Church Health,” examines churchgoers' level of satisfaction with their churches as it pertains to enabling spiritual growth, understanding the Bible and promoting a culture of service. The study's findings are based on 2,649 interviews with U.S. adults, conducted Jan. 8 to 27 in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago.
A plurality of churchgoers (43%) described themselves as “very satisfied” with how their churches challenge them to “grow and take next steps,” while 31% considered themselves “satisfied” and about a quarter (26%) said they were “not satisfied.” Similarly, 43% of those surveyed indicated that they were “very satisfied” with their churches' efforts to help them “understand the Bible,” while 31% said they are “satisfied” with their churches' efforts and 25% maintained that they were “not satisfied.” "What happens when church leaders encourage Bible reading and demonstrate the connection of God’s Word to everyday life?" the report asks.
"People learn, people grow, people change." Forty-five percent of churchgoers considered themselves “very satisfied” with their churches' efforts to offer “spiritual growth opportunities through relationships.” By contrast, 32% said they are “satisfied” and 23% called themselves “not satisfied.” One half of churchgoers (50%) told pollsters they are “very satisfied” with their churches' efforts to create a “serving culture recognized by community,” while just over one-quarter (27%) reported being “satisfied” and 22% considered themselves “not satisfied.” A majority of churchgoers (51%) said they are “very satisfied” with their pastors' efforts to model