For hundreds of years it was more women than men that actually attended church and this difference was particularly pronounced in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some scholars even regarded this as a universal of religion. However, in recent years in many Western countries there has been a definite trend that shows more young men than women now participate in church life. It looks different in various countries and among different traditions. Among the more evangelical American churches more women than men are leaving, thus leading to a gender imbalance. In contrast, Orthodox and Catholic churches in America and the UK are welcoming converts in record numbers, many of them young adults. These are both men and women, but men clearly dominate. The most pronounced return to the Church, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, is in France, which at Easter 2025 had the highest number of baptisms since records began. And most of these were adult baptisms. Indeed, the whole year is shaping up to be a record year for baptisms. While there are both men and women from all ages among the baptised, men between 18-25 make up the largest group. This growth is generally happening in churches that are more traditional in liturgy and theology, though some more Pentecostal churches are also seeing some growth and stability. More modern churches, particularly those considered “mainline Protestant”, continue to see rapid decline in attendance.
The 2023 New Zealand census does not show a similar trend of young men turning to traditional churches in New Zealand. Whether something similar will happen here or not, we’ll see.
Several reasons have been given for this phenomenon, but one of the overall themes is that young men are often not valued in society today.
- The church is one of the few places where they are welcome without being told that they are part of a group that is if it not bad, then at the very least suspicious;
- The Church has long given hope and meaning to those of a lower social status;
- With fewer things to live and fight for in the family and society, the church can give them purpose and challenge;
- Traditional churches tend to have more traditional structures in which men are generally given more responsibility;
- Some find affirmation for their anti-woke and anti-feminist tendencies;
- In a multi-cultural society the church can give them a sense of identity;
- When much of life is online, the church can give real connections and experiences;
- A deep longing for meaning and God.
While not all of these aspects may be healthy, the Church can transform lives. It is noteworthy that while those traditional churches were prepared for newcomers, it is the people who came to Church. The Church did not change its teachings or practices to be more accessible or more “relevant” to the world. The world around us is changing. I hope that the Church is prepared for this and can remain faithful.