Church closures aren't new—leaders and congregants have seen it coming for years...

Still, learning that an estimated 3,850 to 7,700 churches close annually in the United States—roughly 1% to 2% of all churches is sobering. To put it in perspective, that’s about 75 to 150 congregations shutting their doors every single week...

As a church software company, we can often spot signs of decline in a church just by glancing at their accounts—and this insight needs to be shared. I'll show you the common pitfalls we see in dying churches and how you can address them in your own church. Real data. Real churches.

But don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom... I'll also provide some anecdotal evidence of what we see as we work with truly thriving churches.

"Church Permanently Closing" - SAD

When a church cancels its subscription with our company, we all get a notification. But when I see "church permanently closing," I usually notate it as, "SAD."

It’s a sobering reminder that no church building, no denomination, is immune to decline.

When it comes to why churches die, I don't discount things like excess gossip, sexual misconduct, or being more concerned about greater comfort than the Great Commission. Those are serious offenses.

But there's another side of the story of church closings. And it's data-driven...

Data Behind Church Closings

I took a data sample of 20 of the most recent churches that closed. Here's a chart showing a list of 6 different characteristics with an X signifying if they met that characteristic:

*It's important to note that this data comes from churches we work with directly. While some churches may use external platforms for certain functions, our goal is to provide insights from our perspective based on ChurchTrac usage.

1. One Leader Running Everything

If all of the church’s responsibilities fall on one person, especially the pastor, burnout becomes inevitable. We've seen this firsthand, as typically, this church leader is the only user on the account. These users are responsible for everything: sermon preparation, bookkeeping, scheduling, outreach, and more, making them too overwhelmed to manage both the software and the church.This often leads to a church shutting its doors. 

Thriving Churches Share the Load

A healthy church typically has at least two main administrators managing the account, along with several additional users. These administrators—often the pastor, treasurer, and other key leaders—oversee the account’s operations. Additionally, we often see numerous users with specific roles, such as teaching, serving, or volunteering, each having access to the features they need to fulfill their responsibilities.

For example, one pastor we worked with brought in a part-time administrator and developed a volunteer leadership team, allowing them to focus more on pastoral care and preaching. By creating user accounts, they were able to setup volunteers to manage events, attendance, and communication, which shared the weight of all the many responsibilities. 

2. Money Focus

Churches overly focused on finances often exhibit a narrow use of ChurchTrac features, particularly relying only on accounting tools. These users are often more concerned with tracking income and expenses than engaging with their congregation or planning ministry activities. While financial stewardship is vital, a disproportionate emphasis on money signals a deeper issue. Churches with this pattern rarely use features like events, people management, or follow-up tools—indicating minimal ministry engagement.

Thriving Churches Focus on the Mission First

After talking with many church finance teams, we’ve learned how shifting from a “numbers-only” mindset to a mission-driven approach can transform a church. By using giving reports to align resources with ministry goals, one church moved from financial anxiety to purpose-driven planning. This shift not only brought confidence but also sparked growth as they began implementing other management tools. 

3. Uninvolved Pastor

One alarming trend we’ve noticed is the absence of pastors as active users on church accounts. In these cases, the administrative load often falls entirely on another staff member or volunteer, leaving the pastor disconnected from the day-to-day management of the church. Without involvement in the tools that track attendance, giving, or member engagement, pastors miss critical insights into their congregation's health. This disconnect can result in a lack of vision and initiative.

3. Thriving Churches Have Involved Pastors

Thriving churches, on the other hand, typically have pastors who are actively engaged with ChurchTrac, using it to monitor attendance trends, communicate with members, and oversee ministry operations.

We've met pastors who initially stayed hands-off with administrative tools, seeing them as distractions from ministry. However, after engaging more deeply with ChurchTrac, they discovered that it actually enhanced their pastoral care. One pastor shared how monitoring attendance trends helped them identify members in need of follow-up, leading to more personalized pastoral visits and a stronger connection with their congregation.

4. Not Using Check-In

Churches that fail to use the check-in feature often struggle to manage attendance effectively, particularly in children’s ministries. This can create safety concerns, eroding trust among families. Based on our data, churches that don’t implement check-in are less likely to retain young families, as parents prioritize environments where their children’s safety is ensured.

Thriving Churches Prioritize Safety with Check-Ins

Church leaders we've spoken with about their experiences emphasize how check-in tools have helped them connect with their families in more meaningful ways. For example, one church found that the ability to quickly check in children made parents more confident in leaving their kids at church, leading to higher attendance rates for youth and children's programs.

5. Not Tracking Attendance

Churches that don’t use the attendance tracking feature miss critical opportunities to monitor growth, engagement, and potential decline. Our data shows that churches with stagnant or declining attendance often fail to notice the problem until it’s too late. Without tracking attendance, there’s no way to identify which members and groups need attention.

For example, one church we observed canceled its subscription after reporting a significant drop in attendance. When asked about trends, they admitted they had no system for tracking attendance and relied solely on informal observations.

Thriving Churches Use Attendance to Build Relationships

Thriving churches, by contrast, actively use attendance tools to measure engagement, follow up with absentees, and adjust their strategies to meet their congregation’s needs.

For example, if attendance drops in a particular ministry or event, a church might use the insights to tweak their approach, whether that means changing meeting times or providing more targeted outreach. One church we recently spoke with identified a dip in attendance at their Wednesday evening services, so they adjusted the time and restructured it to better accommodate families with young children. This small change led to a noticeable increase in attendance and engagement.

6. Little or No Web Presence

In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is non-negotiable for reaching new members and maintaining engagement with the existing congregation. Churches that don’t use tools like Church Connect—or any website— often struggle to communicate effectively. These churches miss out on opportunities to share updates, promote events, and connect with their community.

Our data reveals that churches with little or no web presence are at a significant disadvantage, particularly in attracting younger families or visitors searching for a church online.

Thriving Churches Have a Strong Online Presence

Thriving churches use features like Church Connect to create a welcoming digital space that reflects their mission and values, drawing people in before they even step through the doors.

A pastor we worked with shared how launching a simple Church Connect page changed everything. Their church saw an uptick in visitors because people could easily find service times, learn about ministries, and even connect online before attending in person. Additionally, using the digital connection card feature allowed them to follow up with new guests quickly, turning one-time visitors into regular attendees.

Church Plants and Revitalization on the Rise

While the rise in church closures is concerning, there's another side to the story that’s filled with hope: the surge in new church plants and revitalization efforts. Churches are not only identifying these early warning signs and making adjustments, but across various denominations, we’re seeing a growing number of leaders answering the call to plant churches and bring new life into existing congregations.

We work with church leaders who are planting churches in urban, suburban, and rural areas, often using innovative approaches to reach their communities. This wave of growth and transformation is a reminder that God’s work is still thriving, even in challenging times.

Avoid Becoming Another Church Closing Statistic

The trends in church closures are sobering, but they’re not the end of the story. Churches that identify early warning signs and act intentionally can rewrite their narratives. By focusing on strong leadership, leveraging technology, and prioritizing community engagement, your church can move from survival to thriving, fulfilling the Great Commission with renewed purpose.